1. Introduction

Qatar, like many Gulf countries, began applying principles of Euclidian zoning, as seen in the Western developed world, during the 1970s (Furlan, Almohannadi et al. 2015; Furlan 2016; Furlan and Almohannadi 2016; Furlan and Faggion 2017). In turn, this has raised considerations of stakeholders’ versus developers’ perceptions of a place, as well as the level of awareness afforded its original occupants and of to what extent the master planning stage reflects an understanding of urban environment’s social and physical connective tissue (Camagni, Gibelli et al. 2002). Proliferating urban forms have given short shrift to sustainable development, disconnecting certain traditional features—e.g., social hotspots, diversity, compactness, community ties—that were once features of the city, thus distancing developers from the community’s physical and social needs (Camagni, Gibelli et al. 2002; Furlan, Almohannadi et al. 2015).

In Qatar, locals sought ownership of large villas and land ever farther from the city center, leaving old settlements to lower-income nonlocals(Giorgi 1998; Mazelan 2002) (Furlan, Eissa et al. 2015; Furlan and El-Ekhteyar 2016; Furlan and Shurbaji 2017). This phenomenon weakened ties with both community and place, for example, old Msheireb in Doha underwent extensive gentrification and heritage-focused development that sought to reintroduce and preserve historical memories of Doha city amid growing modernization (cf. the Msheireb exhibition) (Salama 2007; Salama and Wiedman 2013; Furlan and Faggion 2015; Furlan, Nafi et al. 2015; Remali, Salama et al. 2016).

As such changes eroded cities’ grounding in heritage, local authorities cast about for alternative measures of sustaining a city’s history that could still coexist with modernity. During the 1970s, European philosophers and planners sought resolutions for the community problems accompanying such developments. This research study identifies the urban concepts most associated with community attachment in Qatar, in hopes of modeling resilience in urban development.

The Case Study of Al-Wakrah

Al-Wakrah began as a fishing and pearling settlement but grew into a highly-populated area featuring compelling expressions of urban form and history (Jaidah and Bourennane 2010; Jodidio and Halbe 2015). In recent decades, Al-Wakrah has preserved a strong sense of community and heritage. Accordingly, it offers rich ground for examining the interrelation of community and urban forms. Major urban nodes exert an intangible influence and Al-Wakrah’s invisible web connecting physical context and community experience is key to its unique sense of community (Fromherz 2012).

This research study examines “community as a place, community as relationships, and community as collective political power” (Chavis and Wandersman 1990) in Al-Wakrah around these nodes, gathering public input and conducting site, demographic, social, physical, and environmental analysis so as to accurately reflect the community’s life patterns and values (Furlan and Faggion 2015; Furlan 2016; Zaina, Zaina et al. 2016; Furlan and Faggion 2017; Furlan and Sipe 2017).

These categories are themselves undergoing as-yet-undetermined social change amid excessive development, both general and transit-oriented, in Al-Wakrah (Petruccioli and Pirani 2003; Petruccioli 2007; Furlan and Petruccioli 2016). This research study proposes a process for increasing community and urban resilience throughout, rooted in the community’s physical environment, for “the community development process focuses on the development of human ecologies by empowering the community with the development of physical amenities as economic and environmental resources while in return, sense of community acts as a mechanism to stimulate the healthy development of the environment and the people who inhabit it” (Chavis and Wandersman 1990).

2. Review of the Literature

Sense of Community and Urban Form

Traditional urbanism or neighborhood development and New Urbanism primarily consider the relationship of the community’s social and psychological aspects in the context of the community and the neighborhood as a whole (Farr 2008; Altoon and Auld 2011; Roorda 2012). Not surprisingly, then, “the social doctrine of New Urbanism is integrated with the social community formation science literature” (Talen 1999). A sense of community is foundational in the social and physical realm, being an essential contributor to membership, commitment, and mattering in a neighborhood context. Yet this is not a static approach: as community members share history, public places, and experiences, values evolve and so do other external influencers, such as commerce, transportation, specialization of professions, and economics (McMillan and Chavis 1986; Beske 2007).

Thus, a sense of community is defined by community members’ sense of place. Indeed, “programming for local communities and value of public place that has more priority to these communities must support the feeling of local life.” Sense of place as a concept of community comprises physical setting as well as activities linked to this setting and the subject’s conception of this setting (Farkisch, Che-Ani et al. 2011; Stevenson 2013). A sense of community, for its part, comprises two main aspects: a sense of social belonging and a sense of place belonging.

Christian Norberg-Schulz, theorized about sense of place in the 1960s, during Europe’s period of intense industrialization, modernization, and recovery. He ascribed the condition of ‘‘crisis’’ in architecture to the failure of modern architecture to take account of some of the essential factors that give significance to the built environment, primary among those the role of perception, in addition to the importance of history as a source. He attempted to create a system that would reason for the various poles of architectural activity. The framework for this study included a combination of scientific ideas derived from sociology, psychology and semiotics. He emphasized the importance of design that reinforces uniqueness of place, sensitive to the genius loci by approaching planning from the user perspective as a journey through spaces, giving primary consideration to mental comprehension and scale transformation in static and high-mobility areas. Following his approach, Gorden Cullen, who saw the city as a field of visual experience comprehensible only through visual logic, with communication occurring by induction (juxtaposition of imagery) and inner action (causation of experience) “approaches his planning by 3 elements, optics — this concerned the experience of walking through the town at a uniform speed in which the scenery of towns was revealed in a series of jerks and revelations, called serial vision, place — a person’s reaction to the position of the body in an environment of exposure and enclosure, content — concerned with the fabric of towns; color, texture, scale, style, character and uniqueness”. This could be attained by planning neighborhoods and communities that stimulate a sense of community through social interfaces that can be enhanced through physical urban fabrics such as walkability, visual and physical accessibility, presence of public hotspots, and social interaction—increasing individuals’ sense of community, identity, and belonging (Haenfler, Johnson et al. 2012) (Bramley, Dempsey et al. 2009).

Integrating these definitions into planning directly enhances the well-being of occupants through social sustainability. Community formation thus requires social interaction, a sense of safety, availability and accessibility of services, and provision of high-quality interactive public environments. Ease of access to different areas, amenities, and services is influenced by physical and social accessibility (Bramley, Dempsey et al. 2009). Individuals may face indirect segregation when various stigma make certain zones comfortable and or uncomfortable for different community groups. Sustainability of community includes “Inter relations between pride in and attachment to neighborhood; social interaction within the neighborhood; safety/security (vs risk of crime, antisocial behavior); perceived quality of local environment; satisfaction with the home; stability (vs residential turnover); participation in collective group/civic activities” (Bramley, Dempsey et al. 2009).

This cycle of interrelated disciplines networked through physical systems both constructed and natural, as well as through human communities in which heritage and development are equals, produces a resilient community (Forgaci and Van Timmeren 2014) where capability of individuals, communities, institutions, businesses, and systems within a city to survive, adapt, and grow no matter what kinds of extreme changes occur.

Demographic profile in relation to sense of community

Communities layer history, tradition, heritage, and demographic categories as they relate to urban surroundings based on norms, knowledge, tradition and history. Examination of key demographic characteristics in the existing population is thus central to any consideration of urban community dynamics (Rossiter 2011). Similarity of ethnicity and religion enhances interactive behavior and well-being (Bramley, Dempsey et al. 2009), but minority groups compromise to a degree that reflects their values and needs (McMillan and Chavis 1986). Social networks of activity help regulate behavior in the city through normative solutions, exerting informal social control influenced by community demographics. Families that have a history in and ties to a place have a stronger sense of belonging and empowerment, reflected in the aesthetic organization of space and the city’s general image, both social and physical (Chavis and Wandersman 1990).

Diagram 1. Concept sequence Source: Author

Variables of the physical realm

Physical realm Sense of place (place attachment, social attachment) Sense of community

In examining each aspect of form, the authors primarily focus on the effects of urban forms on community but also highlight certain aspects of demographic and social influencers.

Sociopolitical and socioeconomic

A resilient community depends on physical urban fabric and structures that enhance socioeconomic activities while increasing community wealth and use of modern technologies. “The key to resilient communities is to locate available local assets, connect them with one another in ways that multiply their power and effectiveness” (Adams 2013).

Policymakers influence planning decisions and urban patterns of property distribution, land use, and development, with politics a function of community empowerment and community economics. In Qatar, the Majlis is an external extension of the residence, allowing male members of the community to interact frequently, with activities and sense of authority determined by social level. Interactions concerning economic, political, and social issues bring empowerment through hierarchal participation in development or planning decisions, much like modern-day practices of public participation.

Urban identity and city features

Proximity to major cities, urban transformation, and general region all influence community growth and change. The sustainability of the local area depends on how the street matures environmentally, socially, culturally, and economically.

As forms affect community members’ perceptions of a city, multiple dynamics of cognitive and physical interactions create experiences, memory, and meaning in the space (Farkisch, Che-Ani et al. 2011). Traditional urban spaces’ transition hierarchically from macro to micro depends on the local community, attention from pedestrians and other mobile entities, social identification, and community identity (Farkisch, Che-Ani et al. 2011).

Open public space

These areas allow community members to create relationships and integrate. Traditionally, a hierarchy of activity runs from the central part of the city through main streets, small streets leading to neighborhood centers, alleys, and houses’ entry halls and courtyards (Farkisch, Che-Ani et al. 2011). City centers, where retail and social entertainment activities take place, see continuous motion (Hakim 1999). The most important traditional public spaces, Alhara and Albaraha, saw social and economic activities, with mashrabiya and courtyards offering privacy and climate control (Hakim 1999). These features are now embodied in commercial streets with high levels of pedestrian activity and public squares. The influence of Islamic values on social life and urban forms is undeniable, with specific buildings, such as mosques, serving as major social nodes (Hakim 1999). The Barahah__a common space concept of residential units, intended to encourage interactions in a positive environment, thus enhancing a sense of community and the resilience of the entire complex. Use of traditional city water features in urban spaces has become common. Studies by the Water Master company in Qatar have associated positive behavior with proximity to large water features, which boost well-being and enhance climate control (Pradhan 2012). According to Fatima Hassans, an engineer for the Msheireb district development project, New Msheireb saw a 2°C decline by placing public fountains in built-up pedestrian areas. Green spaces promote social gatherings and pedestrian interactions while boosting environmental sustainability and a sense of well-being. The combination of water features with planted space is more effective still (Pradhan 2012).

Walkability and aesthetics as symbols

“Through providing a pedestrian-friendly environment for increasing residents’ face-to-face opportunities and casual social interactions between neighbors, developers and planners in the U.S. have adopted New Urbanist (NU) development strategies seeking to return to the design of the early transitional neighborhoods to enhance the sense of community (SOC)”(Tsai 2014) considering the relation, Sikka, the old streets of Arabian cities, were narrow and twisting, lightly covered to lower temperatures. Modern city networks, however, pose challenges of connectivity, use, accessibility, and relation to facilities and social hotspots while seeking to support an integrated infrastructure that promotes walkability and pedestrian interactions with urban elements such as art, historic designs, and socially significant materials (Bhandari 2006). Narrow streets and close buildings provide shade and funnel sea breezes in more traditional cities, providing comfort for pedestrians even in warm seasons. The replication of traditional urban forms and textures allows pedestrians freedom of movement as well as interaction with textures, shapes and materials resembling the past. Urban forms should provide harmony rather than unity in their relation to the human scale and social manners and customs. Compact urban areas are more visually appealing than sprawl, increasing public interaction through high density and mixed use. But when individuals prefer large homes, urban areas require a newer interface still (Bramley, Dempsey et al. 2009).

“The symbolic interaction that occurs through the use of the physical environment is a membership component of a sense of community” (Chavis and Wandersman 1990). Mohamed Diab implies that the elements of traditional Qatari architecture figure into designs of modern buildings so as to visually reflect a local urban character, drawing on memory to create attachment (Diab). Indeed, “as people identify with their neighborhood, they personalize their attachment which contributes to the development of common symbols” (Chavis and Wandersman 1990).

Layers of accessibility and visual connection affect both vehicles and pedestrians. “More interaction can be created indirectly through use of local services or public transport” (Bramley, Dempsey et al. 2009). Introduction of metro systems provides a means of economic growth and social and community development, with nearby creation of residential, commercial, retail, cultural, and other major attractions of critical importance for economic diversification and sustainable development. Station design and form, moreover, can reflect the city’s heritage. Because transit systems can boost pedestrian activity in the city, pedestrian perceptions of space, walkability, safety, and comfort must be considered.

3. The Research Design

The authors of this paper used a qualitative methodology to evaluate sense of place from the (Environmental Protection Agency’s Community Culture and the Environment), highlighting milestones such as definition of community goals, identification of factors that capture the essence of a place, measurement of community characteristics, analysis of results, and best practices (Farkisch, Che-Ani et al. 2011). A normative sense of community measurement as it relates to city planning and neighborhood design is adopted through a review of literature that examines a sense of community from a multidisciplinary point of view while specifying variables for analysis of the physical realm (Alexander 1987; Gillham 2000; Johansson 2003; Kaspirin 2011; Brown, D.Dixon et al. 2014). Traditional Qatari cities’ urban forms are explored as a means of examining the forces and guiding principles that have shaped successful neighborhoods and communities (Grabar 1973; Ettinghausen, Grabar et al. 2001; Falahat 2014; Saliba 2015). Interviews are used to measure residents’ sense of community in relation to form, with collected data then analyzed for the case study. Visual data have been collected through site visits and from maps, drawings, and photographs of the area (Zeisel 1984; Creswell 1994; Stake 1994; Johansson 2003; Yin 2003; Marshall and Rossman 2006). The examined concepts are highlighted accordingly, with the relation of urban form and sense of community is explained by profiling the research site’s main nodes through physical observation and demographic analysis of high-interaction areas. The research study’s limitations are discussed, as are the relation of community resilience and form, with recommendations provided for future developments and for policy (Bramley, Dempsey et al. 2009).

4. Findings

These findings analyze demographic characteristics as they relate to urban nodes that strongly influence community.

Site analysis

The Study Area

Specific nodes in Al-Wakrah city have been strategically chosen for their significance, with much consideration given to patterns of streets that are central to the city’s community and history.

Figure 1. Al-Wakrah city located 20 km south of Aldoha city; highlighted are the main Al-Wakrah road connecting further south to Mesaieed and the West Al-Wukair road connecting to the Al-Wukair area. Source: Author 2017

Figure 2. Al-Wakrah main study nodes Source: Author 2017

Figure 3. Developing projects in Alwakrah Source: Author 2017

Brief history

Al-Wakrah is one Qatar’s pre-eminent cities for its heritage, political history, community, and architectural features. It is the city nearest to Doha, bordering it from the north.

Figure 4. Distance from major cities. Source: Ministry of Department Planning Statistics

Interviews

Altogether, 20 locals and 20 nonlocals were interviewed in depth, categorized by nationality, local status (Arab or non-Arab), religion, and years lived in Al-Wakrah. Interviewees had to have spent at least 5 years in Al-Wakrah, for major developments had occurred in 2013. These interviews sought to relate current and upcoming development in Al-Wakrah to a sense of community and resilience by choosing members according to “strongest predictors of sense of community: (a) expected length of community residency, (b) satisfaction and involvement with the community (c) the number of neighbors one could identify by first name to measure factors called social bonding and behavioral rootedness, (d) relation of individual to city forms in the context of selected urban form nodes, [and] (e) mobility patterns” (McMillan and Chavis 1986).

Influential factors were categorized into economic, social, religious, physical, and social spaces. Candidates were asked about their activity in selected nodes, as were a number of specifically chosen high-profile local Alkhater family members and local officials.

(a) Expected length of community residency

(b) Satisfaction and involvement with the community

(c) The number of neighbors identifiable by first name, measuring social bonding and behavioral rootedness

(d) Sense of relation to city forms in the context of selected urban form nodes

(e) Pattern of mobility—visiting the area more than once weekly

Key factors

Resilience in Alwakrah is recognized as a result of interconnection of community members in relation to their environment demonstrated through physical and demographic qualities that allow them to withstand, respond to, and adapt more readily to rapid changes in the built environment.

Relevant demographic factors

Figure 5. Al-Wakrah has 299,037 occupants (Qatar 2015): 36% Qatari nationals and 49% Muslim, 15% non-Muslim non-Qataris. Though fewer in number, locals are highly influential on the street and in modeling ethics and development. Source, Ministry of Department Planning Statistics

The community of Al-Wakrah is generally characterized as a conservative one in terms of religious and traditional activities such as prayer and Majlis gatherings. In order, the local Alkhater, Albuaianen, Almuftah, and Alabdulgani families have occupied and established the area since its settlement and continue to grow. This multigenerational network of activities and preferences has shaped the original fabric of the city, imbuing the local community with a sense of belonging and empowerment that influences local government and decision making, giving Al-Wakrah its reputation among other Qatari cities.

Members of the local community generally have a high socioeconomic status that affords them better chances for development, for engaging in high-cost activities such as boating, shopping, and dining, and for owning large residences and Majlis that can accommodate more visitors while promoting social networking in residential zones. Lower-income groups have other means of social engagement, such as beach visits and public socializing. Middle-income level groups hold a middle position, engaging in social leisure within the constraints of their income.

Connective tissue

Al-Wakrah’s main road (figure 1) features prominently for its historical value, as does the new and highly significant connective tissue of Al-Wakrah metro station and the development associated with this road, initially bordering the old town but now a main commercial and retail strip whose features and activities reflect the community’s heritage. It maintains its connection to Aldoha city, with the historical buildings and old town close proximate to and interactive with passersby, and is a major transit point to industrial hubs such as Mesaieed and for further travel to the south, increasing visitors’ exposure to the unique sense the street offers. According to former minister of the exterior Mubarak bin Ali Alkhater, this street is fundamental to the identity of the city and community as Al-Wakrah city’s most vital artery. However, the residential area of the city has separated in a Euclidean manner, diminishing pedestrian and daily accessibility to this public hub.

Figure 6.1. 1940s: The road to Doha, leading out of the top of the photograph, with the square fort visible in the center

Figure 6.2. 2004: The road to Doha maintained and developed, at the top of the photograph, with the square fishing and pearling fort developed into a linear port (Alfarda). The development of residential blocks into land is visible, and the old town fabric is seen deteriorating

In 2008, an urban development plan was enacted that sought to develop the Al-Wakrah street area, beach, old town, and city center while expanding the city’s southern coastal area. Much consideration went into this development’s contributions to the social, cultural, and economic sustainability of street and city alike, seeking to boost tourism and the economy while accommodating a growing population. Al-Wakrah Souq, the center of the historic pearling community, was rehabilitated and partially preserved as a local highlight of the city and a traditional hub of market and leisure. By the end of 2014, the revitalized area was once again the soul of the city.

Figure 6.3. 2010: Active revitalization of the old town at the souq and Farda area. The main connective tissue has maintained its original shape while development continues

Figure 6.4. 2017: Recent view showing development of the souq and Farda area making it the heart of the developing city

The General Authority for Tourism in Qatar has noted the requirements of Al-Wakrah’s tourism sector (QNV 2011): the city’s archaeological landmarks need rehabilitating and developing, being highly accessible to the strategically located Hamad International Airport. But Al-Wakrah lacks infrastructure, hotels, and entertainment. Chairman of the Tourism Authority Mr. Issa bin Mohammed Al Mohannadi, who is also director of Al-Wakrah municipality, envisions a tourism strategy targeting local and foreign visitors alike, featuring metro services as well as further integration with the city’s World Cup and economic plans. Full cooperation between the Qatar museum authority and the public tourism authority is required to avoid exploitation of heritage elements and areas in the process (Alattyah 2013).

Connections and Nodes

Significant built heritage gives the streets character, with exposure to the chosen nodes providing a solid sense of place, belonging, and attachment through memory and history that factors heavily into community sustainability.

Form features are categorized as either under development (Al-Wakrah metro station and the new Al-Wakrah stadium) or present (highlighted nodes) in their generation of community and physical bonds. The newly developed Al-Wukair road crossing the city line aims to link major new developments with Al-Wakrah’s main street and further suburbs and developments in the neighboring Al-Wukair area.

Figure 7. Key view of nodes, with visual exposure from street level. Source: Author, 2017

Figure 8. Areas of high activity and significance in the surrounding streets. Source: Author 2017

Figure 9. Relative activity patterns related to key zones. Source: Author, 2017

Figure 10. General land use zoning showing residential developments around the town center Source: Author, 2017

Existing nodes

The shell roundabout at the north end of Al-Wakrah Street, as a landmark symbolizing the historic Al-Wakrah pearling industry, is an intangible part of Al-Wakrah Street and the city’s urban art; visitors and locals alike commonly use this area as a landmark. Its location and visibility to drivers and pedestrians makes it psychologically important, exemplifying elements of place attachment that relate cognition and memory.

Figure 11. Approaching shell roundabout in Al-Wakrah, with mixed-use building strips seen along the road. Shell roundabout in Al-Wakrah. Source: Author, 2017

Historic architecture is visible in many areas in Al-Wakrah city, principally in the old town area. A number of significant mosques are located along Al-Wakrah Street. These religious monuments’ presence and their perception by visiting passing individuals are a hierarchal reflection on Al-Wakrah’s community, strengthened by the religious needs and ties of its 85% Muslim community. As described in the literature, similar religious needs and social interactions in practice of religion create social dynamics enhancing a community’s interactions and senses of well-being and attachment (Bramley, Dempsey et al. 2009).

Figure 12. Al Ayouni Mosque, constructed around 1935 in the historical town’s most active and populated section of the city, in the heart of revitalized Souq Al-Wakrah, is an important heritage site. Source: Author, 2017

Figure 13. The relatively small Abu Manaratain Mosque was erected in 1940, near the shore. Source: Author, 2017

Two more recent mosques were built closer to the main road: Al-Wakrah Mosque, built in the 1940s, it is now known as the main mosque for Friday prayers and ‘Eid activities owing to its location near the historic Qalaa fort and Al-Wakrah museum on the front of Al-Wakrah Street and the open green area around it. It is a main area of social interaction during Friday and ‘Eid prayers and is well known to locals and visitors as an outstanding piece of architecture and heritage. Alabdulghani Mosque, also located along Al-Wakrah Street, is directly accessible to road users both pedestrian and vehicular. The variation of old and newly built mosques on the roadside draws on both past and present through architecture and heritage forms, imbuing the street with further dynamics of modernity that embrace the city’s history.

Figure 14. Al-Wakrah Mosque near the fort, view from Al-Wakrah Street. Source: Author 2017

Figure 15. Alabdulghani Mosque, view from Al-Wakrah Street. Source: Author 2017

Figure 16. Mosque on Al-Wakrah Street. Source: Author, 2017

Such a heritage-sensitive approach to rehabilitation has deepened the community’s attachment to its heritage. During prayer calls and Friday meetings, community members and passing individuals actively interact while gathering for prayer. Street traffic near Al-Wakrah Mosque is interrupted as pedestrians cross the road, increasing interaction between nonlocal and local community male members of the area and contributing to individuals’ sense of safety and well-being, allowing casual assessment of community occupants behavior and norms.

Figure 17. Friday prayer pedestrians walking to Al-Wakrah Mosque. Source: Author, 2017

The fort near Al-Wakrah Mosque was rebuilt in the early 20th century as a museum on the site of an earlier ruined fort. It serves as a reminder of political history through its location, form, and artifacts, which give visitors insight into the history of Al-Wakrah.

Figure 18. The fort museum. Source: Author, 2017

Significant government efforts sought to re-establish Al-Wakrah city’s urban historic core in 2014. According to former minister of the exterior Mubarak bin Ali Alkhater, this was triggered by the visit of Sheikh Hammad Bin Jasem to the city’s old town area in 2004, which reminded the sheikh of his childhood visits to the Souq. He ordered revitalization of the old town area and the construction of economic plans while remaining sensitive to the genius loci and the significant differences between one area and another without exploiting heritage ties.

Figure 19. Source: Google Earth

Figure 20. Souq area. Art and heritage elements

The Souq regeneration focused on walkability and pedestrian activity, rendering the entire area a vehicle-free zone except during scheduled drop-offs of goods. Developers sought a realistic replacement of historical Qatari village features, known for their compactness, on which New Urbanism thrives, conserving locality through traditional urban elements such as narrow sikkas and harra as well as varied architectural shading, decorative elements, and symbolic urban art; the old dhows along the beach walk; and the preservation of buildings such as the house of Sheikh Ghanim Bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, renovated in 2004 under the management of the Restoration Departments of Qatar Museums Authority (QMA)—a major historical landmark. The regenerated Souq is a vital part of the city center where retail and social entertainment activities take place and community members generate relationships and norms that allow visitors or new occupants to recognize the preferences of the community and embrace local culture.

The Souq’s seafront location enhances community interaction. However, the area lacks green scapes that could enhance well-being, increase walkability, and offer environmental control.

Figure 21. Green areas. Source: Author, 2017

The old port’s connection with the Souq is a major highlight of the area, and both were developed pursuant to the 2004 plan. Fishermen and shipwrights were able to increase their income by using their heritage skills to increase exploration of and tourism in the area. Many local boat owners use the port for personal entertainment, creating a community layer through shared activity and interests. All these features allow locals to preserve heritage activities and experiences for future generations. The area’s physical, visual, and emotional experience allows community members to strengthen their local ties and build memories amid urban development (Fig 22).

Figure 22. The port area (Alfarada). Source: Author 2017

This major fishing port also contributes to the city and national economies. According to the Ministry of the Environment’s Department of Fisheries, catches are auctioned at the central fish market in Um-Slal, meeting most of the country’s fish-related dietary needs. According to interviews, the city’s role in the fishing industry gives locals a sense of pride as well as responsibility. Most local dhows and traditional ships are owned by Qatari locals and operated by foreign lower-income skilled community members or have been donated for the city’s beach art (Fig 20).

The old town is expected to undergo construction of high-quality villas, regional parks, and waterfront public spaces, but to reflect the community found in residential zones around the center, accessibility and means of transport to the center must be considered—currently a three-lane 14-meter-wide road having a pedestrian central separator and side lanes where cars can enter retail complexes or park parallel.

Figure 23. Current width of the road. Source: Author, 2017

The walkable areas lack shading and safety crossing lines, making them impractical for use, especially by families, but Al-Wakrah’s nonlocal male community members commonly walk across and along the street. More family and female pedestrians are observed in the car-free zones in Souq Al-Wakrah.

In interviews, 40% of nonlocal residents from different backgrounds called the area walkable and made no comments about safety and comfort; the remainder noted that the street lacks shade and crossing points; some remarked that the Souq area is the only area they feel comfortable using with their family members. However, 100% of local community members of Qatari origin used Al-Wakrah Street’s side areas only for quick restaurant stops and to visit small shops by car; they preferred weekly family activities within the Souq of breakfasting, shopping, and walking. Expanding the street sides would provide safety from street movement, multiple sitting areas, and shade: 80% of interviewed members said that these elements would encourage them to use the road more frequently. The remainder had no comment or were not interested in Al-Wakrah Street’s shops and merchandise.

Figure 24. Optics-, place-, and content-related elements in the souq area create a sense of belonging amid memorable architecture that stimulates a sense of community. Source: Author 2017

The master plan envisions Al-Wakrah as a preferred waterfront destination and a vibrant, attractive city. But the city’s heritage is an inseparable part of its community. Although visits to the area may boost the economy, especially when aided by the connective tissue of a future rail line and stadium, this new exposure might bring dynamics such as are commonly witnessed in tourism destinations. Even with a separate heritage zone, the current street fabric does not accommodate large numbers of visitors, pedestrians, and vehicles. Although average shop activity in Al-Wakrah’s walkable areas reaches 5,000 to 9,000 QR per day on weekends, this figure is expected to multiply with heightened tourist demand—yet, without nearby hotels, ease of foot transportation, and family-oriented street formations, the area will deteriorate economically and socially. Not surprisingly, the upcoming transit station and stadium are sources of both worry and pride among community members, 70% of whom fear for community ethics and street identity, worrying that their own visits to city center and leisure core heritage areas might decline amid the density and new values brought by the tourist industry. This would significantly diminish their place attachment and sense of community.

Residential settlements sprawling away from the original city center feature larger tracts of land and more spacious houses, with few residents reflecting traditional design elements in their dwellings’ exteriors. Evolution from compact residential areas meeting at the central harra to separate, more private homes makes social neighborhoods less interactive, but the Majlis or Diwaniah—a separate entry hall for gathering of chiefly male members—has continued to be a major architectural part of the urban development, providing a layer of continued social interactions. Female members of the community organize visits and trips to markets and retail hubs for social interaction. This system of open Majlis has given the community a sense of empowerment by allowing discussion of well-being and neighborhood issues. In each neighborhood is a common house, usually that of a well-connected community member, where most local males gather weekly or monthly without invitation. In interviews, 80% of local individuals said that the Majlis plays a major role in sustaining neighborhood standards and community ties despite the private style of family life. Nonlocal community members either were not familiar with the Majlis tradition or did not see it as vital to their sense of community. Rather, 90% of nonlocals experienced social sustainability through weekly visits and walks with community members of common backgrounds in social areas such as the souq and during Friday prayer gatherings. Residential areas are detached from the old town’s features such as walkable sikkas and gatherings at harra social areas in the neighborhood. Amid transit-oriented development and the building of a stadium near these residential areas, congestion and community deterioration threaten.

Figure 25. General land use zoning shows relation of residential developments around the central town. Source: Water mark Author, 2017

Developing projects

The Karwa bus service, used chiefly by low-income groups, is the only public transportation system connecting the city to other cities. The new metro station is located at the entry of Al-Wakrah Street and it is considered a main factor in the need for development consideration in the entire length of the street. As the city is developing its tourism sector, the demand on the street in bound to increase causing demand for a sense of community that is bound to change as the city develops its tourism sector, Walkability is lacking near the city’s core centre, where most leisure travellers and sightseers congregate, and is not designed to accommodate growing numbers of vehicles traveling from the station to the city’s hub. The effect the transit development has on the social development of the area and the efficiency of the corridor activity intended is based on the travel pattern modes and access to desired areas of the public and local residents. Central activity hubs need to be within proximity walking distance ranging within 500m – 1 km to residential zones, in addition, travellers and transit users need to have access within walking distance to one of the market nodes in the development zone. The equation is basic, as the accessibility of transit stations to market hubs and amenities increases, riders. Accessibility will increase thus, activity of the street and social interaction will increase.

The stadium, its design inspired by the dhows of Qatari fishermen and pearl divers, is an important element of community perception. It will host matches for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The stadium’s presence near large residential lots and mall promises increased activity in the area that might affect the community’s perception of place. The Metro Network is also supposed to play a critical role in transporting spectators to and from football venues during the 2022 World Cup.

Figure 26. The areas likely to be affected by rises in demand caused by metro and tourism development. Water mark Author, 2017

5. Conclusions and Discussion

New Urbanism is one of the closely linked movements since the 1970s and 80s which offers resolutions to Alwakrah’s similar modern growth problems. “It promotes mixing residential, commercial and public spaces; mixing different housing types; narrow lots; pedestrian friendly streets; and celebrating local history, climate, ecology, and building practice” in an attempt to enhance sense of community (Talen 1999; Kim and Kaplan 2004). In Alwakrah, Locals play a dominant role in general community and city forms despite their minority numbers—and thus must be a main focus of development decisions. City centers, where retail and social entertainment activities take place and where public interactions are frequent, must take into account place, relationships and collective power when considering the community and create spaces that are suitable for original occupants of the space while embracing the needs of the future demand in tourism.

Community as a Place

Urban spaces function successfully when their design contributes to a sense of place that allows users to identify themselves with heritage and development equally. Architectural consideration of building facades—elements of heritage that reflect local building traditions—provides a constant reminder of the originality of a place to which community members can relate.

Each node, when part of a large network of the community’s ground for interaction, plays a significant physical and social role in Al-Wakrah’s sense of community. Connective tissue between city nodes is a key factor in successful community development: Safe and comfortable walkable areas that connect spaces while allowing for vehicular transit and parking can determine the success of social zones.

The combination of transportation with aesthetics and artwork reflects on a city’s and community’s image and culture. Stopping points in linear walking zones and linear streets increase time spent in the area, thus strengthening the social network, and should be enhanced with prominent architectural features that convey function.

Creation of lively urban areas supporting continued vision and expectation is the most effective way of increasing a sense of safety and well-being (Furlan 2015).

Community as Relationships

Development must consider homogeneity in light of surrounding buildings, perspective view, social manners, customs, and needs. In New Urbanism, community is achieved through tight-knit buildings and neighborhoods, and application in areas of high social activity, such as retail and leisure centers, boosts interaction between community members. Locating the most active building, such as a mosque or major retail or leisure hotspot, prominently along the street edge helps lay out the entire city: Exposing users to these forms imprints the character of both city and community. The size and scale of these buildings is important, with views varying from distant to close up, bringing compatibility between human scale and built forms by smoothly transitioning between them to develop a stronger sense of place and community. Narrow walkways that end at tall buildings leave users feeling psychological discomfort, but hierarchizing these forms can influence perceptions of the community: Heavy traffic and pedestrian activity are seen through scale and type of buildings, with large buildings usually magnets for exploration, serving as landmarks, and mosques and political buildings serving as community reminders while increasing resilience to identity loss.

Community as collective power

The following factors have heightened the community’s collective power and should be primary considerations in enhancing an area:

Historic area families gave the location’s original occupants a high social status that inspires certain behavior while creating certain urban expectations. High-profile families consider built heritage and architectural elements such as the Majlis an intangible part of their daily life—and future generations’.

The residential Majlis brings local nonofficial political empowerment, allowing occupants to influence decision makers’ over development such as that of the souq and Farda, forestalling rapid planning decisions that may diminish a place’s uniqueness.

Ethnic similarity supports local life by increasing the interest of individuals using the space. The city’s urban fabric is the result of the specific practice and lifestyle of its occupants, as seen particularly in mosques and in residential areas’ privacy features, and creates a feeling of social and place belonging.

Social economic factors significantly influence well-being as well as community members’ use of modern technologies and local assets. Equity must be a primary consideration when establishing commercial and public spaces, lest doing so decrease members’ engagement and senses of community and place.

Situations that encourage locals to engage in public activity help regulate social behavior. Public areas and city centers help create a sense of well-being as examination of social interactions creates a sense of community. With the development of tourism and the coming of the metro, the community will experience changes to area density and the introduction of new behavior patterns that may diminish occupants’ well-being. Resilience can be achieved by increasing the numbers of local community members in high-interaction nodes.

6. Recommendations

1. Since the life style housing style preference of the community members does not follow new urbanist compactness, other solutions in the social hubs of the city are suggested to increase compact development and social engagement that increases tolerance and resilience. Three main factors will physically support community engagement in social interactions: roadway width; walkability; safety and comfort (through shading); soft scape. Local architectural and heritage considerations reflection in the physical realm must be taken into account when planning developing areas in Alwakrah. The following strategy aims to improve street walkability and accessibility while offering visual and physical interactions with existing architectural and heritage urban features.

Figure 27. City coastline development and areas considered for future planning

Figure 28. The roads most likely to encounter density issues that will influence the community’s well-being. Source: Water mark Author, 2017

Figure 29. Source, Water mark Author, 2017

Through this radius system, planners can ensure that in every 500 m of pedestrian activity, users encounter the three layers of form through symbolic architecture, accessibility and walkability and presence of interactive social areas within any 1 km radius. This hybrid system smoothly transitions from residential areas to semi-interactive ones before reaching the main city activity hub. Specially considered buffer zones could enhance neighbourhood activities by transitioning slowly into the new hub from residential to high commercial.

Increasing neighborhood social space by transitioning to mega-social areas through high walkability and consideration of local architecture.

The missing link between residential and main commercial hotspots.

2. The station can also be used as a tool to succeed heritage and community development, Modular Elements that will be used to enhance way-finding and visual clarity can become a heritage visual identity in the city. This would in turn help in creating a level of comfort and familiarity to city residents and passengers using the system giving a brand recognition to Alwakrah.

7. Contribution to Knowledge

This research adds to the body of literature about Al-Wakrah city and can be considered in development plans, including for upcoming events and transit development. It also discusses relevant literature and considers social and physical aspects of the city’s development to ensure the sustainability of the local community and enhance resilience for future generations amid urban growth.

8. Implications for Practice and Advancement of Research

The original investigation focused on the perceptions of community members, but further studies could inquire about the perceptions of all users—visitors and tourists. The development of both station and stadium should be closely monitored to uncover patterns useful for future planning.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Ms. Alfaraidy has 2 years’ experience working as an architect in Saudi Arabia, scoping and managing design, site preparation, and construction for Saudi Aramco’s residential and commercial developments. She has 2 years’ experience teaching language at Saudi Arabian charity centers and helped establish a non-profit youth organization center in Qatar. She also has 3 years’ teaching experience at engineering departments in the Royal Commission College of Engineering and at Prince Mohammed University in Saudi Arabia. Currently, she is a Master in Planning and Design candidate at Qatar University. Raffaello Furlan is an assistant professor in the Department of Architecture and Urban Planning (DAUP) at Qatar University.

This research study was developed as an assignment as part of the core course Research and Statistical Analysis in Planning (MUPD601, Spring 2017) taught by Dr. Raffaello Furlan at Qatar University, College of Engineering, Department of Architecture and Urban Planning (DAUP), for the Master’s in Urban Planning and Design (MUPD) program.

The authors would like to acknowledge the support of Qatar University in having created an environment that encourages scientific research. Also, they express their gratitude to the government of Qatar, and especially the Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME), for handling relevant visual data and cardinal documents for the purpose of this research study. Finally, the authors thank the anonymous reviewers for their comments, which have improved the quality of this paper. The authors are solely responsible for the statements made herein.