Azzali/Mazzetto/Petroccioli – Urban Challenges in the Globalising Middle East – Social Value of Public Space

An academic study of the role of public places in social life in the Middle East. With a variety of case studies from across the region, including the Gulf, Lebanon, Egypt and North Africa.

Hardback, published by Springer in Switzerland in 2021. First edition. In very good condition.

This publication aims to investigate the nature of social life in public and urban spaces in the cities of the Middle East, considering the value of environmental approaches. It aims to develop a better understanding of the patterns of social interactions and activities in public places, which have been influenced by cultural heritage values.

Sustainable and livable open spaces can help in improving living conditions in cities. Public spaces are relevant as they satisfy many human needs. In public spaces, people interact and meet; people with different cultures and social backgrounds can communicate and learn from each other in social and spontaneous ways. However, decision-makers tend to forget the value of public spaces, especially in the absence of a national regulatory framework in emerging globalized cities.

The book provides a multi-disciplinary approach in reading the characteristics and values of public spaces in the emerging cities of the Middle East.