Sustainable Urban Growth of Neighborhoods-A Case Study of Alryad-Khartoum

Abstract

Alryad neighborhood is located in Khartoum town– the administrative center of the Capital of Sudan. The neighborhood is one of the high-income residential areas. It was planned and developed in 1972 with large plots (875-600 m2), wide crossing roads and balanced environment. Recently the area shifted to more compact urban form of high density, it is transformed towards mixed-use integrated development with more intensive use of land and less-residential uses. This transformation affected the quality of the neighborhood and the inter-related features of the built environment. The research problem focused on the challenges of transformation that associated with compact neighborhood and the created multiple urban problems e.g. stress of essential services (water supply, electricity and drainage), congestion of streets and demand for parking. The study analyzed the current situation of the neighborhood compared to the five principles of sustainable neighborhood prepared by UN Habitat. The study found that the process of change of the neighborhood was originated by external forces due to the declining economic situation of the whole country. Non-residential uses have taken place uncontrolled, unregulated and haphazardly that led to damage the residential environment and deficiency in infrastructure. The quality of urban life on levels of privacy was reduced, the neighborhood changed gradually to be a central business district. The results showed that Alryad is not fully sustainable. The recommendation is to guide the possible growth patterns through building and planning codes that accommodate transformations and provide new solutions which allow for promoting the neighborhood sustainable development.