The urban problems of Gazimagusa (Famagusta) and proposals for the future

The main aim of this article is to put forward various factors, forces, and decisions which have diversified the tendency of urban growth and which ha ve shaped the urban pattern of the city of Gazimagusa (Famagusta)(1) partic ularly after the war in 1974, and to offer alternative policy recommendatio ns, some strategic planning solutions including general design proposals, T hese are aimed at dealing with the major problems posed by the fragmentatio n of the urban fabric, It stresses the post-war tendency and problems of ur ban growth and development, by addressing the social, cultural and demograp hic, as well as economic and physical changes the city has been facing sinc e then. The paper begins with a brief historical review of the evolution of the urb an pattern of the city until 1974 and identifies its urban layout at that t ime. With the arguments in place, the paper will then provide a framework f or understanding and solving the urban problems in the city after 1974 and try to evaluate the positive and negative issues, factors and/or forces whi ch have been shaping its urban structure. Finally, some policy recommendati ons for planning and design solutions are provided as a basis for the integ ration of developing, neglected and deteriorated quarters of the city. Part icular emphasis is made on the Walled City, Maras (Varosha), Asagi Maras (K ato Varosha)(2) as well as the newly developed and developing quarters, whi ch are bringing the city towards sustainable development. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd, All rights reserved.