The role of functional characteristics of commercial streets ininfluencing sense of place in Mosul City Centre

Abstract

In most cases, changes in the street's uses, types and the streets’ activities may consequently erase what is precious to the users. However, due to insensitive new development within the street has resulted in, the sense of place being disrupted thus, affecting the people’s feelings and perception of the streets. The objective of this paper is to identify the role of the commercial streets in terms of its functional characteristics in giving the sense of place to Mosul City Centre. The case study was conducted in one of the streets in Mosul City Centre, namely; Nineveh Street. A mixed method approach was used in this study which involved 330 respondents to survey questionnaire, 30 respondents for in-depth interviews, field observation, and photographic recordings. The result shows that functional features can be characterized into three main categories i.e. roles, namely social space, cultural space, commercial space, and channel of movements. Each of these categories has an considerable role especially, commercial space in giving the sense of place to Mosul City Centre.