A Dialectical Synthesis of Fused Grid Theory and Fractal Islamic Urbanism: Addressing the Deficiencies of Street Grid and Hierarchy Systems in Riyadh City

Majdi Alkhresheh ()
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Majdi Alkhresheh: Department of Architecture, College of Engineering, Al Yamamah University, King Fahd Branch Rd, Al Qirawan, Riyadh 13541, Saudi Arabia

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 19, 1-17

Abstract: The traditional Arab-Islamic urban fabric of Riyadh, with its emphasis on privacy, social cohesion, and environmental adaptation, was radically disrupted when the 1970s Doxiadis master plan was implemented, transforming the city into a car-dependent gridiron design. The shift led to ever-spreading sprawl, reduced pedestrian-friendliness, and eroded local identity. Using Hegelian dialectics methodology, this paper proposes integration of fused grid theory and urban Islamic fractals geometry in the urban fabric of the city. Specifically for Riyadh, the proposed changes encourage urban quadrant nesting, change of block scale and layout, fractal landscape integration, and multi-modal permeability. These adaptations are intended to increase connectivity, reduce crash rates, minimize impacts on the environment, enhance walkability, and elevate overall quality of life.

Keywords: street grid and hierarchy; fused grid theory; sustainable urban development; Hegelian dialectics; Islamic fractal geometry (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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