The effect of political conflicts and war on meaning and use of public squares: Derna example, Libya

Social life plays a vital role in the urban public spaces; many studies have considered this role as the major influence in designing successful gathering space. This role includes social –culture value, people needs, and identity of the local society. So, this study aims analysis the problem of urban public space in the case of; first losing the role of society in designing the contemporary public space, as well as ignore the social change as the major influence in design process, Second in the event of the Libyan civil war, what the influence of the war on public space in Libyan cities and on the society. These factors of social changing and the event of the war must be taking into account in the future of design process. The method will be relying on the case study in Libyan cities, and the Derna city will be our example for this approaches, so the finding of this study will answer the question of "What are the future of public space in the light of social changing and the event of the war?" this approach will analysis the situation of war which influence the society and their public space. So this study helps local architects and city planners to develop the future of local design process. The important of the study due to it is a comprehensive approach which contents all factors have impacted people, spaces and built environment during the hard event of the civil war.