From neglect to nurture: redefining pocket gardens as community vitality centers – case study of Al-Shorouk City, Egypt

Main Article Content

DOI

Aya Khashaba

aya_sohaib@hotmail.com

https://orcid.org/0009-0002-9304-5955
Ghada Farouk Hassan

ghadafhassan@eng.asu.edu.eg

Noha Gamal Said

noha.gamalsaid@eng.asu.edu.eg

Ayat Ismail

ayat.ismail@eng.asu.edu.eg

Abstract

This paper investigates the potential of pocket gardens to enhance community vitality, focusing on Al-Shorouk City in Egypt. Pocket gardens, often neglected, can be transformed into functional public spaces that foster community engagement and recreational use. This study employs a mixed-methods approach, including a literature review and observational studies to evaluate the physical attributes, maintenance, and usage patterns of three residential gardens in Al-Shorouk City. The findings reveal significant issues such as neglect, lack of amenities, and inadequate maintenance, which limit the gardens' functionality and social potential. Recommendations for improvement include regular upkeep, enhanced irrigation, diverse plantings, and the introduction of essential amenities. The study highlights the importance of community involvement and effective collaboration among stakeholders to create vibrant and sustainable urban green spaces. The insights gained can inform urban planning policies and practices to better integrate pocket gardens into the urban fabric, promoting environmental sustainability and social well-being.

Keywords:

Pocket gardens, Urban vitality, urban green spaces, Al-Shorouk City, public spaces, urban planning, sustainability

References

Article Details

Khashaba, A. (2025) “From neglect to nurture: redefining pocket gardens as community vitality centers – case study of Al-Shorouk City, Egypt”, Budownictwo i Architektura / Civil and Architectural Engineering, 24(4). doi: 10.35784/bud-arch.6514.
Author Biographies

Ghada Farouk Hassan, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt;

A Professor of Urban Design & Planning and Vice President at Ain Shams University, with a background as head of Architecture at the French University of Egypt and Manager at GOPP, Ministry of Housing & Urban Community. An expert in Urban Ecology, Landscape, and Conservation, specializing in participatory and strategic planning, and Climate Change. Has led numerous green and sustainable development consultancies and published over 40 articles in international and local journals, books, and conferences.

Noha Gamal Said, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt;

is an associate professor in Architecture and Urban Design at Ain Shams University and a researcher at the Cresson Research Center, National School of Architecture of Grenoble, where she completed her PhD in 2014. Her research explores "ambiances," emphasizing sensory experiences, sound, and the evolving nature of cities. She focuses on public space social behavior and contemporary urban issues such as sustainability, densification, memory, and heritage from a sensory perspective.

Ayat Ismail, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt;

is an Urban Planner, Designer, and Educator whose work spans planning and design theories, urban change, global cities, new urbanism, and landscape architecture. She earned her Ph.D. from Cosmopolis (Centre for Urban Research), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Belgium, and her B.Sc. and M.Sc. from Ain Shams University (ASU), Egypt, where she is now a Researcher and Assistant Professor. Ayat also contributes practically through various planning and design firms.