hosiar_nooraddin

INTRODUCTION

1. outdoor space design of Islamic cities

There is little concern with local tradition to derive principles

for designing modern street environments of Islamic cities. Even

the research concerned with tradition concentrates on the study

and design of buildings and elevations, while the outdoor space

between buildings is seen as a by-product

• As a consequence,

many aspects of the street environments of Islamic cities, such

as the role of

al-fina'

as a unique outdoor space concept of

street environments, is not thoroughly investigated.

This study aims to demonstrate that the local street design

tradition of the pre-modernization period along with the present

created streets' settings of the different Islamic cultures could

be important sources of local knowledge on Islamic urbanism. The

use and benefits of the different applications of

al-fina'

could

then be an important basis for modern planning policies and

detailed street design principles.

In this regard, the concept of

al-fina'

plays a major role

for conceptualizing the main settings of street environments. The

importance of

al-fina'

arises also from its role as a third sort

of space, connecting private indoor space and public apen space.

In this space, different settings are created and developed by

people continuously to meet different functions. Because of its

location between the two spaces, the functions of

al-fina'

are

related and organized according to different private and public

demands. The applications of the

fina'

concept can be studied in

detail to explore its form-giving role, and how it can contribute

See for example:

Chadirji, Rifat, 1986,

Concepts and Influences: Towards a Regionalized

International Architecture,

KPI Ltd., London.

-Sha'ri' Ta'ha' wa Hammer Smith,

1985, Muassasat al-Abhath al'Arabiyyah, Beirut.

Sirageldin, Ismail (editor), 1989,

al-Tajdid wal Tasil ti 'Ima'rat al

Mujtama•t al-Isla'miyyah,

The Aga Khan Award for Architecture, Geneva.

Steele, James (editor), 1992,

Architecture for a Changing World,

Academy Editions, London.

In Arabic

"al"

means "the". Therefore,

tina'

is the basic form.