The recent rapid uncontrolled urban transformation of Sana'a city is a
significant example of the historic core of most Arab cities with regard to
its formation, growth and development. Sana'a city has expanded from
merely 3.7 square kilometers in 1962 to more than 1,600 square
kilometers at the end of the 2010.
When El-Sheshtawy (2004) presented the evolution of Arab cities, Sana'a
city was discussed under “the cities affected by globalization
phenomenon". That has had an extremely uneven impact on Sana'a.
When Sana'a compared to the cities in the region, globalization is not
necessarily a central issue for Sana'a city. In fact Sana'a shares the
fragmentation phenomenon with the rest of the cities in the region. This
is the point from where this paper starts.
The approach of this paper is based on both diachronic and synchronic
readings of the historical and new city. It will discuss:
· Urban transformation approaches.
· Phases of Sana'a urban form fragmentation.
This research pinpoints the current spatial and environmental problems
facing the new and the old urban fabric as consequences of urban form
fragmentation. Though it doesn't aim to reach conclusive results, the
study hoped to provide a conceptual background for the present debate
on city's urban future.