Characterising Urban Centers (Subcenters/Activity Centers) In A Polycentric Spatial Structure

Sub-center is evolving when urban environment started to grow and by decentralization and sub-urbanization process to lower the congestions and increase the efficiency in urban life.Besides,by means of rising problems of the growth in an urban area,there emerged the need for complementary sub centers,both in order to distribute amenities and to make resources more accessible for citizens,as well as to relieve the pressure on the city core.Such planning strategy,a kind of decentralized concentration,has been seen as a mean for holding back urban sprawl in Zanzibar.The success,of a sub center is influenced by urban design interventions which are related to the configurative properties(distribution of space),land use parameters and density(distribution in and through space).The criteria on land-use,planning process,design of the built environment,responsive environments and urban design dimensions in urban sub centers will assist the study to develop detailed criteria for defining the character of sub centers.After the 1980s,the city of Zanzibar expanded rapidly and there emerged new development areas of the metropolitan region.With respect to these,Zanzibar is analyzed with a new urban development masterplan in corridor called Mwanakwerekwe.The masterplan proposed that area to be one of the sub center of Zanzibar city due to its strategic location as it connects so many any areas of the city such as the port,the airport,the new suburban settlements,the tourism areas as well as agricultural areas making it a very important node with economic potential to assist the city center.The aim of this study is to define the character of the Mwanakwerekwe sub center of which will be the criteria to develop the area in its own right.In one perspective the analysis of character related to the metropolitan area(macro strategies)such as population density,economic integrity,transportation,environment,crime and delinquency,social integration and administration.While at local location(micro strategies)which include perceptual,spatial,morphology,function,contextual,public realm,appeal,mobility,identity,adaptability,vitality and safety and quality ambience.The study area will be critically discussed and analyzed by employing such strategies as they determine the character of the sub centers as well as analysis on defining the character of sub-center by studying the principles of character appraisal in urban centers formation.In order to increase the understanding for what urban design interventions that may be efficient,this research contributes the concept that in defining the character of urban centers it is important to address the strategies at the metropolitan and local level as they play an important role in defining the character.The combination of micro urban strategies should be integrated during urban design intervention with knowledge of how they can affect the character and urban form.