“Patterns” of Threshold Spaces in the Historical City of Jeddah: Investigating the Relationship Between the Public Spaces and Residential Units

“Patterns” of Threshold Spaces in the Historical City of Jeddah explores the meaning of threshold spaces and investigates the relationship between public spaces and residential units in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. It revisits Christopher Alexander's theory in A Pattern Language and discusses the extension of this concept to an Islamic city. Empirical methods are used to investigate patterns at four different scales, forming the basis of the investigation. The book aims to explore the meaning of threshold spaces in old Jeddah and reveals eighteen patterns of threshold spaces, both related to the specific case study and modified versions of Alexander's patterns. It will interest researchers, students, architects, urban planners, and anthropologists, as well as cultural heritage practitioners.

Format: Unspecified
Length: 176 pages
Publication date: 17 November 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

“Patterns” of Threshold Spaces in the Historical City of Jeddah delves into the significance of threshold spaces and explores the intricate relationship between public spaces and residential units within the historic city of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. At the same time, it revisits Christopher Alexander's influential theory presented in his canonical 1977 book, A Pattern Language. This book raises questions and conducts in-depth analysis of "patterns" related to the cultural, social, and environmental characteristics of Jeddah, with a particular focus on the impact of gender segregation in the city's urban layout. It discusses the extension of this exploration by testing a concept from the urban design theory of the West, specifically the United States and Canada, and applying it to an Islamic city to identify patterns across four distinct scales: body, building, street, and city. Empirical methods are employed within the context of historical Jeddah to investigate these patterns using diverse approaches tailored to each scale. The primary objective of this book is to unravel the meaning of threshold spaces in the ancient city of Jeddah. Furthermore, it demonstrates that there exist eighteen distinct patterns of threshold spaces within the old town, including patterns that are unique to this specific case study and modified versions of the patterns explored by Christopher Alexander. This book offers a comprehensive understanding of the interplay between housing and the historical city, as well as an exploration of the pivotal role that threshold spaces play in shaping the ancient city of Jeddah. It will appeal to researchers, students of architecture, urban planning, and anthropology studies, as well as individuals engaged in cultural heritage, both academics and practitioners.

Weight: 510g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032389486