Publications

This study aims to examine the impact of user sensory stimuli aspects (comfort, passive and active engagements, relaxation, and discovery) on the efficient use of urban squares in Erbil, Iraq, through public interaction. A questionnaire survey (298 respondents) was employed to collect users’ opinions and was validated through expert interviews (13 interviewees) and field observations. PLS-SEM was used as the research method in this study to analyse the influence structure of the 298 respondents. The predicted model of the research can contribute to the body of knowledge among academics and practitioners. Findings revealed that the aspects of sensory stimuli have a significant influence on the efficient use of urban squares. For the efficient use of urban squares, comfort showed the greatest influence on social interaction.

Urban square is a vital element of public open spaces in the cities for people to interact with each other. However, nowadays, square design is encountering a ‘copy and paste’ phenomenon. As a consequence, it creates an unparallel with local environmental attributes and social interaction among the community. This is because what is good in other region is not necessary suite with other places since each city have its own character and environment. Therefore, this research aims to examine the importance of environmental attributes that influence social interaction (social activity and user experience) for the efficient use of an urban square in Erbil square, north of Iraq. In this study, the mixed-mode method based on a case study approach was used. A questionnaire survey with 298 respondents was used and quantitatively analysed through Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) and Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). The qualitative method included non- participatory observation and semi-structured interviews with 13 experts, including urban designers, architects, landscape architects, and academicians. The data were analysed qualitatively by descriptive content analysis. The data were triangulated to investigate the relationships between environmental attributes and the efficient use of urban squares for social interaction. The findings highlighted the importance of environmental attributes in improving the efficiency of urban squares for social interaction. The usability aspect has the most significant effect on social interaction for efficient use (coefficient of determination; R2= 0.548) among all environmental attributes (geographical R2= 0.314, sensory stimuli R2= 0.262, physical R2= 0.222, and place adaptation aspects R2= 0.222). The findings showed that the usability aspect has the highest correlation with social activities (correlation coefficient; r= 0.464, probability value; p<0.01), user experience (r= 0.697, p<0.01) and perception of users (r= 0.587, p<0.01) among all other environmental attributes. The model shows the interrelationship between the environmental attributes and social interaction in urban square is presented. The user perception enhances the good allocation of environmental attributes and diverse social interaction in this model. Both qualities imply for the efficient use of the urban square. The finding contributes towards a theoretical and practical aspect by determining square environmental attributes that creating an efficient use for social interaction in the north Iraq context.

Streets are one of the vital components of an urban form that supports the city dwellers’ public and private activities. Therefore, the purpose of attraction is necessary for persuading people to use the street and presenting the image of the city. Thus, the problem statement of this paper is that attractiveness of the shopping street decreases due to the presence of too much traffic management, and an uncomfortable environment attributed to an over-presence of traffic lights. Therefore, the objective of this paper is to determine the attraction factors associated with the user-friendliness of the shopping streets. This paper uses a case study approach of Mawlawi Street in Sulaymaniyah city in Iraq. The methodology used is the quantitative method via a survey of users (n= 330). The data were analysed statistically by SPSS using the mean values. The results show that the cultural attraction factor is the strongest form that contributes to people using the shopping street with a mean value of 3.1446. It is expected that the findings from this study will help designers, urban planners and policymakers to understand the needs and attitudes of users towards creating an attractive userfriendly shopping street environment in Iraq.

Urban squares, also known as public open spaces, are places where everyone with any social status can visit. Such spaces are recognised and identified as the heart of the cities. In Iraq, the square is not as dominant as a street such as ‘souq’, maybe because of the geographical factors such as weather and the design aspect. This shows the need for a study to examine the square function and try to understand its compatibility and suitability in the Iraqi context. Thus, this research aims to determine the influence of critical design attributes pertaining to the geographical and physical aspects of urban square design on user activities in Erbil Square. The study site, Erbil Square, is in the heart of Erbil City, north of Iraq. The study adopted a quantitative method of questionnaire survey as the primary tool. The pilot survey used a sample size of 34 square users as respondents. Quantitative analysis employed the descriptive statistics to interpret the important aspects influencing the user activity index. The results revealed a positive relationship between geographical and physical as design factors and user activities. Moreover, the literature review and pilot study have exposed the need to focus on design policies and strategies in the Iraqi urban context. Thus, designers should take note of the square element designs that generate activity in the Iraqi context for designing a new square.

Square is an element of urban space, an expression of public open spaces. It has been identified as the heart of cities, giving them an identity of place and a uniqueness of character. This paper seeks to determine the important environmental design attributes that influence user social activity in the square as urban space. The study adopts a quantitative approach, employing a survey questionnaire as the primary research instrument and supported by observation. This pilot survey uses a sample size of 32 users at the square as urban space respondents. Multiple regression analysis is performed to determine the effective design aspects of social activity, and the visual analysis is applied for observation. The study reveals that there are some elements, which have a critical influence on user activities in urban space in Iraq. Those elements are landscape features, provision of shelter and shade protection, the use and need facilities made available by public business, maintenance, and discovery. This study generates an understanding of user behaviour attitudes towards the square as public urban space in the Iraqi context. Thus, the designer should consider those square design elements that generate the activity in an Iraqi square.