RESIDENTIAL BEHAVIOR
Rayan Alsabbagh | 2020-02-14
Editor: Ammar Abaza
Properties in the informal settlements in Damascus are subject to multiple considerations, some or them where built on agricultural land owned by the resident or the builder, and some build on public land owned by the government. So, no set limitations on the property dimensions or the land, and the only constraints are the streets and pathways. In addition to, the compromised independence of units inside the building, some have shared kitchens or bathrooms. It is worth mentioning here that this relates to the area under observation, in Mazzeh 86 north of Damascus built on a very steep cliff, relatively new when compared to other areas in the same region, the pathways that are perpendicular to the slope are narrow and winding, the car roads are very steep, named after the battalion there. From the previous we can deduce that all the roads and pathways are public and intersectional, and rarely noticed a private space in front of entrances, this feeling of no space possession results in neglecting the public space and decreased levels of hygiene. In comparison with Doelaa, south-east of the old city, it has a square grid layout, pathways are wider and buildings are lower which allows for sunlight to reach the ground, and the concrete seating areas in front of entrances suggests that the residents consider the entrance space as private area, and a noticeable difference from the front of houses to the main street in the same area. Ultimately, the feeling of ownership is an essential condition for stable settlement.