Revitalizing Urban Life : The Efficacy of Green and Blue Spaces on Community Well-Being in the Design and Planning of a Qatari Neighborhood

Sustainable town/urban planning has become increasingly important for community well-being and revitalization of existing built environments. In the case of coastal and arid desert regions, sustainable concepts, such as Blue-Green Infrastructure (BGI), are relevant for their physical, mental, and psychological benefits. While BGI promotes native culture, vernacular architectural language, and healthy community interaction, there are debates regarding the design and management of blue-green spaces in emerging neighborhoods. In this context, the primary objective is to study existing town planning and the availability of blue-green spaces in historical, cultural, and modern urban landscapes. This qualitative and exploratory study used an observational approach, including actual and virtual site visits, and documentation. In addition, the research used a case study methodology to investigate three neighborhoods, Al-Dhakira, Barahat Al-Jufairi, and Umm Al-Seneem, in Qatar's coastal, downtown, and suburban areas. After the comprehensive analysis of the case studies, this study proposes a conceptual design for one of the neighborhoods in Qatar.

The findings reveal the abundance of natural blue-green spaces (sea and mangrove forests) in Al-Dhakira, highlighting the need for the three neighborhoods to extend the blue-green space. There is a need to build artificial lakes, ponds, and fountains (from seawater) as blue spaces. Moreover, it is crucial to develop and improve brownfield or unutilized areas for extensive planting of climate-resilient indigenous trees, plants, and shrubs. The study concludes that maintaining blue-green space and prioritizing BGI are essential steps towards a healthy society, vibrant spaces, and community interaction. Stakeholders’ collaboration in building BGI should foster innovative ideas among town planners, architects, and designers.