The open spaces of the city are exposed to many changes. The architectural configuration of these spaces is a direct result of the changes in the urban, social, technological and economic conditions. These conditions and their mutual effects are reflected on the nature of the composition, characteristics and shape of the outer spaces. The change in building patterns is one of the most important changes in the architectural conditions that affect the architectural configuration of the external spaces. The change in building patterns changes the urban configuration of the urban spaces. Changes to building patterns may be planned by official bodies and agencies that develop programs and plans that aim at developing thought in the characteristics of the urban fabric; they may be random and unthought by individuals or some investors for the purpose of profiting or may be due to external circumstances Such as wars, earthquakes and volcanoes. In the case of randomized and unplanned changes, the spatial and structural differences in the patterns of different building patterns lead to further deterioration in the visual image and the plastic properties of the surrounding outer spaces. If the random shifts in the architectural patterns of the buildings continue, they gradually lead to the loss of the architectural identity of the spaces External city.
The research aims to identify the most important factors that lead to the change of building patterns, with an analysis of how this affects the changes of the architectural configuration and the characteristics of the architectural identity of the external spaces of the city through the study and analysis of some international and local examples in Cairo. The research concludes with a set of recommendations that set the basic features for controlling architectural changes in building patterns in order to improve and develop the architectural design of the open spaces of the city.