Spatial Analysis of Public Housing in Benghazi Using Space Syntax Theory – Case Study: The 7000 Housing Units Project

By: Najwa Alrayani , Aziza Sfor

Department of Urban Planning - Faculty of Engineering - University of Benghazi

Issue: |Special Issue on the Benghazi Reconstruction Conference 2023 |

article language: Arabic

Abstract:

Housing is defined as the basic cell that constitutes the living fabric of the city, where the individual interacts with the community and the surrounding environment. Public housing refers to dwellings built and owned by the state and provided to beneficiaries for short or long periods at affordable prices, aiming to achieve justice and equality among citizens in accessing housing and to reduce costs. Different terms are used for this type of housing such as: social housing, low-cost housing, popular housing, and housing for the disadvantaged. Government approaches vary in providing such housing depending on their capacities and development policies, yet the common objective remains to balance the housing market and secure adequate housing. This study evaluates the performance of public housing in Benghazi city, focusing on the 7000 housing units project, by applying Space Syntax theory as an effective tool to analyze spatial configurations, study residents’ behavior, and assess the distribution patterns of housing units and neighborhood layouts. The findings show that space syntax analysis revealed distinctive characteristics of housing units and apartment layouts, highlighting similarities and differences among them, as well as the social and cultural relations expressed by these spatial patterns. The results also demonstrated the project’s adequacy in meeting the needs of target families, its contribution to improving the urban environment, and its role in creating more efficient public spaces through pedestrian and vehicular networks. The study concludes that the 7000 housing units project in Benghazi demonstrates spatial and environmental characteristics that respond to residents’ needs and strengthen the city’s urban structure. Keywords: Public housing, Space syntax theory, Spatial analysis, Benghazi city, Urban environment.