The Iraqi Journal of Architecture and Planning

Old cities represent architectural heritage and collective memory, shaped by centuries of gradual evolution. While research often focuses on physical preservation, limited studies explore how old cities maintain cultural and socioeconomic relevance in modern contexts. This study addresses the gap by defining old cities in architectural and urban planning terms and investigating their value in a modernizing world. Using a mixed-method approach, including a literature review and expert surveys, the research identifies key attributes of old cities: historical continuity, cultural significance, and socioeconomic resilience. These elements are essential to their identity and relevance. To qualify as an old city, a settlement must preserve its physical and cultural essence over time, with urban fabric tied to collective memory and a distinct \"spirit of place.\" Settlements lacking these traits cannot be considered old cities. The findings contribute to sustainable urban development by emphasizing the importance of preserving old cities\' unique identities.

The concept of Aporia has been explored from various perspectives and epistemological frameworks in critical and rhetorical studies, particularly in analyzing and theorizing architectural texts. This research delves into Aporia and its related aspects across various fields of knowledge, examining how it can be employed as an intellectual framework for both producing and interpreting architectural texts. It is closely tied to the concept of the creative text and its perception through a series of semiotic processes aimed at understanding and interpreting meanings, enhancing knowledge, and uncovering latent meanings within the text. The research adopts a qualitative, descriptive, and analytical methodology involving the collection and analysis of data from previous studies to build a theoretical framework and apply it to selected architectural works as practical case studies. The study concludes that Aporia can be understood as an active intellectual system governing the text and its various levels through the utilization of mechanisms, strategies, and elements employed by both the designer and the audience, ultimately achieving compatibility in architecture.

Swarm intelligence is a nature-inspired complex system that draws from the behaviours of social creatures such as ants and birds. This system functions through simple behavioural rules enacted by autonomous, intelligent agents. Existing literature indicates that swarm intelligence possesses a wide range of principles and characteristics derived from the theories of Biomimicry, complex adaptive systems, and parametric and generative design. While the previous studies have intensively addressed the computational aspects of intelligence, a comprehensive conceptual framework is essential for analysing complex urban forms and structures. Therefore, this research develops and applies a conceptual model of swarm intelligence by examining several projects across the following dimensions: growth strategies, mechanisms, and logic; primary and final characteristics; and the types and classifications of the system’s agents. The research emphasises the integration of theoretical and practical aspects of swarm intelligence to inform urban growth policies and promote more sustainable urban forms and structures.

The informal settlements in Taiz, such as Kalabah and Osifra, present significant challenges to urban development in Yemen. This study examines the conditions of these neighbourhoods in terms of infrastructure, socio-economic factors, and urban planning while addressing the obstacles to their improvement. Utilizing field studies and data analysis, it seeks to understand the factors behind the emergence and persistence of these settlements. It evaluates the impact of government policies and local initiatives in tackling this issue. The study advocates for sustainable strategies to enhance the quality of life in these areas through improved urban planning, infrastructure development, and access to essential services. It concludes that effectively addressing informal settlements necessitates collaboration between government entities and local communities, as well as the adoption of integrated urban policies that take into account the economic, social, and cultural dimensions of residents’ lives. Furthermore, the research recommends the establishment of a comprehensive framework aimed at promoting sustainable development in the informal areas of Taiz, with a focus on improving living conditions and achieving balanced urban growth.