Zawa Mountain Masterplan: A Potential Contributor to Building Image and Identity of Duhok City

Abstract

Every city in the world has a public image based on its structural forms including urban elements as well as natural environment. This image can entail different meanings and influence emotional and physical well-being of the inhabitants, contribute to building identity and economic development of the location. Based on that, this paper explores opportunities and designs presented in the masterplan designed for the development of unique, year-long tourist resorts on Zawa Mountain that overlooks the southern edge of Duhok city, Kurdistan Region of Iraq, and how they could contribute to building image and identity of the mountain as well as the city. The study presents a comparative analysis of the standard elements that constitute a city image and characters. Its findings indicate that the development on Zawa mountain will not only build the identity and image of the mountain as a unique, modern tourist destination at different levels but will also contribute to improving the identity and image of Duhok city.

Keywords Image, identity, tourism, resort, city, Duhok.