The meeting point : rethinking public space in the city of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Can urban intervention affect social behaviors within a city? And if so, what happens when that city is partial to cultural restrictions? The target in question here is the city of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The dilemma is that the city has no true form of public space; despite having spaces designated as such. The lack of public space can be related to two main aspects linked to the nature of the city: 01. Gender Segregation: Questioning what actually IS public if both males and females can't access these spaces freely. 02. The development of the city since the oil boom: Looking at social, economic, demographic and urban ramifications. My thesis serves as a contribution to the social needs of the Saudi society in Jeddah today. By questioning the issue of 'publicness' I intend to analyze how the development of the city has been affected by the cultural restrictions imposed upon it.