Documentation of Old Urban Areas for Regeneration Ideas in the Future, Khanaqa Neighborhood as Case Study

Abstract

Globally, as the inhabitants of urban areas continue to grow, considerable pressure is placed on resources, necessitating the immediate need for effective improvements to the infrastructure in the area, particularly in terms of shelter, clean water, and waste. The built environment is a significant component of urban life. Controlling urban zones is thus one of the 21st century's important challenges in urban development, Erbil city is not far from this challenge. Erbil is one of the old cities in Iraq that consists of many old urban areas which in years they will lose the ability to maintain their physical structure. Accordingly documenting old neighborhoods of Erbil city could play a staminal role in helping future regeneration works. The study conducts a documentation process that prepares a set of layered maps of the existing situation of the Khanaqah neighborhood that help in regeneration works within the area in the future. Khanaqa neighborhood is one of the oldest bad-conditioned areas in Erbil city. This area did not receive any maintenance or renovation works besides its obvious problems such as Crowding problems because it’s inside the central business district, traffic problems because of the development of the city, lack of car parking, there is no consideration for pedestrian, the lake of greenery, and the exhausted situation of the neighborhood are main problems. The aim of the study is to describe all the problems that faced the neighborhood to be a ready document for oncoming renovation works. The research demonstrates a descriptive methodology to explain the weak and strong points of the area through observation of the condition of the buildings, streets, and facilities in the neighborhood and comparing them with the standards. The research finds that the area needs to have a comprehensive renovation process to retain its cultural and historical values from deterioration and on the other hand to enrich the quality of commercial activities and social interactions in the area.