Evolution of Public Spaces
in the Urban Core of Tripoli, Libya:
Dynamics of Growth and Change.
ASMA ELHASUMI
BSc. Arch., MSc.
Thesis Submitted for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Architectural History and Theory, Cardiff University.
Supervised by:
Prof. Stephen Kite
Dr. Juliet Davis
Welsh School of Architecture. Cardiff University
February
2018
Table of Content
ABSTRACT ........ I
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ...... II
TABLE OF CONTENT. .III
LIST OF FIGURES ...... .IX
LIST OF TABLES... XIII
CHAPTER 1.... .. 1
INTRODUCTION .. .... 1
CHAPTER 2. ... 6
LITERATURE REVIEW .. 6
2.1. Introduction....... . 6
2.2. Public Spaces general theories .... 6
2.2.1. Public spaces and the physical form. ........ 6
2.2.2. Public space as a social space ..... 8
2.2.3. Public spaces as an experiential space ..... 10
2.3. Public spaces as part of the city evolution: ....... 11
2.3.1. Public spaces & the port city....... 12
2.3.2. Public spaces and Islamic city ......... 13
2.3.3. Public spaces and Italian colony Tripoli ..... 14
2.4. Photo based 3D modelling....... 16
2.5. Research Aims ... 21
2.5.1. Research objectives ..... 21
2.5.2. Research Questions .... 22
2.6. Research Methodology and Methods ....... 22
2.7. Limitation. ......... 27
2.8. Future research. ... 27
CHAPTER 3 ..... 29
DYNAMICS OF PUBLIC SPACES AND BUILT ENVIRONMENT OF TRIPOLI UNDER THE OTTOMANS .......... 29
3.1. Introduction ......... 29
3.2. Urban forces prior to the Ottomans...... 30
3.2.1. Tripoli as a Roman settlement....... 31
3.2.1.1. The Roman walls & gates........ 33
IV
3.2.1.2. The Roman Port ...... 36
3.2.1.3. The Roman Arch...... 36
3.2.2 Tripoli during the Islamic Conquest (645 – 1510 AD) .... 42
3.2.2.1. Tripoli’s Grand Mosque and Islamic school ....... 42
3.2.2.2. The city walls and gates ........ 44
3.2.2.3. The Medina Markets. ........ 45
3.2.2.4. The Streets and Baths ....... 46
3.2.3. Summary of the medina pre Ottoman....... 48
3.3. Forces of growth and change during the Ottoman Empire 1551-1911 .... 52
3.3.1. The first Ottoman rule Tripoli from 1551 till 1771 ...... 54
3.3.1.1. Murad Agha 1551-1553 ...... 55
3.3.1.2. Dargut Pasha 1553 - 1565 ........ 58
3.3.1.3. Osman pasha (1649- 1672) ....... 62
3.3.2. Tripoli from 1711 till 1835 - The Qarahmanli dynasty........ 67
3.3.2.1. Ahmed pasha Qarahmanli.........
3.3.3. The urban reform-Ottomanization of Tripoli- (1835 till 1911) ....... 74
3.3.3.1. The Ottoman reform as a force for change in the medina. .... 75
3.3.3.2. The expansion of Tripoli’s urban fabric outside the medina’s wall. .... 75
3.3.3.3. Enhancing the medina’s public spaces by providing fountains, a source for
water supply in and outside the city walls..... 77
3.3.3.4. Redeveloping the Ottoman urban centre inside the medina walls.................... 79
3.4. Public space characteristics in Ottoman Tripoli... 83
3.4.1. The Streets in Al-medina Tripoli. ...... 83
3.4.2. The Markets in Al-medina Tripoli..... 86
3.4.3. The medina open spaces. ....... 91
3.5. Continuity of Public spaces in Ottoman medina Tripoli..... 93
3.5.1. Continuity of the urban structure ........ 94
3.5.2. Continuity of the social activities....... 96
3.5.3. Visual continuity .. 98
3.6. Summary of Stimulation study part 1 Tripoli in the Ottoman time... 104
CHAPTER 4 ......105
PUBLIC SPACES AND BUILT ENVIRONMENT OF TRIPOLI DURING THE ITALIAN COLONY..105
4.1. Introduction ....105
4.2. Forces of evolution and change in Tripoli’s public spaces during the Italian colony..105
V
4.2.1. Forces of growth and change during the early Italian colony (1911–1930) ..........112
4.2.1.1. Tripoli during the Italian invasion 1911-1912..... 112
4.2.1.2. Italian urban planning during the first year of the war 1911-1920s.... 113
4.2.1.3. Tripoli’s port and its connections as a public space in the city: .... 113
4.2.2. Forces of growth and change during the late Italian colony (1920 till 1951)...... 127
4.3. Public space changes in Tripoli during the Italian colony ...... 128
4.3.1. Inner city developments....... 129
4.3.1.1. Reinforcing the Italian entrance of the medina...... 129
4.3.1.2. Developing the clock maidan ........132
4.3.1.3. The development of the Roman arch space...... 133
4.3.1.4. The foundation of St Mary cathedral space.... 136
4.3.1.5. The demolishing of the west wall....... 136
4.3.2. Outer city developments...... 139
4.3.2.1. Giuseppe Volpi (1920-1924)…………………… 139
4.3.2.2. Emilio De Bono (1925-1928) ......147
4.3.2.3. Balbo (1934-1940) ..........153
4.4. Public spaces continuity in Tripoli during the Italian colony... 158
4.4.1. The open spaces in Al-medina Tripoli....... 158
4.4.1.1. Removing the water fountains..... 159
4.4.1.2. Removing the tomb ......160
4.4.1.3. Dividing the centre....... 161
4.4.2. The Markets in Al-medina Tripoli...... .165
4.4.3. The medina castline and port. .........166
4.4.4. Developing the water front ............166
4.5. Summary of Stimulation study part 2 Tripoli in the colonial time ...... 174
CHAPTER 5. .......176
PUBLIC SPACES AND BUILT ENVIRONMENT OF TRIPOLI DURING THE POST COLONY (1951-
2011) ......176
5.1. Introduction .....176
5.2. Forces of evolution and change in Tripoli’s public spaces during the post colony. ....177
5.2.1. Forces of growth and change during the Libya’s independence (1951–1968)... 177
5.2.1.1. The struggle of Libya’s independence ....... .177
5.2.1.2. Second world war and the Late Italian Colony 1939 – 1945 ..... 177
5.2.1.3. Tripoli Independence........ .180
VI
5.2.1.4. Urban forces driving the city’s the growth and change during the
independence (1941–1968) ... 184
5.2.1.5. Tripoli during the Independence time 1951.... 190
5.2.3. Forces of growth and change during the Gaddafi era (1969 till 2011)..... .193
5.2.3.1. Al Fatah Revolution 1969 .......195
5.3. Public spaces changes in Tripoli during the post colony era...... 199
5.3.1. Tripoli’s physical urban changes .......199
5.3.1.1. Changes to the existing Tripoli urban form ....... 199
5.3.1.2. Changes due to demolishing Tripoli’s urban buildings and blocks..... 206
5.3.1.3. The changes due demolishing and rebuilding buildings ..... 210
5.3.2. Urban changes and Tripoli’s social life .....212
5.4. Summary of Stimulation study part 2 Tripoli in the post-colonial time ... 217
CHAPTER 6 .....219
THE GENERATED 3D MODELS....... 219
6.1. Introduction. ....... .219
6.2. Photomapping ............. .219
6.3. Three layer analysis ...... 224
CHAPTER 7. ....227
CONCLUSION. ........ 227
7.1. Introduction. ............ 227
7.2. Significance of public spaces in Tripoli and their continuity..... 227
7.2.1. The Roman arch area... 228
7.2.2. The coastline area.... 234
7.2.2.1. The corniche (Tripoli’s water edge)........ .235
7.2.2.2. The Grand hotel’s garden............ .237
7.2.2.3. Tripoli’s lake space ........241
7.2.3. The Green square (The Martyrs Square) ....... .243
7.3. The Study’s Challenges, Purpose and Achievements ............ ...245
7.3.1. The Ottoman era 1551 -1911. ..247
7.3.2. The Italian colonization of Tripoli 1911-1943 ......... 248
7.3.3. Post-colonial independence and the Gaddafi era 1951 - 2011.. 249
7.4. Developing a new method;....... 250
7.5. References:..... ... .. 253
VII
Abstract
Tripoli has undergone a dramatic transformation from a historical Islamic port city into a metropolis. Layers of urban interventions in the built environment mainly by Ottoman and Italian colonization and modernization reforms, each era forms a layer with its unique dynamics that distinguish the growth and change of built form and the public spaces within it. This historical research aims to understand the evolution of public spaces in the urban core of Tripoli, defined by the old medina and its context, their continuity and disruption within the urban context, by investigating the forces behind their growth and change in three layers of time: Tripoli under the Ottomans rule, Tripoli as an Italian colony, and the postcolonial era. The research design is a historical interpretive research, analysing all means of historical data (i.e. archives, Travellers’ documentation, documented movies and historical photos).
The research tests an
original method; A historical simulation research, by turning historical
evidence (maps- photos- aerial views) into a 3D model, recreating the urban
spaces and virtual-walk through in these different sets of time. This research
of public spaces is an original attempt to build knowledge around public spaces
by combining historical, observational, qualitative data with experiential
data, to conduct an architectural and urban spatial mapping and analysis of the
core area of Tripoli. A unitary approach to public spaces and its historical
context. Physical, Social, Economic, Political, Temporal, and Sensorial. The
research shows the historical dynamics that shaped public spaces in Tripoli.
The Roman origin of the city challenged by the Ottomans. The Ottoman city
segregated by the Italian colony, and how the decisions of the post colony
regime have disturbed the continuity of these spaces. The research explains how
public spaces took the shape they have and why some important historical spaces
in Tripoli lost their momentum
