Analysis of the Urban Spatial Organization of Ancient City Centers: The Old Najaf City Center as A Case Study

Abstract

The fundamental problem of research is the randomness of city planning adversely affecting the spatial organization of urban city centers. The goal is to find planning and design solutions to upgrade and re-plan the centers under the principles of thoughtful city planning. The research presupposes a basic premise for the development of commercial centers, which is that spatial organization under the regulations of smart cities achieves the upgrading of urban city centers. The results indicate that Commercial use is the core of services that meet all the needs of residential areas. Therefore, the relationship between commercial and other uses must be established and grown in a natural framework with the new stages of growth of the city. Cities today suffer from many problems as a result of rapid urban growth resulting from a growing population, high economic level, scientific and technological development, citizens' pursuit of commercial services, employment opportunities, and business investment, which result in multiple and diverse uses within cities, inadequate planning for commercial use in the city's basic plan, as well as lack of control by the Municipal Directorate,  resulting in a change in the category of other uses in favor of commercial use.