The reading Baghdad’s riverfront spaces: A space syntax approach to uncovering the urban event potential between Rusafa and Karkh

Noor Hussain Ali; Sajeda Kadhum Al-Kindy; Zuhair A. Nasar

doi:10.31648/aspal.11646

Published: 2026-04-30

Vol. 25 No. 1 (2026)

The reading Baghdad’s riverfront spaces: A space syntax approach to uncovering the urban event potential between Rusafa and Karkh

Noor Hussain Ali

, Sajeda Kadhum Al-Kindy

, Zuhair A. Nasar

Acta Scientiarum Polonorum Administratio Locorum

Section: Articles

https://doi.org/10.31648/aspal.11646

Abstract

This study examines the Tigris River in Baghdad as a central urban axis that has partially lost its integrative and functional role due to contemporary urban transformations, reduced accessibility, and limited spatial activation. By employing quantitative spatial analysis using Space Syntax methodology, selected central riverfront segments were analyzed based on integration, connectivity, and intelligibility indicators to reveal spatial differentiation between the Rusafa and Karkh riverbanks. The findings indicate a clear variation in spatial potential, with highly integrated areas suitable for accommodating large-scale urban events, while less connected zones are more appropriate for localized interventions. The study also highlights the critical role of intelligibility in enhancing spatial perception and user interaction with the riverfront environment. Integrating Space Syntax analysis with a scenographic approach provides an effective analytical framework for reactivating the Tigris River as a dynamic urban stage and for supporting future riverfront design strategies in historic Baghdad.

Keywords:

historic Baghdad, urban event planning, urban riverfront space, river-based events, spatial analysis (Space Syntax), scenographic potential

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Ali, N. H., Al-Kindy, S. K., & Nasar, Z. A. (2026). The reading Baghdad’s riverfront spaces: A space syntax approach to uncovering the urban event potential between Rusafa and Karkh. Acta Scientiarum Polonorum Administratio Locorum, 25(1), 19–33. https://doi.org/10.31648/aspal.11646

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