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Subject Area

Architectural Engineering

Article Type

Original Study

Abstract

This research develops an integrated model that links the social benefit requirements of Urban Green Infrastructure (UGI) with the non-physical attributes of Place Identity (PI) to enhance the Sense of Place (SOP) in contemporary urban environments. The need for this integration arises from limitations in current planning frameworks, which often prioritize ecological performance while overlooking cultural, perceptual, and behavioral dimensions that shape user attachment and belonging. The study adopts an inductive and synthesis-based approach to identify key UGI indicators across environmental, social, economic, and spatial dimensions, alongside PI attributes related to places’ legibility, uniqueness, publicness and territoriality, place’s identification. To validate the proposed model, Central Park in Madinaty, New Cairo was selected as a case study due to its balanced composition of green spaces, a central pedestrian spine, diverse recreational functions, and the presence of the Central Mosque as a symbolic anchor that reinforces local identity. field-based checklist derived from crossanalysis between UGI and PI indicators was applied to assess both the physical characteristics and perceptual qualities of the area. Findings reveal strong compatibility between the area’s spatial structure and the integrated indicators, supporting the model’s effectiveness and applicability. However, gaps were identified, particularly the limited availability of social interaction zones and the weak potential for forming new social networks, which restrict deeper levels of place attachment. Overall, the study demonstrates that enhancing SOP requires a holistic integration of environmental performance with socio-cultural and psychological attributes, underscoring the importance of hybrid indicators in promoting sustainable urban quality of life.

Keywords

Urban design; place identity; quality of life; urban resilience; Sense of Place; Urban Green Infrastructure

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

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