Urban Challenges in the Globalizing Middle-East

With their varied socio-physical, socio-economic, socio-cultural, and socio-political presence, cities have always been highly differentiated spaces expressive of heterogeneity, diversity activities, entertainment, excitement, pleasure. They (and still are) melting pots for the formulation experimentation with new philosophies religious social practices. Cities produce, reproduce, represent, convey much what counts today as culture, knowledge, politics. While Middle Eastern city is not exception, characterised by some these key elements, but it continues to witness various forms struggles. It endures experience a multitude influences where its architecture urbanism experienced dramatic transformations that instigated critical questions about urban growth, sustainable design planning, regenerating retrofitting heritage historic building stock, quality life, healthy neighbourhoods, liveability identity, multiculturalism, among others. Architecture spectacles are developed in tandem environmental degradation, civic regional conflicts mass displacements refugees, political economic instability, other bare realities. In essence, this conveys severe dichotomy emerging field research, discourse, critique. The body knowledge on constitutes 'urban' has fluctuated between two clearly defined intellects. first concomitant spatial intensity population buildings basis certain boundaries, dimension density. second associated dissemination value system including attitudes, norms, behaviours viewed place encounter assembly, simultaneity interaction. Evidently, form culture or life. 'Urban' been, be, domain architects, designs planners, life scientists. This case throughout 20th century. However, over past decades gained substantial attention architects designers. Likewise, contemporary discourse portrayed within poles. set positive qualities diversity, tolerance, sophistication, cosmopolitanism, integration, interaction, negotiation differences. number characteristics represent undesired conditions detachment, withdrawal, loneliness, control, segregation, individualism, isolation, fear, seclusion. Framing preceding standpoints, one should refer cycle three main symbiotic pillars 'urban': imagined, measured, experienced, which contribute development insights elucidate parameters interrogating challenges City. These stem from Lefebvrian conjecture production space, postulates triadic relationship different related types conceived (Imagined), perceived (measured) lived (experienced).