Urban Design

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Browsing Urban Design by Subject "Addis Ababa"

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    Assessment of Pedestrian Safety Problems and Its Effect on Urban Mobility: The Case of Kolfe- Keranio Sub-City, Addis Ababa
    (Addis Ababa University, 2026-06-01) Benoni Ayele; Birhanu Girma
    Pedestrian mobility constitutes a foundational pillar of sustainable urban development, yet active commuters in rapidly motorizing African cities remain disproportionately exposed to structural, behavioral, and environmental safety hazards. In Addis Ababa, where walking accounts for an estimated 60% to 80% of all daily commuting trips, the urban built environment has historically prioritized vehicular flow over pedestrian protection, generating acute safety deficits. Kolfe-Keranio Sub-City exemplifies this tension, characterized by massive pedestrian volumes, dense mixed-use land-use patterns, and high-speed arterial corridors that concentrate pedestrian-vehicular friction. Despite prior studies examining accident frequencies and pedestrian level of service, a critical empirical gap persists regarding how cumulative safety hazards directly restrict overall walking efficiency and functional urban mobility. This study examines the effect of pedestrian safety hazards—operationalized as Pedestrian Infrastructure (PI), Traffic Conditions (TC), Environmental Factors (EF), and Pedestrian Driver Behaviors (PDB)—on urban pedestrian mobility within Kolfe-Keranio Sub-City. A quantitative cross-sectional research design was adopted. The target population comprised active daily commuters intercepted along major arterial corridors measuring 20 meters or more in width. Using a multi-stage sampling framework guided by land-use and road network maps, 384 structured questionnaires were distributed during peak hours, yielding 366 valid responses (95.3% response rate). Bivariate Pearson correlation and Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) multiple linear regression were employed for data analysis. Results indicate that the combined regression model is highly significant (F(4, 361) = 67.071, p < 0.001), collectively explaining 42.6% of the variance in Pedestrian Mobility (R² = 0.426). All four independent variables exert statistically significant positive effects on mobility (p ≤ 0.001). Pedestrian-Driver Behaviors emerged as the strongest predictor (β = 0.375, t = 9.028), followed by Environmental Factors (β = 0.303, t = 6.905), Pedestrian Infrastructure (β = 0.244, t = 5.972), and Traffic Conditions (β = 0.146, t = 3.340). Multicollinearity diagnostics confirm model integrity, with all Variance Inflation Factors below 1.22. The study concludes that pedestrian safety hazards in Kolfe-Keranio Sub-City function as active mechanisms of mobility suppression, particularly for vulnerable groups including children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. The findings validate the global Safe System Approach, confirming that sustainable urban walkability demands a deliberate transition from vehicle-centric planning toward an integrated, pedestrian-centered built environment. Priority recommendations include enforcing automated speed management along arterial roads, installing continuous street lighting, constructing uninterrupted non-motorized transport corridors, and redesigning high-risk commercial intersections with pedestrian-actuated signals and raised crosswalks.
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    Exploring the Therapeutic Role of Urban Parks on Mental and Physical Health of City Residents: The Case of Addis Ababa
    (Addis Ababa University, 2026-02-01) Shimengus Blen ; Wondwossen Debebe
    Rapid urbanization in Addis Ababa has led to increased environmental problems, making the issue of urban parks as a tool for mental and physical health support regains the lead on the agenda. This paper investigates the perceptions of the residents of Addis Ababa on the mental and physical health benefits of selected urban parks in Addis Ababa and the extent to which these parks satisfy therapeutic urbanism principles. A concurrent triangulation mixed-methods design was employed, combining a cross sectional survey that was conducted among 372 park users, and data were collected through a five-point Likert scale. This was further supported by an observational assessment based on the standards of therapeutic urbanism through domains of accessibility, amenities, design quality, place making, and sustainability. Semi structured key informant interviews with relevant authorities was conducted. Survey respondents were selected through on-site convenience sampling with proportional allocation across eight selected urban parks in Addis Ababa, representing diverse park typologies. Quantitative analysis using weighted mean analysis showed that stress reduction was the factor that gained the highest perception score (M = 4.62), which was then followed by the overall improvement of mental well-being (M = 4.26), thus indicating very positive psychological outcomes. Over 96% of the respondents were in agreement that visits to the park help in reducing stress. The observational study results showed differences in therapeutic design compliance among the parks, with the better performing parks having stronger place-making and sensory design elements. The results revealed that urban parks in Addis Ababa are mainly operating as places of psychological restoration and function as informal restorative infrastructure. Thus, they support Stress Reduction Theory and Attention Restoration Theory, but they require stronger integration of therapeutic design standards and equitable access strategies to enhance mental-health outcomes citywide. The research also demonstrated that the principle of therapeutic design should be involved in urban planning if one wants to make the most of the mental health benefits obtained from rapidly urbanizing cities.
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    The Impact of Urban Land Use Changes on Residential Property Values the Case of Bole Sub City, Addis Ababa
    (EiABC, 2018-10) Degualem Mekuriaw Alemu ; Eyasu Kumera
    study investigates the impact of urban land use changes on residential property values. For this, a case study approach was employed by the CMC-Safari area of Bole sub-city, Addis Ababa-Ethiopia. The primary data was gathered from 50 households and real estate brokers practicing in the study area using structured questionnaires, 15 key informants through interviews and observation. Brief survey of literature and different published and unpublished data available at different offices was also part of the information collected using secondary sources. The data collected were analyzed with Relative Importance Index (RII) technique, regression analysis, and simple descriptive analysis, particularly with frequencies and percentages. Also, valuation of affected residential properties was conducted, value changes trend analysis was carried out using appropriate software applications. The findings of this study indicated that the study area has undertaken a significant level of change in land use in the last two decades from farmlands to different urban land uses such as residential, commercial, mixed-use, social service, greenery & open space, administration, and small-scale manufacturing. Based on the RII value, housing demand (0.956), road construction and transport access (0.896), agglomeration of business activities (0.848), utility development (0.832) are identified as the most significant attributes (in their order of importance) for land use change that affected residential property values in the study area. Other important factors discovered include broker’s interference, social class influx (high-income groups), an intervention of financial institutions, and real-estate development while public service development was found to be the least influential determinant. The regression analysis result have shown that, 81.7% of the variation in the dependent (single- family residential rental value) variable can be explained by variations in the independent variables (determinants of land use change). It was also found that land use change positively affects residential property values and correspondingly increases its value (both rental and sale) in the study area. The study suggests that there is need to put an efficient scheme to minimize broker’s negative role in distorting value determination. There is also a need to emplace a land value capture tax on owners for the benefits gained from public investment (example: - road construction).
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    Public Rental Housing as Housing Delivery Strategy in Addis Ababa: The Case of Apartments Constructed by Agency for Government Houses (AGH)
    (Addis Ababauniversity, 2016-06) Hailu Yehanew; Alemayehu Yonas
    Rental housing takes the biggest share in Addis Ababa’s housing stock; above 50 percent. 37% is the share of the private rental sector; which is characterised by continuous rise in rent price and is becoming unaffordable for many poor households. Contrary to this is the public rental housing sector (PRH); it provides the most affordable housing units so far. With unrevised rent price and contract the sector has become permanent affordable shelter for many. Government policy that promotes home ownership has frozen the production of new PRH units. The study examines existing PRH stock in Addis Ababa in search of potentials and lessons for further developing the sector in the future. It focuses on apartments constructed by Agency for Government Houses (AGH); and studies development process, target group and management. Based on findings the study also proposes a strategy for developing the sector anew. For the purpose of in-depth understanding of the sector a Case Study method is used; cases were selected based on availability of data and rational of the study. Purposeful random sampling was used for selecting interviewed tenants. Data are collected through interview, questionnaire and reviewing archival materials; tenant satisfaction survey was used to shed light on the management performance of AGH. Additional data were also collected from secondary sources as part of contextual and background study. Data on development process were analysed in comparison with current housing development trend. The study came up with three basic findings; first, it was the decisions made at different times by the central government that had led to the construction of the apartments rather than pre-planned consistent strategy. The central government (Ministry of Urban Development and Construction) played the major role in the development process. All involved actors were public institutions; including those who participated in the design and construction. AGH financed the construction of the apartments with money collected from rent; which makes AGH financially self-sufficient back then. Second, Current tenants are mainly high and middle income households, opposed to low income households which are considered to be the right target group of such PRH programs . The units are also rented for different purposes; for housing, office and shop. Third, the management is found to be satisfactory in some aspects and unsatisfactory in others; with big problem on repair and maintenance. The study also found potentials for further developing the sector, such as huge underdeveloped land in the city centre; occupied by low-rise and poor quality PRH units and rent money collected from these units. Current institutional structure of AGH and government housing policy and strategy are challenges for further developing the sector. Based on the findings the study provides detail strategy proposal. Program design, land acquisition, financing mechanisms, target group and management are discussed in detail in the strategy. Key words: Public rental housing, tenant, Agency for Government Houses, housing management, tenants‟ satisfaction, development process, Addis Ababa