Copyright
Yossr Abouelnour;Published On
2025-06-03Page Range
pp. 103–118Language
- English
Print Length
16 pages
6. Urban Identity in a Polarised Metropolis
Examining the Strengths and Weaknesses of Informal Settlements and Gated Communities in the Greater Cairo Area
Chapter of: Housing, Heritage and Urbanisation in the Middle East and North Africa(pp. 103–118)
In Chapter Six, Yossr Abouelnour examines the urban identity of a polarised metropolis, evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of informal settlements and gated communities in the Greater Cairo Area. She juxtaposes and compares the planning methods adopted in these communities, illustrating how liveable environments can be fostered by maximising community potential and strengthening inhabitants’ sense of identity. Additionally, she questions the premise of a significant planning dichotomy between the two urban systems, their spatial configurations, and the opportunities they provide for their inhabitants.
Contributors
Yossr Abouelnour
(author)Urban management student, researcher at Technische Universität Berlin
Yossr Abouelnour is an architect, urban designer and researcher based in Berlin, currently pursuing an urban management degree at Berlin Technical University. She holds a master’s degree in urban design from the University of Toronto and a bachelor’s degree in architectural engineering from Ajman University. Her professional experience includes lecturing at the University of Science and Technology of Fujairah, working as a teaching and lab assistant at the University of Toronto and Ajman University, as well as practicing architecture, urban design and planning in the private sector for firms in Dubai, Romania and Toronto.