Public Open Space on the Transforming Urban Waterfronts of

376 Pages·2009·11.39 MB·English

by  Fuad Al Ansari

Public Open Space on the
Transforming Urban
Waterfronts of Bahrain – The
Case of Manama City
Fuad Al Ansari

Ph.D. Thesis

Public Open Space on the
Transforming Urban
Waterfronts of Bahrain – The
Case of Manama City
by
Fuad Al Ansari

Ph.D. Thesis
September 2009

Newcastle University
School of Architecture, Planning and
Landscape
Abstract
Public open space on the urban waterfront is a unique part of the urban setting of many
waterside cities. Since the 1960s, more of these spaces are being provided in an attempt
to bring more people to waterside areas. While some cities have been successful in
striking a balance between their economic needs and the public‘s demand for access to
the water, others have failed. During this process, the urban waterfront has become
synonymous with the idea of public open space.
In Bahrain, since the late 1920s, ‗decline‘ has become the predominant character of the
relationship between urban centres and the water. Hasty urban, demographic and
economic growth alongside extensive land reclamation and privatization processes has
progressively changed the nature of the waterfront. Until the mid 1990s this process
took place without sufficient consideration for the cultural and social values of the
waterfronts of the Islands. The new millennium saw an even faster depletion of those
spaces, which triggered public outcry. Currently, open spaces providing formal or
authorized access to the water represent 3 to 8% of the Islands‘ shoreline.
In reflection of this situation, this research investigates the physical and social nature of
the urban waterfront in Bahrain in the context of the current urban growth and land
reclamation processes. Theoretically, it uses a multilayered approach in exploring
public open space on the urban waterfront. The empirical aspect is case specific,
focusing on the Northern and Eastern waterfronts of Manama. This investigation, which
is the first of its type in Bahrain, employs a case study method based on an overall
qualitative approach. This enables the utilization of many tools, such as archival
research, site survey, observation, and interviews, in investigating the physical and
functional attributes of Manama‘s waterfront and the selected public open spaces. The
study of this waterfront is able to answer questions related to its accessibility,
ownership, water-dependent nature of its uses, and the availability of public open space
on it. It also focuses on formal and informal types of waterfronts to answer questions
related to how those spaces are publicly perceived and consumed and the processes that
shape them.

i
Table of Contents
CAHPTER 1: INTRODUCTION ....................................................................... 1
1.1 Definition of the Problem .............................................................................................................. 1
1.2 Research Aim, Question & Objectives......................................................................................... 3
1.3 Research Methodology .................................................................................................................. 4
1.4 Structure of the Thesis .................................................................................................................. 5
CAHPTER 2: THE PUBLIC ON THE WATERFRONT .................................... 9
2.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 9
2.2 Definition of the Urban Waterfront ........................................................................................... 10
2.3 A History of Urbanity on the Waterside.................................................................................... 10
2.3.1 Early Encounters ...................................................................................................................... 11
2.3.2 Beyond Biological and Spiritual Dependency .......................................................................... 12
2.3.3 The Rise of Renaissance/Post–Medieval Waterfront ............................................................... 13
2.3.4 The Waterfront in the Age of the of the Industrial Revolution ................................................. 16
2.3.5 The Post-Industrial Waterfront ................................................................................................. 18
2.3.6 The Historic Waterfront in the Arab and Islamic City ............................................................. 19
2.4 The Urban Waterfront Phenomenon: Bringing the People back to the Water ..................... 23
2.4.1 The Phenomenon Worldwide ................................................................................................... 23
2.4.2 The Urban Waterfront on Reclaimed Land .............................................................................. 26
2.5 Conclusion .................................................................................................................................... 28
CAHPTER 3: UNDERSTANDING PUBLIC OPEN SPACE ON THE URBAN
WATERFRONT: POTENTIALS AND CONSTRAINTS ........... 31
3.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 31
3.2 Definition and Roles of Public Open Space ............................................................................... 32
3.3 Formal and Informal Public Space ............................................................................................ 35
3.4 Attributes of Public Open Space on the Urban Waterfront .................................................... 36
3.4.1 Natural Locational Characteristics ........................................................................................... 38
3.4.1.1 Land and Water Forms.................................................................................................... 39
3.4.1.2 Nature of the Shoreline and the Water‘s Depth .............................................................. 40
3.4.1.3 Water Dynamics ............................................................................................................. 40
3.4.1.4 Water Quality .................................................................................................................. 41
3.4.1.5 Climate and Natural Phenomena..................................................................................... 41
3.4.2 Urban and Spatial Characteristics............................................................................................. 42
3.4.2.1 Urban Form ..................................................................................................................... 43
3.4.2.1.1 Urban Complexity ...................................................................................................... 43
3.4.2.1.2 Urban Continuity ........................................................................................................ 43
3.4.2.1.3 Integration with Water ............................................................................................... 44
3.4.2.2 Public Access to the Waterfront...................................................................................... 45
3.4.2.2.1 City-Waterfront Connectivity .................................................................................... 50
ii
3.4.2.2.2 Inter-Waterfront Zone Continuity .............................................................................. 53
3.4.2.2.3 Accessibility of the Water .......................................................................................... 53
3.4.3 Conservation, Identity and Distinctiveness, ............................................................................. 55
3.4.4 Building codes, Zoning and Land-use ...................................................................................... 58
3.4.4.1 Complexity of the Urban Waterfront .............................................................................. 58
3.4.4.2 Functional Connectivity, Continuity and Interdependency ............................................. 59
3.4.4.3 Functional Water-dependency ........................................................................................ 60
3.4.5 Actors‘ Characteristics, Jurisdictional Boundaries, & Legislative Issues ................................ 62
3.4.5.1 Waterfront Constituency ................................................................................................. 62
3.4.5.2 Ownership of the Waterfront .......................................................................................... 64
3.4.5.3 Land Ownership, Riparian Rights and Public Access Rights ......................................... 67
3.5 Conclusion .................................................................................................................................... 70
CAHPTER 4: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ............................................... 67
4.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 67
4.2 Methodological Perspective ........................................................................................................ 68
4.2.1 Qualitative Approach ............................................................................................................... 68
4.2.2 The Case Study as a Method of Investigation .......................................................................... 70
4.3 Research Settings ......................................................................................................................... 71
4.4 Data Sources, Methods and Approaches ................................................................................... 78
4.4.1 Types and Sources of the Data Collected ................................................................................. 78
4.4.2 Data Collection Techniques ..................................................................................................... 79
4.4.2.1 Archival Research ........................................................................................................... 79
4.4.2.2 Site Surveys .................................................................................................................... 81
4.4.2.2.1 Site Survey on a Macro Scale .................................................................................... 81
4.4.2.2.2 Site Survey on a Micro Scale ..................................................................................... 85
4.4.2.3 Semi-structured and casual interviews ............................................................................ 86
4.4.2.3.1 Conducting the semi-structured and casual interviews .............................................. 88
4.4.2.4 Observations ................................................................................................................... 90
4.4.2.4.1 Conducting the Observations ..................................................................................... 92
4.5 Case Study Strategy .................................................................................................................... 92
4.6 Data Analysis and Writing Strategy .......................................................................................... 94
4.7 Methodological Assessment ........................................................................................................ 95
4.8 Conclusion .................................................................................................................................... 98
CAHPTER 5: THE URBAN GROWTH OF MANAMA ................................. 101
5.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 101
5.2 Location, Topography and Weather ........................................................................................ 102
5.3 Demographic, Socioeconomic and Political Characteristics .................................................. 105
5.4 Planning Regime in Bahrain ..................................................................................................... 106
5.5 The city of Manama .................................................................................................................. 107
5.6 The Urban Growth of Manama and the Process of Land Reclamation ............................... 108
5.7 Styles of Land Reclamation on the Waterfront of Manama .................................................. 110
iii
5.7.1 Incremental Style .................................................................................................................... 111
5.7.2 Large Scale Style .................................................................................................................... 115
5.7.3 Island Style ............................................................................................................................. 117
5.8 Motives for and Approaches to Water Reclamation in Bahrain: .......................................... 122
5.9 The Physical Configuration of the Public Space of Manama throughout the Urban Growth
Process ................................................................................................................................................... 125
5.9.1 The Historical Urban Waterfront and its Public Open Space ................................................. 125
5.9.2 Public Open Space on the Rural Waterfront........................................................................... 130
5.9.3 Public Open Space on the Remote and Open Waterfront ....................................................... 134
5.10 Conclusion .................................................................................................................................. 136
CAHPTER 6: THE URBAN MORPHOLOGY OF MANAMA’S WATERFRONT
.............................................................................................. 138
6.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 138
6.2 Manama‟s Waterfront .............................................................................................................. 139
6.3 Zoning of the Northern and Eastern Waterfronts of Manama ............................................. 143
6.3.1 Work Space on the Waterfront ............................................................................................... 143
6.3.2 Living Space on the Waterfront.............................................................................................. 146
6.3.3 Leisure Space on the Waterfront ............................................................................................ 151
6.3.4 Other Zones on the Urban Waterfront .................................................................................... 153
6.3.5 The Dilemma of Zoning and Public Space on the Urban Waterfront ..................................... 153
6.4 Land Tenure of the Northern and the Eastern Waterfronts of Manama ............................. 159
6.5 Land Use of the Northern and Eastern Waterfronts of Manama ......................................... 170
6.6 Conclusion .................................................................................................................................. 175
CAHPTER 7: ACCESS AND ACCESSIBILITY OF PUBLIC OPEN SPACE
ON THE URBAN WATERFRONT ......................................... 178
7.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 178
7.2 Vehicular Accessibility of Manama‟s Urban Waterfronts..................................................... 179
7.3 Pedestrian Accessibility of Manama‟s urban waterfront....................................................... 182
7.4 Accessible Spaces on the Urban Waterfront ........................................................................... 186
7.4.1 Spaces with Designated Access .............................................................................................. 188
7.4.2 Spaces with Informal Access .................................................................................................. 190
7.4.3 Spaces with Exclusive Access ................................................................................................ 193
7.5 Access to the Water ................................................................................................................... 194
7.5.1 Touch the Water ..................................................................................................................... 194
7.5.2 Above the Water ..................................................................................................................... 196
7.5.3 See the Water.......................................................................................................................... 198
7.6 The Nature of the Shoreline and the Water Itself................................................................... 198
7.6.1 Bulkheads & Rip-raps ............................................................................................................ 199
7.6.2 Rubble .................................................................................................................................... 201
7.6.3 Beaches................................................................................................................................... 201
7.7 The Quality of the Water .......................................................................................................... 202
iv
7.8 Conclusion .................................................................................................................................. 204
CAHPTER 8: FORMAL PUBLIC OPEN SPACE ON THE URBAN
WATERFRONT OF MANAMA: AL BAHRI PARKS ............. 207
8.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 207
8.2 The physical Characteristics of Al Bahri Parks ...................................................................... 208
8.2.1 Physical Characteristics of Bahri-I ......................................................................................... 209
8.2.2 Bahri-II ................................................................................................................................... 213
8.2.3 Lighting of the Al Bahri Parks ............................................................................................... 217
8.2.4 Physical Transformation, Management and Funding of Al Bahri Parks ................................ 219
8.3 Perception and Use of Al Bahri Parks ..................................................................................... 221
8.3.1 Observing Nature in Al Bahri Parks ....................................................................................... 222
8.3.1.1 Users‘ Perception of Al Bahri Parks through Behavioural Mapping ............................ 226
8.3.1.2 Waterfront and Hinterland Public Open Space ............................................................. 231
8.3.1.3 Observing Fauna in Al Bahri Parks .............................................................................. 232
8.3.1.4 Observing Nature and the Microclimate of Al Bahri Parks .......................................... 233
8.3.2 Al Bahri Parks as a Place for Leisure ..................................................................................... 234
8.3.2.1 Transformations in Leisure Trends ............................................................................... 238
8.3.3 Al Bahri Parks as Social Places .............................................................................................. 239
8.3.3.1 The Users and the Social Uses of Al Bahri Parks ......................................................... 240
8.3.3.2 The Perception of Al Bahri Parks as Places for Social Interaction ............................... 242
8.4 Conclusion .................................................................................................................................. 250
CAHPTER 9: INFORMAL PUBLIC OPEN SPACE ON THE URBAN
WATERFRONT OF MANAMA – AL SEEF WATERFRONT 253
9.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 253
9.2 The Development of Al Seef ...................................................................................................... 254
9.3 Al Seef Waterfront .................................................................................................................... 256
9.3.1 Al Seef Waterfront - Zone One .............................................................................................. 258
9.3.2 Al Seef Waterfront - Zone Two .............................................................................................. 260
9.3.3 Al Seef Waterfront - Zone Three ............................................................................................ 261
9.3.4 Al Seef Waterfront - Zone Four ............................................................................................. 263
9.3.5 Other Informal Public Spaces in Manama .............................................................................. 265
9.4 Perception and Use of Al Seef Waterfront .............................................................................. 265
9.4.1 Observing Nature in Al Seef Waterfront ................................................................................ 266
9.4.1.1 Users‘ Behaviour .......................................................................................................... 268
9.4.1.2 Microclimate of Al Seef Waterfront ............................................................................. 269
9.4.1.3 Flora and Fauna in Al Seef ........................................................................................... 271
9.4.2 Al Seef as a Place for Leisure ................................................................................................. 272
9.4.3 Al Seef Waterfront as a Social Place ...................................................................................... 276
9.4.3.1 The Users and the Social Uses of Al Seef Waterfront .................................................. 277
9.4.3.2 Social activities in Al Seef ............................................................................................ 277
9.4.4 Fishing .................................................................................................................................... 285
9.5 Conclusion .................................................................................................................................. 292
CAHPTER 10: RESEARCH CONCLUSIONS AND DISCUSSION ............... 294
10.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 294
10.1.1 Research Problem ................................................................................................................... 295
10.1.2 Research Aims, Objectives and Main Question ..................................................................... 296
v
10.1.3 Research Methodology ........................................................................................................... 297
10.2 Research Findings & Conclusions ............................................................................................ 299
10.3 Discussion of the Research Findings ........................................................................................ 300
10.3.1 The Special Nature of Public Open Space on the Urban Waterfront...................................... 301
10.3.2 Changing Trends in Land Reclamation and Urban Growth ................................................... 301
10.3.3 A Wider Perspective on Access and Accessibility ................................................................. 303
10.3.4 The Economic Value of Public Open Space on the Urban Waterfront .................................. 306
10.3.5 Historical Continuity .............................................................................................................. 308
10.4 Recommendations for Policy Makers, Planners and Urban Designers ................................ 309
10.5 Research‟s Main Contribution to Knowledge ......................................................................... 311
10.6 Recommended Further Research Areas .................................................................................. 312
REFERENCES 313
APPENDICES 334
APPENDIX I: CHARACTERISTICS OF BAHRAIN’S CLIMATE.................... 334
APPENDIX II: AL SAHA AND AL BARAHA IN BAHRAIN ........................... 336
APPENDIX III: LISTS OF INTERVIEWS ........................................................ 342
APPENDIX IV: INTERVIEW SAMPLE ........................................................... 345
vi
Acknowledgements

Firstly I would like to thank the University of Bahrain for the financial and moral
support given to me, as without this, this PhD would have remained a dream. Special
thanks go to the staff and faculty of the Department of Civil Engineering and
Architecture at the University of Bahrain, for their unconditional support.
I would also like to express my gratitude to both my supervisors, Ali Madanipour and
Ian Thompson, for their wise direction and support to me along the path to the
completion of this work. My thanks extend to my colleagues and the staff at the School
of Architecture, Planning and Landscape, Newcastle University, for being there for me,
for providing me with such an intellectual and creative environment, for the lengthy rich
discussions, for their help, direction and most importantly friendship, thank you all.
Last but not least I am greatly indebted to my family for their love, support, patience,
encouragement and understanding which they gave to me unconditionally during my
studies.
To all of these and many others, thank you.
vii