Roudaina Alkhani worked on this project as an International Advisor on Sustainable Urban Development for Syria Planning Ministries in 2009-2011
She developed a pioneering integrated national model concept for regenerating low-rise informal settlement areas in Syria based on sustainability and participatory approaches, and flexible management. The concept was inspired by the deteriorated human and built environment situation in informal settlement areas and applied to the Al Haydariyah neighbourhood in the North of the city of Aleppo. The neighbourhood was the home of 37000 inhabitants.
The integrated strategic project, which envisaged scaling up revitalisation initiatives across the Northern districts of Aleppo City capitalised on the following principles:
- Prompt city regeneration and revitalisation based on multidisciplinary approaches and collaboration.
- Preservation of the built environment and social networks as possible. This was to be based on an assessment of the buildings and the built fabric.
- Local economic development and innovative ideas in generating more income for the residents.
- Up-skilling the residents and facilitating opportunities in terms of Jobs, training and education.
- Social development and mobilisation through programmes targeting the youth, women and children, families and community engagement.
- Mobilising inter-neighbourhood and cross-city collaboration and solidarity.
- Co-design and community engagement in adapting their homes based on flexible architectural concepts. Densifying the built environment.
- Increasing connectivities to other city areas.
- Public-private partnerships, mobilisation of different NGOs and collaboration with aid agencies.
This pioneering project mobilised collaboration among communities and envisaged collaboration with universities and donor organisations. It was adopted as a national regeneration model, and Al Haydariyah was announced as a Pilot example.
You are welcome to reach out to Roudaina (roudaina.alkhani@platforms.uk.com) if you would like help shaping informal settlement revitalisation strategies.
Featured Photo: © Google maps.
Illustrations from Left to right:
Aleppo’s Map. © Google maps.
Map showing the location of informal settlements around Aleppo. © GTZ .
Photo: Informal Settlement in North Aleppo. © Roudaina Alkhani