The city of Karbala, located in Iraq, holds rich cultural, religious, and historical significance, primarily due to its status as a major pilgrimage destination for Shia Muslims. Millions of pilgrims visit Karbala each year to pay their respects and participate in the rituals. The pilgrimage event, known as Arbaeen, is integral to Karbala's identity, influencing its social, cultural, and economic landscape. It serves as a platform for cultural exchange, bringing together people from different parts of the world, thereby enhancing Karbala's cultural richness. Economically, the event creates significant opportunities for local businesses and individuals, substantially boosting the city's economy.

However, this pilgrimage activity places immense pressure on the old city center with the shrines in its heart, as there is difficulty in absorbing the massive movement of pilgrims during religious events, in which, in the biggest event, more than 20 million pilgrims visit the Holy Shrine. The increasing number of pilgrims poses significant challenges to the city center, specifically in terms of infrastructure, accommodation, transportation, overcrowding, and the degradation of traditional urban areas. Therefore, there is an urgent need for expansion and development projects aimed at accommodating the increasing number of visitors.

As such, the Ministry of Municipalities and Public Works, in conjunction with the General Directorate of Urban Planning, has approved an expansion project for the shrines that will forever transform the city center. This proposal entails creating vast public open spaces around the existing shrines, covering approximately 54% of the current old city [Diwan Architectural Office & Ministry of Municipalities and Public Works (Office et al., 2014)]. Moreover, this project necessitates a change in land use from residential to commercial and hotel purposes within the urban fabric that will result in a significant displacement of local people.

The initiative presents several issues, including a lack of integration with the surrounding traditional urban fabric and further detachment of the shrines, which are integral to the city, from their historical context. While creating vast open spaces addresses the need to accommodate large numbers during pilgrimage events, their effectiveness diminishes during the rest of the year when it’s not as crowded. Similarly, the shift in land use from residential and mixed-use to commercial and hotel spaces results in limited functionality solely during peak periods, leaving them unoccupied for the remainder of the year. Most importantly, the demolition of nearly half of the old city raises significant concerns that necessitate critical examination and consideration of alternative solutions.

This study, therefore, aims to explore alternative strategies for accommodating the increasing number of visitors by conducting a comprehensive analysis of the traditional urban fabric, focusing on its unique characteristics, existing open spaces, land use patterns, and pilgrimage movement, to discover opportunities for redevelopment while protecting its traditional urban fabric.

The research started with a Master's thesis titled “Urban Heritage Conservation Considerations for Developing Urban Spaces in the city center of Karbala” (Al-Ameen, 2023). The study included reviewing relevant literature and analyzing four case studies focusing on critical urban factors: urban fabric, open spaces, urban networks, and land use. Case studies studied for the research were all historic city centers and were the following: The Central Area of Medina-al-Munawara, Urban renewal of Chiado neighborhood, Reconstruction Project of Hafsia, Tunis, and Urban Regeneration in Darb Al Ahmar District, Cairo. Lessons and insights were extracted from these case studies and categorized based on the four factors.

The literature review was conducted using academic databases as well as official reports from the Ministry of Municipalities and Public Works and urban planning documents related to Karbala. The review aimed to answer key research questions: (1) How can historic urban fabric be preserved amidst necessary development? (2) What opportunities does the current city center offer for a balanced development approach? (3) How can the visitor influx be accommodated while protecting the urban fabric?

Furthermore, an extensive analysis of Karbala’s city center was conducted, including a detailed study of map information and an analysis of pilgrimage movement patterns during peak and off-peak periods. The study also involved an exploration of the urban landscape, observing and assessing spatial dynamics and changes occurring during the days of the event. The visual representations and sketches done by the author provided a better understanding of the urban context and helped identify existing opportunities. Consequently, the findings were also documented through illustrations, forming the basis for the study’s conclusions on the urban development and preservation opportunities within Karbala’s historic core.

As shown in Figure 1, this paper aims to identify existing opportunities within Karbala’s old city for applying development strategies that have proven successful in other case studies. These include the reuse of urban areas and built heritage to address key challenges such as accommodating the large influx of pilgrims while conserving the city’s historic urban fabric. The approach builds on lessons drawn from the analysis of Karbala’s city center and adopts a methodology that relies on visual tools, such as drawings and spatial illustrations, supported by a literature review and the study of pilgrimage movement patterns, which is presented in the following section.

The urban layout of the old city consists of main routes and axes as well as secondary routes and alleyways. A report by (Office et al., 2012) compared the crowd level on the main axis routes leading to the holy shrines during regular and event days and revealed important insights [Figure 2 (a)].

The report indicates that the southern routes are the most congested on both regular days and during events, highlighting the need for attention. In contrast, the western route experiences the lowest traffic on event days. The northern routes are the second busiest during events, but are the least utilized on regular days. To balance crowd congestion and reduce pressure on the southern and northern routes during events, it is suggested that underutilized routes, such as the western route, be considered as alternative options to disperse traffic.

Additionally, (Alrawe & Qasim, 2018) studied the movement of pilgrims in the holy city, simulating their patterns [Figure 2 (b)]. According to this analysis, most visitors mainly take the main axis routes leading to the shrines, causing congestion on these routes. Meanwhile, the secondary routes within the district's urban fabric remain uncrowded even during the events, ultimately disregarding these secondary routes and areas.

Based on their findings, they recommended creating vibrant pedestrian nodes with services in various locations within the city center to enhance open spaces for visitors and locals during regular and event days. This approach would align with the city’s spatial and spiritual identity while reducing congestion around the two shrines. They specifically suggested locating one of these nodes near a key attraction in the city center—the mosque of Imam Mahdi—on its northern side, where a river exists to help establish a distinct urban space.

The preservation of the historic urban fabric is a valuable resource for positive change, deeply connected to the area’s social and cultural essence. The historic neighborhoods and the traditional communal bonds within are seen as integral assets for the city's future. (Culture, 2005). The urban fabric of the city of Karbala has been known since its formation in 680, with the concentration of residential buildings in a dense and compact fashion. Moreover, it is centrally configured around the two shrines, depicting a spiritual and religious relationship between the occupants and the holy shrines (Farhan et al., 2021). The characteristics of the traditional urban fabric include:

The human scale: The old city’s dimensions maintain a suitable walking range of 400-800m from the center to surrounding districts, while the streets and alleyways' human dimension reinforces social connections in addition to providing climatic comfort and privacy advantages. Figure 3 displays sketches of the old urban fabric and the human scale within its spaces.

Social and physical cohesion: The city has achieved urban integration by incorporating key elements of an Islamic city. Muslim cities traditionally emphasize maintaining good neighborly relationships and building houses closely connected, allowing for the integration of individual homes into cohesive urban units. Good neighborly relations thus became a specific form of solidarity, shaping the social and physical fabric of residential districts in Muslim cities (Bianca, 2000). The compact form of houses provides security and climate control while fostering social interaction among residents and strong community bonds. Social networks thrive in familiar historical environments that foster a sense of continuity and ownership (Leite, 1998). Particularly within the old city, the urban fabric is characterized by a Compact Pattern that reflects a homogeneous structure with a historical dimension affirmed by traces of the old city's wall within this fabric's boundaries. This section is considered the oldest in the city and reflects a densely interconnected fabric with a harmonious urban style (Merie & Farhan, 2022).

The transition from public to private: The system of narrow alleyways, internal corridors, and gateways prior to the entrances of individual houses facilitates a gradual transition from public to private areas, which is crucial for urban functionality and cohesion. The urban layout prioritizes clearly defined spaces for private and public uses. The street network is integrated into suqs and residential quarters, and dead-end alleys lead to clusters of private houses. Gates and thresholds create social hierarchies that ensure privacy while connecting urban elements, forming a cohesive communication network (Bianca, 2000).

Climatic control: The proportion and narrow shape of the alleyways contribute to climatic control by providing shade and reducing heat exposure during hot summer days while also allowing for a cooler ventilation flow. Additionally, roofed passages further enhance this cooling effect, maintaining a shaded environment that protects against extreme weather conditions. The compact form of houses, the courtyard typology found in Karbala's historic center, and the construction materials all play a role in improving climatic control.

Pedestrian-oriented layout: Particularly within the old city, the routes follow an organic pattern characterized by irregular shapes and dead ends that are not compatible with vehicle movements. Yet, they are more accessible for pedestrians and visitors. Moreover, for security purposes, the central area is predominantly accessible on foot and has limited vehicular access. This condition proves beneficial as it paves the way for a pedestrian-oriented development. Priority should be given to pedestrians and public transportation instead.

The traditional Islamic city has historically embraced a multifunctional core, integrating religious, educational, social, and commercial functions (Bianca, 2000). Karbala city center's land use is primarily residential, with 27%, and commercial, with 20% area coverage. The remaining uses include religious services, public spaces, and multi-purpose areas (Merie & Farhan, 2022).

Its layout consists of a religious center surrounded by public spaces and traditional markets, then residential areas extending outward. Historical influences and diverse civilizations have contributed to Karbala’s current balance of land use, showcasing features typical of an original Islamic city (Farhan et al., 2018). The areas with prominent residential and mixed-use include the north side, mainly the old district of Bab Al-Taq, as well as most parts of the east, such as Bab Al-Khan and Bab Al-Solalamah districts. These mixed-use areas not only provide a self-sufficient environment but also contribute to strengthening both the place’s identity and its inhabitants (Chantry, 2017).

Unlike the proposed development project that plans to replace residential areas with commercial and hotel spaces, it is crucial to preserve the residential use in the city center. The case studies underscored the significance of residential use in reviving urban areas and preserving a sense of belonging. Moreover, owing to the feeling of inclusiveness, communities residing in these regions are inclined towards participating in initiatives aimed at enhancing their neighborhoods. The preservation of residential use also promotes engagement with the physical environment and fosters natural surveillance, ensuring safety within the area (Chantry, 2017). Moreover, residential use is valuable in Karbala due to the city's traditional host-guest dynamics, with locals historically providing services, accommodations, and hospitality to pilgrims. This annual support from the residents of the old city plays a crucial role in Karbala's ability to host millions of pilgrims each year.

The city center of Karbala contains many unique elements and components of everyday life that uphold the city's structure and strengthen its collective memory. The map of Figure 4 delineates the location of potential landmarks such as heritage Buildings, traditional houses, religious destinations, mausoleums, Madrassas, bath houses, local markets, and Khans (traditional guesthouses). These elements carry immense cultural and historical significance for inhabitants. These components play an essential role in shaping both the physical and social landscape of Karbala's city center. Preserving these landmarks and incorporating them into daily life promotes a sense of identity and belonging within people.

Many buildings in the historic city have fallen into ruins due to long-term neglect, resulting in numerous vacant and abandoned areas that remain unused to this day. Learning from the case study of historic Cairo, where such plots were treated as opportunities, we can also view them as untapped potential. In a city with a notably high influx of visitors like Karbala and a significant demand for extra space during the special days of Arbaeen, optimizing these underused and neglected plots scattered throughout the historic core becomes crucial.

The map of Figure 5(a) offers a visual representation of the abandoned and underused spaces within the city center, compared with the proposed expansion project's area. This contrast highlights that the opportunities presented by these empty spaces account for approximately 68% of the proposed project area. This suggests that a considerable portion of the planned expansion could be integrated into these vacant spaces, emphasizing the opportunity to repurpose and revitalize existing areas.

The example of Medina al-Munawara [Figure 5 (b)] further illustrates the consequences of urban interventions prioritizing large-scale redevelopment over heritage preservation. Successive developments around the Prophet’s Mosque led to the gradual loss of its historic fabric, culminating in the clearance of its old districts. Similarly, Karbala faces the threat of losing its traditional urban core, highlighting the need for balanced, context-sensitive strategies to protect its historical identity while accommodating growth.

In the study of the cases of the Chiado neighborhood (Leite, 1998) and historic Cairo (Culture, 2005), the old structures and monuments were restored and then either retrieved their original uses or were given new uses according to a comprehensive restoration plan for the entire area. For example, in the Chiado neighborhood, housing was reintroduced into the 18th-century structures, and the previous department stores were converted into hotels and commercial mixed Uses (Leite, 1998).

And in Cairo, Darb al-Ahmar, historic monuments were carefully restored and often adaptively reused for community and cultural functions, while traditional housing stock was rehabilitated rather than demolished. [SeeFigure 6 (a)]

In Karbala Old City, the historical buildings are neglected and almost forgotten. By restoring and adaptively reusing these structures, they can reclaim their significance, restore identity to the place, and serve as focal points that attract visitors. Preserved and respected for their inherent qualities, the monuments, old buildings, and traditional open spaces must be re-integrated into the everyday life of the residents and reconnected to the area's complex, multi-dimensional social and cultural character (Culture, 2005).

As a subsequent step, connecting these attraction zones by enhancing the routes between them will create paths that lead people through these places deep within the urban fabric's forgotten areas. This will lead to the revitalization of the areas around the attraction points and, eventually, the whole city center [Figure 6 (b)].

In dealing with vacant open areas within the urban tissue, insights can be drawn from the Hafsia case study. The Phase 2 project had about 28% vacant areas, which underwent a comprehensive analysis to identify spaces for reconstruction and the positioning of new open areas (Architecture, 2013). [See Figure 7(a)] Similarly, empty spaces in Karbala should be subjected to a detailed analysis to revitalize them and enhance their utility.

For example, these underutilized areas could be transformed into vibrant public spaces, serving as gathering places for social interactions and enabling pilgrims to congregate and perform their rituals. Rather than destroying the urban fabric to create vast open spaces, which disrupt the established urban structure as suggested by the proposal project, a more effective strategy involves introducing multiple smaller open spaces seamlessly integrated into the urban fabric and utilized throughout the year. The experience of Medina (Bianca, 2000) also shows that vast open areas are only useful for accommodating crowds during peak periods; on regular days, they remain uncrowded, making the walk to the shrines harder and less enjoyable, especially during the day.

These open spaces can serve as pedestrian nodes and could be connected and made more accessible through existing routes. This would lead to a redistribution of visitor pressure across the city center and could present opportunities for the development of the entire city center while being integrated into the urban fabric [Figure 7 (b)].

To further support this vision, a layered spatial analysis was conducted to pinpoint specific zones where such interventions could be most effective. Figure 8 shows how layering multiple datasets, such as maps of historical attractions and distributions of empty spaces, can help identify areas with potential for development and enhancement of public spaces. By visualizing these intersections, the figure provides a strategic basis for proposing targeted revitalization that considers both the functional needs and the historical context of the city.

Considering how Karbala transforms during the annual Arbaeen event, it is crucial to prioritize flexibility and adaptability in urban uses. During Arbaeen, the city's streets and public open spaces are transformed with temporary installations to serve the influx of visitors with customary food and drink services and provide temporary accommodations.

This adaptability and multifunctionality also existed in the traditional Islamic city, where the mosque was designed to be a permeable structure, accommodating multiple uses and large congregations. (Bianca, 2000), in his proposal for the expansion of the Grand Mosque of Medina-al-Munawara (Case study 1), aimed to maintain this multi-functionality with flexible ground floor plans that could be used for prayer during peak seasons and for informal commercial activities during other times, ensuring the central area remains vibrant and functional year-round.

Building on these practices, public edifices, endowment buildings, and educational facilities can play a vital role. (See Figure 9) For instance, schools occupy large areas that remain unused during event days, making their extra space highly valuable for meeting the increased demand during these special times. This adaptability can also be applied to other significant buildings in the city center, particularly those with ground floors accessible from the main street. They can be temporarily adapted to accommodate installations that serve pilgrims, which would otherwise occupy a significant portion of the streets, hindering the flow of visitors. This approach would alleviate street congestion and ensure a smoother flow of pilgrims through the city while also helping to reduce the strain on local residents.

By implementing this temporary adaptation approach, Karbala can better accommodate the influx of pilgrims during the event and enhance their experience while preserving the integrity of its urban fabric and maintaining the city's functionality year-round.

Reuse and rehabilitating existing routes, especially the old routes within the urban tissue, with their historical dimension, will lead people from the main axis roads into the historic urban fabric, encouraging exploration of other aspects of the old city, including its historical attractions, social, and cultural life, ultimately leading to the revitalization of the neighborhood. Reintroducing these neglected paths can help alleviate the pressure on the city core and redistribute it across the city center. Currently, most visitors use the main roads with direct access to the shrines, leaving older routes within the urban districts uncrowded even during peak periods [Figure 2 (a)].

Moreover, the proposal plans for the city center's development have also suggested improving some of the older routes and introducing others to improve the flow of visitors.

In the case of Historic Cairo (Culture, 2005), abandoned residents, ruins, and buildings in poor structural condition were considered opportunities for new developments. Small-scale interventions targeting these areas for re-purposing and redevelopment could, in turn, transform the area surrounding them. The same strategy can be applied to the city center of Karbala. This approach will eventually lead to revitalization and increased capacity and density without destroying the city's urban tissue.

(Steinberg, 1996) suggests that the primary emphasis of reusing buildings should be on upgrading and adapting them to serve contemporary functions and activities within a comprehensive plan to enhance the surrounding area. For example, in the revitalization of historic Cairo (Culture, 2005), many existing structures adjacent to public spaces and monuments were repurposed for new uses to serve tourists and the community. Additionally, the rooftops of buildings were rehabilitated and reused for restaurants and cafes. Similarly, structures were adapted for new uses in the Chiado neighborhood (Leite, 1998).

The same approach could be applied to Karbala's city center. Buildings in good structural condition can be repurposed according to the area's requirements and the pilgrims' needs. Connected rooftops of these structures could turn into public spaces with clear views of the holy shrine. During peak periods, they can serve as gathering spaces, enhancing the spiritual connection through visual connection (See Figure 10). Efficiently utilizing existing structures to provide extra space for crowds can avoid disrupting the established urban fabric.

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sector/ individuals.

Not applicable.

The authors declare there is no conflict.