**6. Conclusions**

In terms of optimizing livability through neighborhood sizes, the feedback from this study challenges the 25.02 ha suggested by the current Master Plan. Instead, it proposes 50.24 ha, which denotes a 400-m radius, or 10-min walking; that is based supported by other relevant urban planning literature. The walking outcomes and accessible amenities within a 10-min walk were highly associated and found to enhance pedestrian activity. In terms of the percentage ratio of retail space, the findings from this study disagree with the suggested proportion of ~1%. Instead, we propose that mixed types of commercial and retail activity should occupy up to 10% of the total land use. The findings suggest that the ratio should be separated

**383**

**Author details**

Qaaid Al-Saraify1

\* and David Grierson<sup>2</sup>

\*Address all correspondence to: qaaid.alsaraify@gmail.com

provided the original work is properly cited.

1 The Department of Architecture, The University of Basra, Basrah, Iraq

2 The Department of Architecture, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK

© 2020 The Author(s). Licensee IntechOpen. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/ by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium,

*Approaching Urban Design through the Analysis of Structural Differences within Three…*

tional land use, since this depends upon relevant standardizations.

into: food shops (~5%); consumer goods shops, selling items such as appliances or clothes (~2.5%); and general services, such as barbers, coffee shops, or maintenance workshops (~2.5%). In terms of health and religious centers, this study agrees with the Master Plan's proposed approximate proportion of <1% for each. Meanwhile, open space was specified into playgrounds, local parks, roads and open spaces, and this study agrees with the approximate amount of 30% suggested by the Master Plan. However, more walking was observed in the traditional neighborhood (Al-Saymmar), which accommodates more and smaller open spaces. In terms of housing, the evidence from this study suggests 50% for the single-family housing residential typology; therefore it challenges the suggested high ratio of low-density housing within the Master Plan. Finally, no feedback is offered in terms of educa-

For other planning and design criteria, the indicators applied by this study suggest that the planning of new neighborhoods should, not only be confined to defining the densities and types of land use, but should also consider the topologic relationships, and streetscapes design, as these are important influences on walking. In this respect, further suggestions, in the form of both qualitative and quantitative recommendations, were made by this study. Based on evidence, the recommendations mostly focused on the organization of traditional neighborhoods (Al-Saymmar), which are considered more pedestrian-friendly environments than the more modern developments (Al-Mugawleen and Al-Abassya) because the increase in walking minutes were significantly associated with the higher scores in urban planning and design indicators tested. However, modern neighborhoods were found to be better in other respects than traditional neighborhoods; for example, commercial growth within the center of modern neighborhoods was far greater than in traditional neighborhoods, as was the permeability, and straightness of edges.

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.87221*

#### *Approaching Urban Design through the Analysis of Structural Differences within Three… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.87221*

into: food shops (~5%); consumer goods shops, selling items such as appliances or clothes (~2.5%); and general services, such as barbers, coffee shops, or maintenance workshops (~2.5%). In terms of health and religious centers, this study agrees with the Master Plan's proposed approximate proportion of <1% for each. Meanwhile, open space was specified into playgrounds, local parks, roads and open spaces, and this study agrees with the approximate amount of 30% suggested by the Master Plan. However, more walking was observed in the traditional neighborhood (Al-Saymmar), which accommodates more and smaller open spaces. In terms of housing, the evidence from this study suggests 50% for the single-family housing residential typology; therefore it challenges the suggested high ratio of low-density housing within the Master Plan. Finally, no feedback is offered in terms of educational land use, since this depends upon relevant standardizations.

For other planning and design criteria, the indicators applied by this study suggest that the planning of new neighborhoods should, not only be confined to defining the densities and types of land use, but should also consider the topologic relationships, and streetscapes design, as these are important influences on walking. In this respect, further suggestions, in the form of both qualitative and quantitative recommendations, were made by this study. Based on evidence, the recommendations mostly focused on the organization of traditional neighborhoods (Al-Saymmar), which are considered more pedestrian-friendly environments than the more modern developments (Al-Mugawleen and Al-Abassya) because the increase in walking minutes were significantly associated with the higher scores in urban planning and design indicators tested. However, modern neighborhoods were found to be better in other respects than traditional neighborhoods; for example, commercial growth within the center of modern neighborhoods was far greater than in traditional neighborhoods, as was the permeability, and straightness of edges.
