Shifting Spaces: Housing and Urban Change in Kabul

Abstract

This thesis explores the evolution of Kabul’s housing landscape with a focus on the emergence of Shahraks (planned townships) after 2001. Drawing on historical research, four case studies (Aria City, Khwaja Rawash Township, Khushal Khan Mena Blocks, and Omid-e-Sabz Township), and interviews with residents and experts, it analyzes how Shahraks have reshaped urban development in a rapidly growing city. Inspired by Soviet-era Mikrorayons, Shahraks introduced formal infrastructure, legal recognition, modern amenities, and opportunities for new economic activity. They helped expand Kabul’s formal housing stock and created pockets of urban community identity. However, the research finds that Shahraks also deepen spatial and socioeconomic inequalities. Largely built through private investment and targeting wealthier residents and civil servants, they remain inaccessible to the majority of Kabul’s population. Many Shahraks were developed on contested or illegally grabbed land, raising concerns about tenure security and governance. Despite improved infrastructure compared to informal settlements, Shahraks often suffer from poor climate responsiveness, environmental degradation, limited green spaces, and energy-intensive designs. Their weak integration with Kabul’s broader urban fabric further exacerbates issues of spatial fragmentation. Looking ahead, the thesis argues that Kabul must learn from both the achievements and shortcomings of Shahraks as it plans future projects like Kabul New City. Their model is not inherently unsustainable or inaccessible, but without deliberate reforms, Kabul risks reproducing a cycle where contemporary urban development becomes synonymous with exclusion, fragmentation, and missed opportunity. Key recommendations include prioritizing affordable and expandable housing models, enforcing transparent land governance, promoting climate-adaptive design, strengthening connections between housing and employment centers, and carefully structuring public-private partnerships to align private investment with public goals. As Kabul embarks on projects like Kabul New City, it must learn from the partial successes and profound shortcomings of past developments. The challenge is not simply to build new cities, but to build a more inclusive, adaptable, and sustainable urban future for all Kabulis.