Housing conditions in the old city of Jerusalem: an empirical study

This paper adopts an empirical research approach to present a profile of the conditions of the built environment in the Palestinian quarters of the Old City based on documentary evidence, interviews and field research. The built environment in this context refers to the buildings, structures, utilities, and services that enable people to live, work and play, circulate and communicate. Physical condition is measured in terms of the provision of space for living, the aesthetic qualities of buildings, the construction materials used, and the provision of services and environmental conditions. The paperʹs main findings are that there is sufficient empirical evidence to support the premise in the literature of growing disrepair in the physical fabric of the Old City but that this not due to any one overarching reason but rather to many acting in unison. The paper identifies financial, technical, social, political and legislative obstacles that stand in the way of carrying out repair and improvement work in the Old City.