Journal of the planner and development

Analyzing and evaluating the visual and aesthetic aspects in cities is considered amongst the important issues which urban planning and design aims at studying, focusing and deals with in the structural and physicalcity plans.
Dealing with the visual and aesthetic elements and aspects in the city helps to achieve clean environment free from pollution, better economic earning, psychological comfort, touristy activity as well the visualand aesthetic value which distinguish such elements.
Urban scene has captured the attention of many scholars, designers and architects where they pay more attention for the describing city features and characteristics through its urban scene. The physical features and structure of the city is the reflection of its civilized and cultural identity throughout history. Such identity is growing and changing to cope with the changes of the city inhabitants and their needs. Such growth and change makes cities differ in their physical characteristics, morphological and the identity of the urban scene. Each city has its general form and identity as the city is the result of social, economic and political factors interaction that largely contribute in forming the urban scene. Such interaction will give the form and identity of the city urban scene and its characteristics.

The choice of kindergartens site is an important factor that must be taken into consideration, taking into accent equitable geographical distribution which commensurate with the population in order to achieve parity with residential areas , and to ensure ease of access on foot within safety requirements. The location of kindergartens based on standard criteria for this service in the quantity and quality of space. And these standards will be reliable in measuring the levelly needs in the future. the theoretical side of the study included definition of the kindergartens and its objectives then the study of the planning standards adopted in iraq , while the practical aspect of the study , relied on wart field for collecting information on the reality of public and private kindergartens, and identify the region in terms of store numbers, population and area of each locality , through visits to institutions of relevant departments, as well as visits to kindergartens and design a questionnaire forms and distribute it to kindergartens management for the purpose of obtaining information , and then canalize the case according to the standard child/ kindergartens , and standard of child/ division, and standard of child/teacher, and compared with the standard criteria , analysis of the spatial distribution of them according to distance and traffic standards, population density and spatial proximity between kindergartens also determine the efficiency of service quality provided to them according to the standards and make comparison between public and private kindergarten in the term of services and appropriate building , wages of the child , duration of permanence and academic achievements of teachers and clarify the weakness and shortcomings in them .The research ford the problem of selecting the right and appropriate kindergartens site according to the standard criteria to provide a suitable environment for the care of children in line with the population density within residential areas. Research recommended the need of finding regulations for this important service and work on the formation of spatial planning department in the ministry of education , concerned with the distribution of services , whether its public or privet , which commensurate with population according to the standards established by competent authorities.

This research is involved in discussing the elements and factors that are involved in the process of application of sustainability in a particular environment, as an attempt to understand the effective and effected aspects of this practicing process and also to understand the nature of the relationship between its components,in order to apply it in the local environment architecture. So, the research formulated its problem in the lack of a certain mechanism which revitalizes the patterns of sustainable architecture locally through, and then finding sustained methods and mechanisms in the local contemporary and future architecture.
Studying the shape of this relationship is come through the idea of formation and sequenced interaction of the parallel parts in 2 prospective: one of them is a prospective in the ecological system that is called the \"ecological circle\" that involved huge and enormous components of the environmental system. The second discussing of an economic idea known as the (Vicious Circle ofPoverty) for Harold Domer. This research explains the shape of these relationships in which calls it the \"cycle of sustainability\". The research assumes that the relationships of the components and variables on the architectural organizations and systems as a progressive relationship that cannot be isolated from its parts which collectively encompasses the body of the cycle. And that the elements of the architectural sustainability which the research assumes its presence in the local environments -that is included in the study- reveal the tendency and capacity of activation one of them more or before another element. Leading to its vital and fundamental role in the succeeding of the process on achievement of architectural sustainability in the local environment and region. So the goals of the research is ( revealing of the sustainable relationship that contributes in the formation of the body of the cycle and also revealing the vital intersection points and joints that could be considered as a gate to activate the mechanism of sustainability in the local architecture).
The practical part of the research included performance of the evaluation process by using the sustainability assessment checklist in three residential projects in Sulaymania city. And the results and data we collected by using the applied method in \"LEED\" (green building rating system).
The research concluded the relationships of the sustainability phenomenon is related to and interrelated and progressive relationship that is determined by the form of the means and the goal between its variables. The research named this relationship as the cycle of sustainability. This served to understand the potentials andlimitations of application of principles of sustainabilityIn the architecture ofthe local environment. The research also focused on the aspects of applying sustainability locally indicating theeffectiveness of each aspect as an entrance toward achievement of sustainability within the sustainability cycle. By which it answered the Hypotheses that are put in theresearch

This is an attempt to assess the most common forms of internal and neighboring spaces of horizontal Housing among low-income people in cities of Arab countries to see the extent to which they meet the requirements and facilities of social behavior within those spaces. To achieve this, the study adopts a method based on the premises of housing planning. The foundations that have contributed, with their impact, to the selection of design patterns of housing are addressed besides the anatomy of horizontal projection models with clarification of their advantages and disadvantages by exploring the views of a sample selected in two inhabited areas in Greater Khartoum regarding how housing spaces meet social activities including the design of housing, neighboring space, services, streets, and the level of a forestation. Then the findings of the field study are reviewed and most important results are recorded with a proposal of recommendations for the formulation and development of forms of horizontal housing followed in Arab cities, including the treatment of residential neighborhood as living spatial entity, preparing strategies to systematically take social behavior and other dimensions in housing planning, and to take sustainability as a style and approach in the implementation of projects.

The research adopts the study of the trends of the national urban system in Iraq for the period 1957-2010. Statistical data from formal resources formed the base for the analysis of this study.
The research showed, that the urban centers in our country are not arranged according to any acknowledged rule, as regards to the sizes, distribution and spacing among them. The prevailed system in Iraq during this period is the primate city system, presented in the capital (Baghdad).
Baghdad advances all urban centers, even mosul and basrah which are considered as second and third – class cities by the overrate ratio of population in size, number of employees, large industrial firms and investments. This system may be accepted from the economic point of view in the earlier stage of spatial development. But its continuity to now made most parts of the country suffer from backwardness including Baghdad which faces urban and environmental problems. According to the indexes of the study, an urban system strategy within the frame of balanced spatial development is suggested. Several conclusions are induced, and recommendations are also propounded.

This paper tackles the problematic of the deterioration and dilapidation of numerous historical and traditional mosque buildings (including Rabayia Mosque 1762A.D.-1180A.H.) in the old city of Mosul. These buildings are currently threaten by distortion, loss and dilapidation. Some of their features have been erased particularly in the recent decades due to natural and human factors besides improper conservation work.
The paper drives at fulfilling the conservation work by way of practical experiment (carried out by the researcher) on Rabayia mosque all within a complementary project encompassing architectural and modern facilities which conduced to the discovery of various architectural treatment and solutions. The effect was to prevent any further distortions and erosions of the old mosque building. The techniques, engineering and scientific methods used achieve sustainability, duo ability and innovation with aesthetic, historical and sensational repercussions on society.

Considerations the architectural heritage, fabric and functional relations impediment to progress and development, has led to the application of regulatory policies that have led to many problems, which are still far are still visible, and impose a strong presence during the dealing with architectural heritage, in terms of plans and strategies to preserve the cultural heritage and renewal. The series of actions and changes that have occurred in the city, has been applied without taking into account the social and cultural distinctive, and led to serious structural changes in the urban fabric and organic space.

Faced with this exceptional situation, there have been many calls to the importance of preserving the architectural heritage material and moral entity at the same time, and to refrain from considering them as areas of archaeological historical, but also as spaces of urban areas of activity and exchange of cultural and economic.

Iraq is currently suffering from problems caused by the many and varied phenomenon of spatial development disparities between the governorate as a result of neglect experienced by the spatial dimension in recent years and the lack of integrated development policies at all regions and provinces of the country where this has taken two main problems:
Firstly: the emergence of localization economic in the major cities and especially in the capital as a result of the concentration of investments in it, which make these areas attractive for dynamic factor (population and labor), the result of that pressure on services and infrastructure in addition the difficulties of supplying the services for continues increasing of people.
Secondly : reflect the aspect of another cities, characterized by weakness of basic services and low standard of living ,income and losing the development factor as a result of attraction by the major cities for resources and potentiality.
Facing these problems requires studies and analysis the status and existing situation of development and its level for each governorate by measuring the level of development and using scientific approaches depending on spatial development indicators and that will mainly the bases for the images, trends and solutions for next phase, especially with what concern about program allocations for regional development.

Urban systems exposed to dynamics continuously by the effect of external and internal factors. This appears through urban growth of these systems, their elements and their relationships. Dynamics is the main concept for understanding the continuity and survival of urban systems , which show type of random behavior. It expresses structural and morphological changes within cities, to reach a state of balance and self – regulation. So there is a need to understand the city as dynamics system. This system swinging ,as a result of tension, which is caused by emergence and decay of cities. So research problem is that, "there is no obvious image about the role of emergence in the dynamics of urban growth".
The paper aims to study the local urban system, and to discover its dynamics behavior, which is caused by the effect of external and internal factors. The research hypothesis is that "the city growth dynamically by the effect of emergence of new urban agglomerations, the degree of emergence of these agglomerations in one dynamics level (whither it is micro or macro) depend on the relation ship between urban dynamic and population size over time".
This paper study, on macro level, the Iraqi urban system (the eighteen provinces), as well as, (Najaf city) on micro level, between (1947-2007).
The research findings was that the Iraqi urban system, changes its spatial behavior each (5.4) year during the above mentioned period. There was three types of cities, the main cities, the religious one, and those which are emerged by political decisions, and are differed in their urban growth style.
The research found that Najaf city grows gradually, with a state of un –regularity on micro level. The large cities enter within the urban system and moved toward the center, while the small cities moved toward the periphery and latter on toward the center over time.