The Change of Genotype in Old Traditional Areas in Baghdad CityAnalytical Study Using Geographic Information System

Abstract

Change is the fact of being difference, or something to be in a state that not being before. Old traditional areas in Baghdad City have been encountered to many changes by the act of streets cut through, as a result of development process or comprehensive plans, which represents the research problem.The research hypothesis is, the genotype of old traditional areas is changed by the act of streets cut through. The aim of this paper is to explore the changes in this genotype with specific reference to old traditional Al- Kadhemiyah and old Karkh, according to four morphological stages passed across.The research findings where the genotype of old kadhemiyah in the first morphological stage was global integrated core around the Shrine. The most integrated spaces connect the center to the outside forming a wheel – liked pattern. The most segregated spaces form clusters, which are the interstices of the wheel. The shape has been changed to half wheel – liked pattern in the second morphological stage, and to a wheel pattern in the third morphological stage, after the streets cut through the area, and the demolition of the urban fabric around the Shrine. It was changed to a Spider form in the fourth morphological stage, with a globally integrated core, and segregated residential areas, which interstices the gaps within the shapes. The fourth stage genotype was a new one and not found within the known genotypes. The most integrated spaces have been changed during the four morphological stages. The intelligibility of the spatial system has been changed from most ambiguous to more intelligible through the four morphological stages.The genotype of old Al- Karkh area, At first stage was global integrated core at the center, the most integrated spaces connect the center to the outside forming a Pyramid pattern. The most segregated spaces form clusters, which are at both sides of the integrated core. This genotype was a new one and not found within the known genotypes. This genotype has been changed, at the second morphological stage to a tree – like pattern integrated core linking the center to the outside, leaving segregated spaces on other sides of the integrated core, after the demolition of part of the fence and some street had been cut through the area. At the third morphological stage, the genotype is changed to inward- looking integrated heart, after the new streets had been cut through the area, and the area connection with Rusafah. Finally, it was changed to a tree- liked pattern at the fourth morphological stage, after Hayfa Street had been cut through the area. The intelligibility of the spatial system has been changed from most intelligible to most ambiguous through the four morphological stages.