Evaluating Mixed Land Use and Connectivity: A Case Study of Five Neighborhoods in Erbil City, Iraq

Abstract

In Erbil, the capital city of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, rapid urban growth has led to many sustainability challenges and has prompted shifts in neighborhood planning over time. This research examines the aspects of connectivity and mixed land use within five neighborhoods constructed during different periods. Given the limited research on this topic in regard to Erbil, the objective of this research is to bridge this gap by evaluating the performance of these two aspects of sustainable urban design in neighborhoods with different urban characteristics. The research methodology employed in this study integrates both qualitative and quantitative approaches to attain comprehensive insights. This approach encompasses surveys to assess residents’ satisfaction, measures the entropy index, and utilizes space syntax analysis to examine street networks. The findings of this study reveal that non-gated neighborhoods exhibit a higher level of connectivity and mixed land use, indicating the need for more substantial interventions in improving gated neighborhoods. Additionally, it shows that older neighborhoods with short and irregular streets demonstrate a higher level of connectivity. The implications of these findings extend beyond academia, bearing substantial significance for municipalities and policymakers involved in city development planning. In other words, it shows that the oldest neighborhood was the most compatible with indicators and principles of mixed land use and connectivity. However, gated neighborhoods, despite the good quality of the infrastructure, fall short of meeting the principles of sustainable neighborhoods.