The Role of Tactical-Ism and Community Engagement in Shaping Decent Neighbourhoods: Cairo Case Study

In recent decades, housing has come to be seen as more than just a physical structure, but a setting where residents can build long-term social connections. The problem is particularly persistent in residential blocks that lack integration with the unbuilt environment and intermediate spaces, negatively affecting the quality of life for both individuals and the community. This study seeks to explore the influence of tactical-sim and community involvement in the formation of decent neighborhoods, with a particular emphasis on addressing housing inadequacy and inaccessibility in the case of Cairo, Egypt. A methodology based on architectural, urban and psychological indicators was used to analyze this problem in several typologies across the Greater Cairo Region. The findings of the study highlighted several critical issues with the national housing policies and planning, including social segregation and planning injustice; attributable to inadequate integration of semi-public and open spaces or green areas with housing, insufficient community involvement in the planning process and lastly, the tendency to standardize the spatial layout of residential blocks while restricting opportunities for the private sector only.