Urban fragmentation and integration of Saudi cities: the case of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Almahdi, Mohammad Abdullah

Thesis

Urban fragmentation and integration of Saudi cities: the case of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

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Creator

Almahdi, Mohammad Abdullah

Rights statement

Strathclyde Thesis Copyright

Awarding institution

University of Strathclyde

Date of award

2022

Thesis identifier

T16411

Person Identifier (Local)

201666043

Qualification Level

Doctoral (Postgraduate)

Qualification Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department, School or Faculty

Department of Architecture

Abstract

The development of defensive strategies leading to the fortification and privatisation of large parts of contemporary cities has attracted significant attention within a number of disciplines, with much focus on gated communities. This thesis is articulated in the light of these debates and expands it to other forms of fragmentary urban typologies. The study focuses on spatial transformation and changing urban landscapes by constructing walls, gates, and fences. However, it does not consider spatial transformation in isolation but the impact and implications of such a phenomenon. Therefore, apart from investigating the various physical manifestations of gated developments in Saudi Arabia, the study investigates their relation to their impact and implications for quality of life and socio-spatial integration. These relationships were explored through a theoretical framework and research matrix developed to understand the impact of fragmentary urban typologies across a multitude of domains. The study used a broader approach to spatial research through a multidimensional (socio-spatial), dynamic and multi-scale approach. Determining the location, extent, and typology in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and identifying the impact on the macro and micro scales and other social implications required a mixed-methods approach to data collection. This thesis has explored residents’ and experts’ attitudes towards gated developments concerning urban fragmentation: spatially, socially, and in terms of micro- and macro urban contexts. It has been noted that gating contributes to urban fragmentation and segregation and that this impact can be severe. However, it also shows that the impact differs according to different communities in different locations and that the implications of these developments will therefore also vary. The study, therefore, recommends a context- and type-specific approach to deal with the shorter and longer-term implications of gated developments in Saudi Arabia and abroad. This thesis contributes to the much-needed empirical evidence by developing a framework that draws from different fields, including urban planning, architecture, geography, sociology, psychology, anthropology, ethnography, political economy, and philosophy; the theoretical framework provided a multi-disciplinary perspective of both historical and current scholarship on the phenomenon of urban fragmentation and is one of the contributions of the thesis. The methodological approach adopted in this thesis is also one of its contributions. This thesis showed that the social dynamics are intrinsically related to the spatial organisation and form and the interpretation thereof by users of the urban space or specific places in cities. This thesis showed that through a mix of methods, multiple perspectives on the issue of urban fragmentation were compiled, resulting in a more complete, embedded, and accurate understanding of the phenomenon. The thesis also contributed to the urban planning and design fields in countries of the south. Moreover, it provided a new case study, giving new information about gated developments and urban fragmentation in a major Saudi city and contributing to the scholarly knowledge on the subject. Finally, by looking at gated developments, the thesis contributed to incorporating new topics into the urban and social development agendas.

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