Cool city as a sustainable example of heat island management case study of the coolest city in the world

AbstractUrbanization negatively impacts the urban environment mainly by the production of waste heat from refrigeration systems, although industrial processes and motorized vehicular traffic have also been recognized as additional causes of the urban heat island (UHI) effect. The UHI negatively impacts the residents, with spillover effects for environmental aspects. In urbanized areas, it is a critical factor for air quality management and public health. The UHI and strategies to implement its mitigation are becoming increasingly important for governmental agencies and researchers. The problem is how to deal with UHI effects? Accordingly, the main aim of this paper is to determine the UHI mitigation strategies and their effectiveness in terms of cooling and temperature reduction in cities at the level of urban design. This goal is achieved through exploring the concept of the cool city, as it is the key factor, from the theoretical, analytical, and practical viewpoints, to diminishing the urban heat release. Then, the paper analyzes how the concept of the coolest city in the world (Stuttgart, Germany) is developed and explores a practical approach toward cool cities. Finally, it suggests a set of recommendations to develop the urban environment in Greater Cairo by applying the cool city concept

The phonic identity of the city urban soundscape for sustainable spaces

AbstractThe world is urbanizing rapidly, with more than half of the global population now living in cities. Improving urban environments for the well-being of the increasing number of urban citizens is becoming one of the most important challenges of the 21st century. Although city planners customarily have visions of a “good urban environment,” those visions are usually limited to visual esthetics. The qualitative perspective of sound, which includes sonic diversity and acoustic ecology, is a neglected area of urban design.Today, many cities have effective legislation that is aimed at reducing the negative effects of noise. Even though many cities may be perceived as very noisy, there are a number of effective practices that can be rather quickly implemented. The soundscape approach, which considers environmental sound as a resource, can be most effective when applied in the urban planning and design process. This paper aimed to apply the soundscape approach in the planning of urban spaces’ redevelopment. It explores how the sound impact on the shaping of urban open spaces through international case studies. Then the paper suggests a strategy for including the urban soundscape in the planning process for one of the noisiest squares in Cairo, in order to create a quiet space amid the city’s bustle. In this context, the paper concludes that, the concept of soundscape is an established theme in the acoustics environment and that there is a need for soundscaping techniques that are specifically adapted to the outdoor environment

Urban branding as an effective sustainability tool in urban development

AbstractSustainability in the urban image is one of the most important strategies for sustainable urban design. Most of cities are trying to strengthen its visual image to achieve a sustainable urban image by integrating non physical elements such as culture, economic, social aspects and activities through some of new strategies. One of these strategies is urban branding strategy.Urban branding is a new approach toward urban development of sustainable cities. City branding, a novel aspect of urban communication, improves marketing of the city image in various ways by converting the visual image of the city into a brand image. Unique characteristics of the city are featured and a sustainable urban image is created. This paper will focus on city branding as a powerful image-building strategy. In this realm, the branding of Stuttgart, Germany, serves as a successful model of a branding strategy. Next, branding of the city of Port Said, Egypt, will be explored. The principal aim of this paper is to describe how cities become branded; how branding succeeds; and how a viable city image is created. This paper reviews the methods used to brand cities, and concludes by emphasizing the importance of urban branding in terms of sustainability

Sustainable streetscape as an effective tool in sustainable urban design

AbstractSustainable streetscape plays an important role in forming the visual image of sustainable cities, as it is one of the most important factors which helps in city success, and tourist attractions. However, there are many cities whose visual image is lacking the presence of correct and sustainable streetscape, which negatively affects the visual image of these cities, and consequently the place of those cities globally. In this context, the research aims to activate the role of sustainable streetscape as an approach to provide an attractive and safe sustainable urban environment, and to sustain the development process for the visual image of cities, especially in Egypt, through focusing on the elements and basic principles of sustainable streetscape that should be taken into account to define sustainable streetscape. So that, the analytical study covers some international examples in applying the basic principles of sustainable streetscape in order to use it to develop streetscape of one of the main urban streets in Egypt. The research concludes the importance of developing urban environment visual image in Egypt, through directing urban planners and designers to the important role of streetscape in achieving sustainable development, in addition to identify the methods of application of sustainability in streetscape

Cultural Urban Branding as an Approach Towards Sustainability

City branding has become one of the primary policies for achieving sustainability in many countries. In this manner, many strategies can be applied to create place and city urban branding. One of these strategies is the culture-based urban branding. Culture plays a significant role in place and city urban branding; cultural branding can be considered an essential approach for the economic, social and environmental renewal of cities.City branding has become gradually important according to its bases and activities in the urban development process in general. This paper describes how culture can be used in city branding. The research applies the significance of urban cultural branding to analyse the case study of Madinah, Saudi Arabia

Cultural Urban Branding as an Approach Towards Sustainability

City branding has become one of the primary policies for achieving sustainability in many countries. In this manner, many strategies can be applied to create place and city urban branding. One of these strategies is the culture-based urban branding. Culture plays a significant role in place and city urban branding; cultural branding can be considered an essential approach for the economic, social and environmental renewal of cities.City branding has become gradually important according to its bases and activities in the urban development process in general. This paper describes how culture can be used in city branding. The research applies the significance of urban cultural branding to analyse the case study of Madinah, Saudi Arabia.</jats:p