Investigating the built environment of damascus traditional city as a child friendly built environment

Abstract EN

A child friendly city is a city, or any local system of governance, committed to fulfilling children‘s rights.

It is a city where the voices, needs, priorities and rights of children are an integral part of public policies, programs and decisions.

As a result, it is a city that is fit for all.

Today, Damascus city rate poorly in terms of the child friendly status.

Due to modern planning and zoning practices, planning for the car and uncontrolled growth, children of Damascus are growing up unhealthy, obese and depressed.

This research reviews the studies done on the built environment that is convenient for the child‘s physical, mental and social health and safety.

For the purpose of this research, 64 children (28 girls and 36 boys) aged between 10-14 years, along with their parents were interviewed and asked to describe their perception and experience of the built environment of the New City of Damascus to meet their needs.

Then, the research analyses and evaluates the Traditional Damascus Built Environment in order to consider key planning and designing factors that could be learnt through looking at the way the Traditional Built Environment providing for children‘s needs, and using this as the blueprint for designing child friendly neighborhoods of new and damaged neighborhood of Damascus City.