Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Residential/commercial
Residential
Residential/health care
Youth centre
Residential/commercial/religious
FIGURE 4.5
Mixed uses prevail in streets of Boulak Al-Dakrour, Cairo. (From GTZ,
Participatory Development
in Urban Areas Program, Boulaq Al-Dakrour District
, GTZ, Cairo, 2007.)
the area—an advantage sought by the new urban trend plans (Figure 4.5).
These areas also offer uses and utilities for a diverse spectrum of groups,
ages and incomes [10].
4.4.3.2 Mixed Housing
There is a variety of housing opportunities in informal areas because
they are community built and are driven by community needs. Different
sizes are available, and in some areas there is a variety of standards,
especially in informal areas built on private lands. In Boulak Al-Dakrour,
Giza, Egypt, there are buildings with high standard apartments and
other buildings accommodating more than one household per unit. This
diversity and community-driven development pattern adds to the area's
sense of place, as opposed to the identical blocks in publicly developed
projects.
4.4.4 Connectedness with Integrating Transportation and Land Use
Informal areas have their own transportation network and modes that
might be exclusive to them, which is why entrances to these areas are
always considered as transportation nodes. They rely on private transpor-
tation modes, ranging from microbuses, pickup trucks and recently auto
rickshaws (toktok). These are usually in bad condition and driven by unli-
censed drivers, thus posing a threat to passengers' lives and to the environ-
ment. Sometimes these areas are built beside railways, underground metro
or transportation stations and can benefit from such facilities. Despite this
drawback in transportation in informal areas, people use bicycles a lot or
they walk, thus adding to the area's green advantages. Land uses are dis-
tributed according to needs; commercial uses and other services are distrib-
uted along the main streets, leaving the narrower streets for residential and
recreational uses.
