THE STUDY OF LOCAL DISTINCTIVENESS – THROUGH TANGIBLE & INTANGIBLE ASPECTS OF URBAN SPACES

Omnia M. ElHosary, Alaa El-Din N. Sarhan, Yasser A. Farghaly

Abstract: Local distinctiveness is the sustainable aspects that make a place special and different from another.The homogenizing effect of Globalization is affecting the individuality of places, removing the unique characteristics that differ one place from another. Consequently cities and towns in different regions started to look similar, destinations are perceived as similar leaving no unique experience to seek for tourism or even for locals. Each place needs to be unique than any other, to emphasize its identity and uniqueness in the pursuit of economic, environmental and socio-psychological advantage. It is, therefore, important to define what Local Distinctiveness is and understand its relation with image formation. this study measures its potential in Foaad Street through the evaluation of existing elements of distinctiveness. Methods include structured and unstructured measuring techniques.

Keywords: Alexandria, Common Ground, Fouad Street, Image of Place, Local Distinctiveness.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15623/ijret.2018.0703019