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The professional website of Professor Ashraf M. Salama with links to collections of publications and downloadable materials
Ashraf Salama conducts research grounded on the study of people–environment relationships at both architectural and urban scales, with sustained attention to socio-cultural, behavioural, and spatial dimensions of the built environment. Operating across diverse geographic contexts and drawing on a range of trans-disciplinary methods, the research generates evidence-based knowledge that informs design pedagogy, urban policy, and professional practice. The two sections below outline the principal research contexts and the methodological approaches that underpin this body of work.
Ashraf Salama conducts research grounded on the study of people–environment relationships at both architectural and urban scales, with sustained attention to socio-cultural, behavioural, and spatial dimensions of the built environment. Operating across diverse geographic contexts and drawing on a range of trans-disciplinary methods, the research generates evidence-based knowledge that informs design pedagogy, urban policy, and professional practice. The two sections below outline the principal research contexts and the methodological approaches that underpin this body of work.
UK & Europe
UK & Europe
Gulf Cities
Gulf Cities
Egypt
Egypt
All Africa
All Africa
Wider Contexts
Wider Contexts
RESEARCH CONTEXTS
Research is undertaken across many contexts worldwide with emphasis on Gulf Cities, Egypt, and certain countries in Africa. It has expanded to address contexts in Europe and the Balkans as well as other regional contexts. The five categories of contexts include:
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1. Europe & the Balkans — which includes research work on a number of cities including Belfast, Belgrade, Bosnia, Glasgow, Gothenburg, and Newcastle, mainly in the areas of urban space assessment, spaces of migrant communities, interrogating various cultural practices, and technology-enabled co-assessment of urban environments.
Representative publications:
Patil, M. P., Salama, A. M., Arnfield, J., & Alvanides, S. (2024). "YouWalk-YouReclaim: A Co-Assessment Approach for Active University Campus Environments." Smart and Sustainable Built Environment. https://doi.org/10.1108/SASBE-06-2024-0228
Salama, A. M., Patil, M. P., & MacLean, L. (2024). "Urban Resilience and Sustainability Through and Beyond Crisis — Evidence-based Analysis and Lessons Learned from Selected European Cities." Smart and Sustainable Built Environment, 13(2), 444–470. https://doi.org/10.1108/SASBE-08-2023-0208
Salama, A. M., & Patil, M. P. (2024). "A Mobile Application Tool for Co-assessing Urban Open Spaces – A Test Case of the Grey's Monument, Newcastle, UK." Journal of Urban Design. https://doi.org/10.1080/13574809.2024.2363818
Pansare, P., & Salama, A. M. (2023). "Urban Form as a Driver for Inclusivity in Public Open Spaces: A Case from Glasgow." In M. Mostafa et al. (Eds.), Design for Inclusivity: Proceedings of the UIA World Congress of Architects Copenhagen 2023 (pp. 219–232). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-36302-3_17
Salama, A. M., Salingaros, N. A., & MacLean, L. (2023). "A Multimodal Appraisal of Zaha Hadid's Glasgow Riverside Museum — Criticism, Performance Evaluation, and Habitability." Buildings, 13(1), Article 173. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13010173
Vukovic, T., Salama, A. M., Mitrovic, B., & Devetakovic, M. (2021). "Assessing Public Open Spaces in Belgrade – A Quality of Urban Life Perspective." Archnet-IJAR, 15(3), 505–523. https://doi.org/10.1108/ARCH-04-2020-0064
Harrington, S., Dimitrijevic, B., & Salama, A. M. (2019). "Synchrony-city: Sarajevo in Five Acts and Few Intervals." Archnet-IJAR, 13(3), 573–594. https://doi.org/10.1108/ARCH-05-2019-0125
Shehab, N., & Salama, A. M. (2018). "The Spatiality of Segregation: Narratives from the Everyday Urban Environment of Gothenburg and Glasgow." Archnet-IJAR, 12(1), 71–90.
Salama, A. M., & Remali, A. M. (2018). "Urban Traditions in the Midst of the Chinatown of Liverpool and the Quasi-Enclave of Glasgow." Traditional Dwellings and Settlements Working Paper Series, 292, Article 1.
Salama, A. M., Remali, A. M., & MacLean, L. A. (2017). "Characterisation and Systematic Assessment of Urban Open Spaces in Glasgow City Centre." Spatium, 37, 22–33. https://doi.org/10.2298/SPAT1737022S
Salama, A. M., Remali, A. M., & MacLean, L. A. (2017). "Deciphering Urban Life: A Multi-layered Investigation of St. Enoch Square, Glasgow City Centre." Archnet-IJAR: International Journal of Architectural Research, 11(2), 137–156.
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2. Gulf Cities — with an emphasis on work relevant to emerging and globalized cities, knowledge economy and urban qualities, housing transformations and multiculturalism, and assessment of image-making practices, urban open spaces, and city developments.
Representative publications:
Salama, A. M. (2026). "Negotiating a Cosmopolitan Urban Hub: Policy Implications for Migration, Housing, and Sustainability in Metropolitan Doha." International Planning Studies, 31(2), 227–261. https://doi.org/10.1080/13563475.2025.2589198
Ibrahim, H. G. A., Salama, A. M., Awwaad, R., & Aboukalloub, B. (2023). "Housing Dynamics for Sustainable Urban Development in Greater Doha." Journal of Engineering Research. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jer.2023.100152
Wiedmann, F., & Salama, A. M. (2019). Building Migrant Cities in the Gulf: Urban Transformation in the Middle East. Bloomsbury I.B. Tauris. http://dx.doi.org/10.5040/9781788316248
Wiedmann, F., Salama, A. M., Ibrahim, H. G. A., & Mirincheva, V. (2019). "New Housing Patterns and Spatial Fragmentation in Gulf Cities." Journal of Urbanism: International Research on Placemaking and Urban Sustainability, 12(4), 393–411. https://doi.org/10.1080/17549175.2019.1626263
Salama, A. M., Wiedmann, F., & Ibrahim, H. (2018). "Migrant Knowledge Workers' Perceptions of Housing Conditions in Gulf Cities." Journal of International Migration and Integration, 19(1), 15–33. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12134-017-0527-z
Salama, A. M., Wiedmann, F., Thierstein, A., & Al Ghatam, W. (2016). "Knowledge Economy as an Initiator of Sustainable Urbanism in Emerging Metropolises: The Case of Doha, Qatar." Archnet-IJAR: International Journal of Architectural Research, 10(1), 274–324.
Salama, A. M., & Wiedmann, F. (2016). "Perceiving Urban Liveability in an Emerging Migrant City." Proceedings of the ICE — Urban Design and Planning, 169(6), 268–278. https://doi.org/10.1680/jurdp.15.00034
Salama, A. M., & Azzali, S. (2015). "Examining Attributes of Urban Open Spaces in Doha." ICE Urban Design and Planning, 168(2), 75–87. https://doi.org/10.1680/udap.14.00011
Salama, A. M., & Wiedmann, F. (2013/2016). Demystifying Doha: On Architecture and Urbanism in an Emerging City (2nd ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315576503
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3. Architecture & Urbanism in Egypt — with emphasis on architectural and urban discourse, sustainable design for ecolodges and sustainable facilities for tourism, and issues related to unplanned settlements and informal housing.
Representative publications:
Bakhaty, A., Salama, A. M., & Dimitrijević, B. (2023). "A Validated Framework for Characterising Informal Settlements: Two Cases from Greater Cairo, Egypt." Buildings, 13(5), Article 1261. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13051263
El-Ashmouni, M., & Salama, A. M. (2022/2024). Influence and Resistance in Post-Independence Egyptian Architecture. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003145882
El-Ashmouni, M., & Salama, A. M. (2020). "Contemporary Architecture of Cairo (1990–2020): Mutational Plurality of 'ISMS', Decolonialism, and Cosmopolitanism." Open House International, 45(1/2), 121–142. https://doi.org/10.1108/OHI-04-2020-0007
Salama, A. M. (2004). "Contemporary Architecture in Egypt: Reflections on Architecture and Urbanism of the Nineties." In J. Abed (Ed.), Architecture Re-Introduced: New Projects in Societies in Change (pp. 80–101). The Aga Khan Award for Architecture.
Patterson, A., Salama, A. M., Samy, M., El-Aroussy, S., Winter, N., & Abdelfattah, R. S. (1999). Guidelines for Eco-lodge Development in Egypt (3 vols.). Tourism Development Authority & USAID.
Salama, A. M. (1998). Human Factors in Environmental Design: An Introductory Approach to Architecture. The Anglo Egyptian Publications.
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4. All Africa (North/East/West) — which captures PhD research and published works focusing on the Medina in North Africa, Lilongwe, Malawi, and Accra, Ghana. The focus is on housing transformations, quality of urban life, and inclusivity in the public realm.
Representative publications:
Salama, A. M., Patil, M. P., Elsemellawy, A. N., Abudib, H. H., Almansor, N. A., MacLean, L., & Van Riel, K. (2024). "People-Place Narratives as Knowledge Typologies for Social Sustainability: Cases from the Global South." Buildings. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14041001
Harriss, H., Salama, A. M., & Gonzalez Lara, A. (Eds.). (2022/2023). The Routledge Companion to Architectural Pedagogies of the Global South. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003018841
MacLean, L., & Salama, A. M. (2021). "Assessing the Quality of Urban Life in Three Neighbourhoods, Lilongwe, Malawi." ICE Urban Design and Planning, 174(3), 86–101. https://doi.org/10.1680/jurdp.21.00017
Abubakar, A., Romice, O., & Salama, A. M. (2019). "Slums and Prosperity: A Complex, Dynamic Pathway of Intervention." Archnet-IJAR: International Journal of Architectural Research, 13(2), 314–330. https://doi.org/10.1108/ARCH-02-2019-0041
MacLean, L. A., & Salama, A. M. (2019). "Towards a Context Specific Multidimensional Quality of Urban Life Model." Open House International, 41(4), 25–33. https://doi.org/10.1108/OHI-01-2019-B0004
Van Riel, K., & Salama, A. M. (2019). "Using Auto-photography to Explore Young People's Belonging and Exclusion in Urban Spaces in Accra, Ghana." Open House International, 41(4), 62–70. https://doi.org/10.1108/OHI-01-2019-B0008
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5. Wider Global Contexts — which represents an important component of the profile that engages with efforts undertaken in various contexts and reflects other conceptual contributions and regional or global categorisations including the Arab world, Middle East, Islamic world, and North America.
Representative publications:
Salama, A. M., Pasalar, C., & Toker, Z. (2026). The Participatory Design Legacy of Henry Sanoff: Co-Creation and Community-Based Design Learning. Routledge.
Pansare, P., Salama, A. M., & McIntyre, L. (2026). "An Operational Assessment Index for Inclusivity in Urban Public Open Spaces." ABC2: Journal of Architecture, Building, Construction, and Cities, 2026(3), 15–34. https://doi.org/10.66408/abc2.2026.42
Salama, A. M., & Burton, L. O. (2023). "Pedagogical Traditions in Architecture: The Canonical, the Resistant, and the Decolonized." Traditional Dwellings and Settlements Review, 35(1), 47–71.
Harriss, H., Salama, A. M., & Gonzales Lara, A. (Eds.). (2022/2023). The Routledge Companion to Architectural Pedagogies of the Global South. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003018841
Salama, A. M., & El-Ashmouni, M. M. (2020/2024). Architectural Excellence in Islamic Societies: Distinction through the Aga Khan Award for Architecture. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781351057493
Salama, A. M. (2019). "Integrationist Triadic Agendas for City Research: Cases from Recent Urban Studies." Journal of Architecture and Urbanism, 43(2), 148–157. https://doi.org/10.3846/jau.2019.11220
Salama, A. M. (2019). "Architectural Education of the Muslim World within a Global World." International Journal of Islamic Architecture, 8(1), 33–41. https://doi.org/10.1386/ijia.8.1.33_1
RESEARCH METHODS
Research adopts several lines of inquiry and engages with ethnographic methods, environmental psychology approaches, social science research tools, while implementing mechanisms for the trans-disciplinary co-production of knowledge. Since the key interest is to examine the reciprocal impacts of people and built environments, a spectrum of tools is employed for effective systematic examination of people–environment relationships. Tools utilised in previous projects range from applying spatial analysis tools such as space syntax to various environment–behaviour techniques including behavioural mapping, cognitive mapping, auto-photography, structured walking tours' assessment techniques, systematic observations and contemplating settings, focused interviews, and various group interaction mechanisms including charrettes, evidence-based assessment workshops, stakeholder meetings, and focus group discussions. More recently, the YouWalk-UOS mobile application has been developed as a technology-enabled co-assessment tool for urban open spaces, demonstrating how digital innovation can extend and augment traditional environment–behaviour methods. Approaches and tools are appropriated and adapted to match the nature of investigation, contextual parameters, and correspond with the crux of the issues under investigation.
The following articles demonstrate some of the approaches adopted:
Patil, M. P., Salama, A. M., Arnfield, J., & Alvanides, S. (2024). "YouWalk-YouReclaim: A Co-Assessment Approach for Active University Campus Environments." Smart and Sustainable Built Environment. https://doi.org/10.1108/SASBE-06-2024-0228
Salama, A. M., & Patil, M. P. (2024). "A Mobile Application Tool for Co-assessing Urban Open Spaces – A Test Case of the Grey's Monument, Newcastle, UK." Journal of Urban Design. https://doi.org/10.1080/13574809.2024.2363818
Salama, A. M., & Patil, M. P. (2024). "Unpacking Transdisciplinary Research Scenarios in Architecture & Urbanism." Encyclopaedia, 4(1), 352–378. https://doi.org/10.3390/encyclopedia4010025
Salama, A. M. (2019). "Methodological Research in Architecture and Allied Disciplines: Philosophical Positions, Frames of Reference, and Spheres of Inquiry." Archnet-IJAR, 13(1), 8–24. https://doi.org/10.1108/ARCH-01-2019-0012
Salama, A. M. (2019). "Understanding Built Environment Realities: Between Conceptual Frameworks and Experimental Fieldworks." Archnet-IJAR, 13(2), 238–243. https://doi.org/10.1108/ARCH-06-2019-0142
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