A climate-responsive model for transit oriented developments : the case study of Al-Suffouh Suburb, Dubai -

Abstract

As an approach to the sustainable development of automobile-oriented suburbs, the concept of Transit Oriented Development (TOD) has been promoted mainly in the United States and Europe in an attempt to re-focus suburban sprawl and reduce regional ecological footprints. However current TOD research and case studies are mostly confined to temperate-climatic zones with limited applicability to the Middle Eastern gulf countries like the Emirate of Dubai with its tropical desert climate. This thesis is an attempt to bridge this gap by proposing an alternative climate-responsive TOD model taking into consideration the three tenets of sustainability: economic vitality, social diversity and environmental integrity. The model and its design toolkit are articulated around the five generic dimensions of urban design i.e. identity, infrastructure, ecology, public space and private development. They are applied to the development of a TOD master plan for the Nakheel Metro Station in Al Suffouh- one of the oldest suburbs in Dubai’s sprawling urban region. The master plan and design scheme are aimed at retrofitting existing urban form through a set of diversified land uses and the re-articulation of pedestrian and vehicular networks, public open spaces, block morphologies and building typologies.