Rethinking masterplanning: a case study of Ramallah city, Palestine

Abstract

Conventional masterplanning (Euclidean) proved to be a failure in the case of Ramallah. The planning process for Ramallah city could not cope with the rapid urban growth in a sustainable way. Ramallah faces increasing urban sprawl, scattered neighbourhoods on the outskirts of the city and vehicular congestion. This study introduces a new approach within the complex context of geopolitical constraints and obsolete planning regulations through rethinking masterplanning. In this study, spatial, statistical, sectorial and temporal analyses of the past masterplans were conducted. The proposed urban planning approach/scheme focuses on urban growth in a well-connected city centre, enforcing new sub-centres, endorses qualities of compactness, transport-oriented, walkable, pedestrian/bicycle-friendly, and above all encourages mixed land use development. Ultimately the aim is to create polycentricity in Ramallah that will embrace three self-sufficient sub-centres in addition to the central business district (CBD).