From medieval Cairo to modern Masdar City: lessons learned through a comparative study

Traditional Arab-Islamic urbanism, often overlooked in modern development, holds valuable architectural and urban techniques that can be innovatively applied to contemporary cities. A comparative study of medieval Cairo and Masdar City in Abu Dhabi reveals the potential for reviving these heritage-based models while addressing modern challenges such as climate adaptation and sociocultural shifts. The research highlights the need for planners to balance narrow, winding streets—ideal for shade—in with wide, straight paths to enhance pedestrian permeability. It also underscores the importance of considering evolving social dynamics, including gender and spatial privacy concerns, when reintegrating historical urban designs into modern metropolises.

Hassan, A. M., Lee, H., & Yoo, U. (2015). From medieval Cairo to modern Masdar City: lessons learned through a comparative study. Architectural Science Review, 59(1), 39–52. https://doi.org/10.1080/00038628.2015.1015947