Abstract
Today, many neighbourhoods around the world are suffering from several problems. These problems affected the culture, social interaction, economic aspects as well as environmental impacts. Accordingly, urban development should address social and cultural aspects of each particular community within the environmental and economical context. The current research aims at developing a set of design guidelines that promotes the concept of socially sustainable neighbourhoods in Saudi Arabia. Several rating systems and urban design codes around the world set guidelines for urban design development and particularly in neighbourhood design. LEED (Leadership of Environment and Energy design) for neighbourhood design, and QSAS (Qatar Sustainability Assessment System); are examples of these rating system. Nonetheless, these rating systems are not applicable in the context of Saudi Arabia without considering its local social and cultural aspects. Therefore, this research resulted as a reaction to the abbreviation of socio-cultural aspects in neighbourhood design approaches. This research depends on an analytical review of different neighbourhood design approaches and case studies. In addition, subjective data is collected from experts and professionals about their points of view and their recommendations regarding neighbourhood design for Jeddah city. The result of the research is a set of design guidelines that consists of design principles adjusted to fit the context of Saudi Arabia (Jeddah City). The formulated guidelines are adapted and tested in an evaluation application of two residential neighbourhoods in Jeddah city. This application validated the proposed design guidelines. Considering the proposed design guidelines; in the design process of Jeddah's neighbourhoods, this will promote a leading approach to the concept of socially sustainable neighbourhoods in the kingdom.