A historic district is a historic and cultural conservation area that reflects traditional aspects from the past. A sense of memorable pathway allows pedestrian to experience the city happily and attract touristic activity in urban historic districts. The characteristics of touristic districts which facilitate pedestrian movement help in determining the optimum track. The aim of the research is to create an agent-based model (ABM) to simulate the activity of pedestrians in historic districts in order to way find the best touristic paths. Using Space-Syntax, a simulation of the interaction of tourists with the attraction points in old districts pathway will be made in two different case studies located on North Lebanon. A comparison will be made between the simulation model results and field observation. Findings show that the results of the simulation are different than the real environment. The importance of the research is based on developing a framework that helps urban designers and individuals that are concerned with tourism to find the best factors that can affect tourist way-finding and thus being able to develop these districts.

A heritage building is a genuine witness for the past and it mostly correlates with communities’ collective memory. It involves a considerable economical asset for cultural tourism in addition to other emotional values. However, building archeology is slightly exposed when handling historical buildings; it is subject to reburial to minimize potential risks and to keep it for future generations. The aim of this research is to explore the validity of exposing an archeological feature by establishing an estimation for vandalism risk through an assessment for society’s attitude concerning the new image given to a historic mosque with exposed archeological features. This research handles the ABC calculation method for vandalism risk assessment, and it concludes the risk magnitude by analyzing the social impact for the existence of an archeological feature within Al-Attar historic mosque in Tripoli by performing focus group research targeting persons in direct relation with the subject. The research will open doors for further studies basing on risk magnitude assumption, risk potential sources and different perspectives when handling archeological features; the findings will lead to significant implications for similar cases in Lebanon and in other global similar cases.

Outdoor playgrounds are one of the most spaces needed for kids to make different types of activities, and enhancing thermal comfort in such space consist a critical value due to its impact on kids’ health. Unfortunately, the acceleration of urban heat island (UHI) in outdoor spaces, caused by the presence built-up area has affected the temperature of outdoor spaces especially playgrounds. Many researches highlighted the importance of studying outdoor playground materials to achieve kid’s thermal comfort. Nevertheless, analyzing the impact of providing trees on material performance consist a new research perspective. This research highlight on the importance of using trees as natural element to decrease temperature in outdoor playgrounds to achieve kid’s thermal comfort. The aim of this research is to achieve kid’s thermal comfort by enhancing the performance of outdoor playgrounds finishing materials through providing trees. The study will focus on the variation of playground surfaces temperature through simulating different scenario applied in Malek Fahed and Al Biaa garden in Tripoli, Lebanon. The simulation will be applied in subtropical climate using Envi-Met software. The present study provides an overview of outdoor playgrounds finishing materials and its relations with kid’s thermal comfort. Research findings define the performance level of each playground finishing material in chinaberry shading during summer. Results demonstrate that natural surfaces such as sand, grass and stone enhance kids’ thermal comfort more than artificial ones like concrete during summer days.

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