This special issue of The Journal of Public Space deals with the idea of re-visioning places of public gathering in the Contemporary Arab City. The three keywords or concept in this formulation are the “Arab city”, and “Public gathering” and “urban place or space”. It is worthwhile to spend some time interrogating each of these concepts by themselves and in a relationship to each other. We may first ask what is the Arab city? Is it a city that is truly different from its counterparts in much of the global south? It is different from the non-Arab Middle East, or for that matter other cities in the developed world that underwent substantial changes over during the last few decades. Equally important is to posit the question regarding the types of public gatherings that occur in the Arab city today which require a specific spatial accommodation. And finally, it is essential to inquire about the nature of urban space in the so-called Arab city and to interrogate how this space is used to accommodate, contain and sometimes even to restrict different forms of public activities.
On the Meanings and Uses of Urban Space in the Arab City: An Historical Perspective
Abstract
Published: 2021-04-30
Pages:5
to 8
Section:
Editorial
Available Formats
How to Cite
AlSayyad, N. (2021) “On the Meanings and Uses of Urban Space in the Arab City: An Historical Perspective”, The Journal of Public Space, 6(1), pp. 5-8. doi: https://doi.org/10.32891/jps.v6i1.1457.
Article Keywords:
References
Abu-Lughod, J. (1987) “The Islamic City--Historic Myth, Islamic Essence, and Contemporary Relevance,” International Journal of Middle East Studies, 19(2) pp 155-168.
AlSayyad, N. (2016) “The Arab City, the Middle Eastern City, the Islamic City: Reflections on a Concept.” In Saliba, R. (ed.) Re-Conceptualizing Boundaries: Urban Design in the Arab World. London: Ashgate, pp. 31-43.
Alsayyad, N. and Guvenc, M. (2014) “Virtual Uprisings: On the Interaction of New Social Media, Traditional Media Coverage and Urban Space during the ‘Arab Spring,’ Urban Studies 51(3) pp. 1-17.
Alsayyad, N. and Bristol K. (1992) "Levels of Congruence: On Urban Space and the Institutional Structure of Different Societies" Journal of Architecture and Planning Research 9(3) pp.193-206.
AlSayyad, N. (1987) "Space in an Islamic City: A Case Study," Journal of Architecture and Planning Research 4(12) pp.108-119.
AlSayyad, N. (2016) “The Arab City, the Middle Eastern City, the Islamic City: Reflections on a Concept.” In Saliba, R. (ed.) Re-Conceptualizing Boundaries: Urban Design in the Arab World. London: Ashgate, pp. 31-43.
Alsayyad, N. and Guvenc, M. (2014) “Virtual Uprisings: On the Interaction of New Social Media, Traditional Media Coverage and Urban Space during the ‘Arab Spring,’ Urban Studies 51(3) pp. 1-17.
Alsayyad, N. and Bristol K. (1992) "Levels of Congruence: On Urban Space and the Institutional Structure of Different Societies" Journal of Architecture and Planning Research 9(3) pp.193-206.
AlSayyad, N. (1987) "Space in an Islamic City: A Case Study," Journal of Architecture and Planning Research 4(12) pp.108-119.