Dimensions of Change from a Fishing Village to Heritage Marketplace: A Study of Souq Al Wakrah, Qatar

Abstract

Al Wakrah is a distinctive settlement for cultural heritage in the State of Qatar. Globalization and rapid urbanization characterized the development of Al Wakrah over the last half-century, leading to a remarkable transformation in the morphology of the settlement from being originally a fishing and pearling village to a reconstructed traditional heritage district today. The thesis studies the morphological characteristics of the reconstruction of the souq and its effect on the design and planning of the souq today by exploring the symbiotic relationship between urban morphology, land use, function, and form. The purpose is to develop a deeper understanding of how Souq Al Wakrah operates within its urban context at various scales from the immediate surroundings to the continuous urban fabric of Al Wakrah. The study applies several representational techniques common tomorphological studies, including analysis of urban spatial networks using space syntax for the purposes of design intervention. The findings show critical importance of developing an understanding about the relationship between form, function, and urban context in such places for future preservation projects. The thesis discusses the potential implications of design enhancements for Souq Al Wakra in the future