In Pursuit of Diversity in Neighbourhoods: An Evaluation of Four Neighbourhoods in Famagusta

ABSTRACT: Since the beginning of Modernisation, there have been obvious shortcomings in planners‘ contribution to the concept of ―Diversity‖ in urban spaces. That is to say, many of the newly developed settlements specifically suburban developments have simply disregarded the significance of diversity in their physical, spatial, functional and socio-economic qualities as they became specialized zones of single use. Furthermore, lack of diversity in certain areas – mostly from the functional and socio-economic aspects – has caused considerable decline in their functionality that makes the inhabitants unable to meet their needs within the environment. Diversity among urban spaces refers to a wide range of issues – forms, uses and users – which together can bring variety of experiences and perceptual meanings attached to a particular area. This concept within the neighbourhood environments in terms of ―form‖ refers to variety of housing typologies, building (and other structural) forms and outdoor spaces (public, semi-public and private outdoor spaces) as well as natural elements; diversity of ―use‖ encompasses variety of facilities and services needed in residents‘ daily life – in a fine grained mixture – located within a reasonable distance of residential units. Thereupon, it can be assumed that a balanced mix of uses and facilities, well-arranged in a rich contextual pattern integrated with natural environment would benefit variety of users within the neighbourhood that is more likely to provide the environment with a condition which results in an effective communal life. This study focuses on the objective measures of diversity based on site analysis in four identical neighbourhoods of Famagusta, North Cyprus. As the same neighbourhoods were focused within a comprehensive user survey (―Famagusta Area Study‖, by Oktay, 2010) which determined the subjective measures of quality of life, this study will set out the possibilities for further explorations through comparing the objective and subjective measures, and finally seek out the possible impact of diversity on functionality of the neighbourhood environments. Keywords: Neighbourhood, diversity, objective measures, Famagusta neighbourhoods. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………