Seminar SoSe 2026
Dr. Hassan Elmouelhi, Hellen Aziz, Prof. Dr. Philipp Misselwitz

Contemporary Arab Urbanism VIII
Designing Active Arab Cities: Public Space, Urban Sports and Waterfronts

This seminar aims to provide an in-depth exploration of urbanisation trends and the complex challenges facing cities in the MENA/Arab region. In Arab cities, public spaces play an increasingly crucial role in urban development by offering arenas for social interaction and cohesion, as well as opportunities for local economic development. Moreover, public spaces contribute significantly to improving urban residents’ health and well-being by providing spaces and infrastructure for sports and physical activity.

A key focus of this seminar is on the role of urban sports in public spaces, examined through a range of case studies from different Arab cities. The seminar highlights both the challenges and innovative approaches related to the integration of urban sports into public spaces, addressing issues of design, accessibility, governance, and social inclusion.

In the second part of the semester, it shifts its focus to another critical urban topic: waterfronts in Arab cities. This part analyses the relationship between the city and the waterfront and examines how waterfronts influence urban planning and urban development. In addition, the seminar explores different approaches to waterfront design through the analysis of case studies from various Arab cities, considering social, spatial, and environmental dimensions.

The seminar is complemented by a hands-on workshop in Alexandria, Egypt’s second-largest city and the largest on the Mediterranean coast. Founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BC, it has a rich cultural and historical legacy. The workshop offers participants the opportunity to analyse and co-design public spaces and waterfronts using urban sports as a conceptual and practical framework. This workshop is part of the international cooperation project “Towards Green(er) Egyptian Cities Through People-Centred, Practice-Oriented Urban Education”, funded by the DAAD Praxispartnerschaft programme (2023-2026).

Photo: © Youssef Baseet

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