Urban streets and social interactions in ‘third places’: The urban regeneration of Al Wakrah Old Souq (State of Qatar)

Abstract

The social-spatial complexity of a city can be explored through the relationship between its built forms and users’ daily social activities. Researchers argue that there is a relationship between the built environment, social interactions and activities within commercial streets: the presence of a variety of businesses encourages social interactions. As stressed by sociologist Ray Oldenburg,1 ‘third places’ can be regarded as areas of public interest, away from work or home, encouraging social interactions due to a diversity of commercial activity. In order to create a liveable city, therefore, it is necessary to understand the extent to which social interactions at the microscale level are generated by social activities on commercial streets. This research study explores these issues in the context of the urban regeneration of Al Wakrah Corniche Street, a commercial area located in a medium-sized Qatari town. The research design is based on: 1) a theoretical; and 2) an analytical/applied approach. The data obtained through behavioural mapping and visual on-site surveys allowed the determination of each location’s Liveliness Index (LI), which measures the characteristics of a setting in terms of social interaction and engagement. The findings reveal that: 1) the LI for ‘third places’ is higher when compared to other businesses; 2) ‘third places’ along the Corniche Stretch encourage social interactions; and finally 3) specific physical characteristics, such as the degree of permeability, degree of personalisation, seating provided by businesses, shade and shelter within commercial streets, contribute to the urban regeneration of the built environment and/or enhance social interactions in third places.