'System of Settings' As A Tool of Assessing Users' Satisfaction Al-Azhar Park, Cairo, Egypt

Abstract

Being one of the most overpopulated and overcrowded cities in the world, Cairo suffers a significant lack of public open spaces. Therefore, the state adopted a policy considering the expansion of public open spaces. One such open space is Al-Azhar Park, the initiative of which was embarked and implemented by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture. The park is located at the eastern part of medieval Cairo, commanding panoramic views of the city.

It is advocated that parks play an important role in the social and personal wellbeing of the city’s residents. This takes place at multiple layers, be it the socio-cultural subjective values or the tangible objective components. The current research examines the extent to which users’ satisfaction is fulfilled in Al-Azhar Park. If successful, this contributes to the better of the social and personal wellbeing of Cairo’s residents.

To examine such understanding, the research employs Rapoport’s holistic approach of ‘System of Settings’, comprising ‘System of Activities’ and ‘Types of Feature Elements’. In conclusion, the study realizes that the park is meeting the users’ expectations.

Keywords: System of settings; System of activities / Activity system model; Types of feature elements; Al- Azhar Park.