Through an anthropological approach based on a visual urban observation, I introduce two new urban models: the design of proximity and the arborescent street design (micro scale for pedestrian) to develop new cities and sustainable neighborhoods. The rediscovering of the value of the medina as a new sustainable model of urbanity could accelerate the preservation of ancient Mediterranean cities.
Through an anthropological approach based on a visual urban observation (photographs shot in four moroccan medinas-ancient cities), I wish to introduce "two new urban design models": the design of proximity and the arborescent street design. These models represent an ideal urban and human scale (micro scale for pedestrian) to develop new cities and sustainable neighborhoods and to improve the quality of daily life of inhabitants. The rediscovering of the high value of the urban model of the medina as a new sustainable model of urbanity of proximity could accelerate the preservation and rehabilitation of the ancient cities of the south mediterranean countries, in relation with the local community and the local atmosphere.
In fact, the medina represents a valid model to design walkable cities and new sustainable.
With 156.000 inhabitants and a density of 55.000 inhabitants/km2, the medina of Fes, for example, is the largest connected area without cars in the world (10.000 narrow streets) so no people are exposed to air pollution traffic. The medina offers a very good level of accessibility and security for the whole population.
In the medina everything is naturally integrated and connected (streets, spaces, private and public sphere, activities, people, minds, beliefs).
The main goals of the dissemination of this book are to sensitize planners, architects and designers regarding:
- The high value of the urban model of the medina to preserve and rehabilitate.
- The high value economic value of the atmosphere of the medina (heritage).
- The high economic value of the medina as an urban and cultural palimpsest (heritage).
- The good level of accessibility, connectivity and security of the medina for different users: the children, the elderly, the disabled.
- The model of high density in harmony with the climate as opposed to sprawl.
- The high opportunities of sociality and the strong sense of community and identity.
- The natural integration of different functions: commercial, social, cultural and religious.
- The bioclimatic character and ecologic comfort due to the particular morphology and urban fabric.
- The practice of sharing where people interact and feel socially more included
- The opportunity to transfer, adapt and reuse in other contexts this bioclimatic and sensory urban model of proximity based on a walkable model. For example to develop new sustainable neighborhoods or future cities.
Book launch: may 2015