Surveying the Opinions of Residents and Officials on Quality of Life in Low-Income Neighborhoods: A Case Study of Al-Askari Neighborhood in Najaf 2024

Abstract

In light of the increasing challenges facing cities, flexible urban design has become one of the key tools to enhance urban areas' ability to adapt to social and environmental changes. Low-income neighborhoods suffer from planning issues that affect quality of life, necessitating the adoption of flexible strategies to address these problems.

The research problem is the rising social challenges in these neighborhoods due to the lack of flexibility in urban design, which exacerbates environmental, social, and economic issues. This study aims to analyze the role of flexible urban design as a strategy to address these challenges and improve quality of life, with Al-Askari neighborhood in Najaf as a case study.

The research is based on the hypothesis that adopting flexible urban design principles can mitigate social challenges and enhance quality of life in low-income urban areas. To achieve this, a set of key indicators was derived from the theoretical framework, covering social, environmental, economic, and demographic dimensions. These indicators include, for example, the availability of flexible public spaces to promote social cohesion and the sustainability of natural resources to ensure urban development.

The study employed field analysis by surveying residents and local officials, alongside an assessment of the urban and social reality in the study area. The findings highlight the significance of participatory planning and the development of resilient infrastructure in achieving urban sustainability, which helps mitigate social and environmental challenges. This supports the study’s hypothesis and reinforces the need to apply flexible design strategies in similar urban contexts.