Evaluation of the Sustainable Neighborhood Model According To The Indicators of the United Nations Program (for Human Settlements): A case study

Abstract

In recent decades, due to rapid population growth in urban areas, cities have changed dramatically. The main feature of fast-growing cities is urban sprawl, which drives the occupation of large areas of land and is usually accompanied by several urban problems including inefficient land use, heavy dependence on the vehicle, low density, and segregation of uses. Besides land-use speculation, current models of city growth lead to a fragmented and inefficient urban space where urban advantage and the concept of the city are lost. This paper aims to assess the urban sustainability of the "Al-Ghadeer Village" neighborhood in Al-Najaf city according to the UN-Habitat Five Principles of Sustainable Neighborhoods. The research findings indicate that there is an urgent need to direct urban growth into more walkable mixed-land-use neighborhoods instead of car-oriented development by incorporating urban sustainability principles into new housing projects to create a healthy living environment for residents.