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University Educator/Researcher
01 September 2017 - 31 August 2021
Others
01 May 2016 - 01 August 2016
University Educator/Researcher
01 November 2015 - 01 August 2017
President, CEO or Director
01 January 2011 - 01 October 2015
Dr. Mark David Major, AICP, CNU-A is an Assistant Professor of Architecture and Urban Design at Qatar University. He has nearly three decades of experience in architecture, urban design and planning, real estate development, and business. Mark is the recognized Founder of International Space Syntax Symposia and the leading American expert on space syntax. He is the author of The Syntax of City Space: American Urban Grids (2018, Routledge Books) and the Poor Richard series (Forum Books, 2012, 2014, and 2017) of almanacs for architects and planners. Mark is a certified planner (#018666) of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) since May 2003, an accredited member of the Congress for New Urbanism (CNU-A) since 2015, and Licentiate Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), United Kingdom since 2019. He is also a Lifetime Member of the International Society of City and Regional Planners (ISOCARP) since 2020.
Pruitt-Igoe, in St Louis, Missouri, United States, was one of the most notorious social housing projects of the twentieth century. Charles Jencks argued opening his book The Language of Post-Modern Architecture, ‘Modern Architecture died in St Louis, Missouri on July 15, 1972 at 3.32 pm (or thereabouts) when the infamous Pruitt-Igoe scheme, or rather several of its slab blocks, were given the final coup de grâce by dynamite.’ However, the magazine Architectural Forum had heralded the project as ‘the best high apartment’ of the year in 1951. Indeed, one of its first residents in 1957 described Pruitt-Igoe as ‘like an oasis in a desert, all of this newness’. But a later resident derided the housing project as ‘Hell on Earth’ in 1967. Only eighteen years after opening, the St Louis Public Housing Authority (PHA) began demolishing Pruitt-Igoe in 1972 [1]. It remains commonly cited for the failures of modernist design and planning.
Mark David Major. ‘Excavating’ Pruitt-Igoe using space syntax. Architectural Research Quarterly 2021, 25, 55 -68.
AMA StyleMark David Major. ‘Excavating’ Pruitt-Igoe using space syntax. Architectural Research Quarterly. 2021; 25 (1):55-68.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMark David Major. 2021. "‘Excavating’ Pruitt-Igoe using space syntax." Architectural Research Quarterly 25, no. 1: 55-68.
In a rapidly developing nation such as Qatar, the prime aspect of growth is directed toward delivering social, economic, and environmental coherence in its neighborhood development. Qatar's current fast economic growth and the physical transformation of its built environment compromises social and environmental aspects. However, if applied suitably, these transformations can enhance these compromised aspects while increasing economic prosperity. Such transformations include major urban public transit systems currently under construction for the 2022 FIFA World Cup and 2030 Qatar National Vision (QNV-2030), which aims to connect the center of Doha to several megaprojects and transit villages around major metro stations. The main goal of projects such as the Doha Metro System is to reduce the number of vehicles on the road networks while providing a “stress-free” transition experience. Therefore, the pursuit of transit-oriented developments (TODs), as part of an integrated transportation and land use strategy, will aid in the revitalization of urban neighborhoods in terms of both social and environmental aspects, while allowing for economic prosperity. The main challenge for urban planners is to design the metro stations and accompanying facilities to be well integrated into the urban context of their surroundings, thus reducing traffic through the design of mixed-use, compact transit villages. This study aims to explore the extent to which the new metro station can be interconnected with the spatial form of the built environment of the Souq Waqif neighborhood. This research study argues that efficient integration of land use with balanced transportation will contribute to creating a more livable environment with reduced automobile dependence while aiding the economic context. The research design includes qualitative data based on theoretical studies to assess the principles of TODs and the extent of further implementations that can be employed for the Souq neighborhood to become a TOD.
Heba O. Tannous; Raffaello Furlan; Mark David Major. Souq Waqif Neighborhood as a Transit-Oriented Development. Journal of Urban Planning and Development 2020, 146, 05020023 .
AMA StyleHeba O. Tannous, Raffaello Furlan, Mark David Major. Souq Waqif Neighborhood as a Transit-Oriented Development. Journal of Urban Planning and Development. 2020; 146 (4):05020023.
Chicago/Turabian StyleHeba O. Tannous; Raffaello Furlan; Mark David Major. 2020. "Souq Waqif Neighborhood as a Transit-Oriented Development." Journal of Urban Planning and Development 146, no. 4: 05020023.
Accessibility indicates the ease of reaching many destinations from many origins in the urban network at various scales of space. It plays an important role in determining the location of public facilities to maximize usability for a large population or limit use to a smaller community. The absence of urban green spaces is a notable consequence of rapid urbanization in many cities around the world. Doha in the State of Qatar is no different, where rapid urban expansion and globalization has a significant impact on the quality and quantity of green spaces available. This paper analyzes the location and size of public parks, promenades, and other green spaces in Doha in terms of their accessibility. Do they follow a discernible spatial logic in terms of their size and accessibility linked to the design intent of public planning policies? The research shows there is spatial and social logic to the physical and spatial characteristics of open green spaces in Doha above a certain size. In contrast, those characteristics in smaller examples tend to be more random, mainly due to issues of land availability and amenity provision in private developments.
Heba O. Tannous; Mark David Major; Raffaello Furlan. Accessibility of green spaces in a metropolitan network using space syntax to objectively evaluate the spatial locations of parks and promenades in Doha, State of Qatar. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening 2020, 58, 126892 .
AMA StyleHeba O. Tannous, Mark David Major, Raffaello Furlan. Accessibility of green spaces in a metropolitan network using space syntax to objectively evaluate the spatial locations of parks and promenades in Doha, State of Qatar. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening. 2020; 58 ():126892.
Chicago/Turabian StyleHeba O. Tannous; Mark David Major; Raffaello Furlan. 2020. "Accessibility of green spaces in a metropolitan network using space syntax to objectively evaluate the spatial locations of parks and promenades in Doha, State of Qatar." Urban Forestry & Urban Greening 58, no. : 126892.
Architecture and urbanism in the Arabian Gulf region, and specifically in the State of Qatar, offer many scenes to observe the loss of urban identity and cultural heritage in the various components of the built environment, including residential architecture. Many people attribute this to rapid development in globalization and the adoption of Western standardization in planning and design practice. Conversely, in the field of architectural sociology, scholars argue that socio-cultural factors such as privacy, gender segregation, and hospitality are the important variables for determining the spatial form of Islamic residential architecture. This research study aims to investigate the degree to which the shaping of the spatial form in a sample of Qatari vernacular courtyard houses embeds socio-cultural factors based on morphological analysis of human behavior and activities in domestic space. The study utilizes space syntax analysis to explore the spatial connectivity of four Qatari vernacular courtyard houses related to domestic functions as a realization of inhabitants’ system of activities and a manifestation of culture as a way of life. The study’s findings shed light on the spatial formation of Qatari vernacular courtyard houses as a realization of socio-cultural imperatives, thus reflecting the essence of societal formation in the domestic architecture of old Qatari settlements. The insights from this research study can help to contribute to a cultural heritage-framework for the preservation of distinctive Qatari Vernacular Residential Architecture based on the analytical criteria of housing spatial form, socio-cultural factors, and the interrelation between both.
Asmaa Al-Mohannadi; Raffaello Furlan; Mark Major. A Cultural Heritage Framework for Preserving Qatari Vernacular Domestic Architecture. Sustainability 2020, 12, 7295 .
AMA StyleAsmaa Al-Mohannadi, Raffaello Furlan, Mark Major. A Cultural Heritage Framework for Preserving Qatari Vernacular Domestic Architecture. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (18):7295.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAsmaa Al-Mohannadi; Raffaello Furlan; Mark Major. 2020. "A Cultural Heritage Framework for Preserving Qatari Vernacular Domestic Architecture." Sustainability 12, no. 18: 7295.
This paper presents some of the findings of a study comparing the form and function of two traditional markets on the Arabian Peninsula: Souq Mutrah in Muscat, Oman, and Souq Waqif in Doha, Qatar. Globalization and rapid urbanization characterize both Doha and Muscat, which share similar historical origins as coastal settlements despite stark differences in topography; Oman is mountainous, whereas Qatar is flat. We investigate the urban morphology, land use and function of the two souqs using several representational techniques typical of morphological research, including space syntax analysis. The purpose is to develop a deeper understanding of (1) the evolution of space and form in these marketplaces over time, and (2) the possible implications for their functioning as urban places. The analysis demonstrates the critical importance of the contextual relations at the macro- and micro-scale of the urban environment for understanding the complex nature of these souqs as places today, helping to deepen our knowledge about traditional markets in the Middle East.
Mark Major; Heba Tannous. Form and Function in Two Traditional Markets of the Middle East: Souq Mutrah and Souq Waqif. Sustainability 2020, 12, 7154 .
AMA StyleMark Major, Heba Tannous. Form and Function in Two Traditional Markets of the Middle East: Souq Mutrah and Souq Waqif. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (17):7154.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMark Major; Heba Tannous. 2020. "Form and Function in Two Traditional Markets of the Middle East: Souq Mutrah and Souq Waqif." Sustainability 12, no. 17: 7154.
Constructed in the 1980s, the BCR Corridors complex is the most iconic building at Qatar University (QU). However, it is also notorious for way-finding difficulties. The problem appears to derive from the repetitive similarity of individual parts in its modular design. Elevators, stairwells, screens, and temporary installations also create impediments to user readability and visibility. Collectively, this tends to complicate its relationship to the immediate context of the university campus. Recently, researchers at QU conducted a post-occupancy evaluation (PoE) of the BCR Corridors. It included (1) direct observation of movement flows and static occupation of space in common areas, (2) room use and photographic surveys, and (3) computer modeling of the spatial layout using space syntax. Space syntax is an international research program of academics and practitioners studying the role of built space in society from the single building to entire cities. The purpose of the PoE study was to understand observed patterns of movement and space use with reference to the problems for way-finding in the BCR Corridors. Based on this, researchers developed proposals for design alterations to enable easier use of the complex. The findings of the study support the above hypothesis about navigation problems in the building.
Mark David Major; Heba O. Tannous; Doha Elsaman; Lolwa Al-Mohannadi; Meera Al-Khulifi; Shaikha Al-Thani. Complexity in the Built Environment: Wayfinding Difficulties in the Modular Design of Qatar University’s Most Iconic Building. Smart Cities 2020, 3, 952 -977.
AMA StyleMark David Major, Heba O. Tannous, Doha Elsaman, Lolwa Al-Mohannadi, Meera Al-Khulifi, Shaikha Al-Thani. Complexity in the Built Environment: Wayfinding Difficulties in the Modular Design of Qatar University’s Most Iconic Building. Smart Cities. 2020; 3 (3):952-977.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMark David Major; Heba O. Tannous; Doha Elsaman; Lolwa Al-Mohannadi; Meera Al-Khulifi; Shaikha Al-Thani. 2020. "Complexity in the Built Environment: Wayfinding Difficulties in the Modular Design of Qatar University’s Most Iconic Building." Smart Cities 3, no. 3: 952-977.
Doha, the capital of the State of Qatar, has faced enormous economic growth and rapid urban transformation over the last few decades. More recently, this has been accentuated by the construction of major urban public transit systems in the State and a desire to implement the Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) model in new developments and/or urban regeneration projects along the new ‘Doha Metro’ rail network. A TOD is a mixed-use area planned to maximize access to public transport and encourage transit ridership. Scholars argue that TODs encourage sustainable urbanism via enhancement of livability by better integrating transportation and land-use strategies in urban form. This makes it critical to better understand the challenges and benefits that TODs offer for models of urbanism in formulating strategies and guidelines for the planning of sustainable settlements. This study focuses on one major new transit hubs in Qatar: West Bay, the waterfront business district of Doha, and its surrounding neighborhood. The aim of the research study is to evaluate the extent to which the new West Bay TOD will impact livability in the district and surrounding neighborhood. The findings provide a guide for the design and implementation of the TOD model in other districts of Doha to enhance livability for residents and citizens.
Raffaello Furlan; Attilio Petruccioli; Mark David Major; Sara Zaina; Samar Zaina; Mahmoud Al Saeed; Dina Saleh. The urban regeneration of west-bay, business district of Doha (State of Qatar): A transit-oriented development enhancing livability. Journal of Urban Management 2018, 8, 126 -144.
AMA StyleRaffaello Furlan, Attilio Petruccioli, Mark David Major, Sara Zaina, Samar Zaina, Mahmoud Al Saeed, Dina Saleh. The urban regeneration of west-bay, business district of Doha (State of Qatar): A transit-oriented development enhancing livability. Journal of Urban Management. 2018; 8 (1):126-144.
Chicago/Turabian StyleRaffaello Furlan; Attilio Petruccioli; Mark David Major; Sara Zaina; Samar Zaina; Mahmoud Al Saeed; Dina Saleh. 2018. "The urban regeneration of west-bay, business district of Doha (State of Qatar): A transit-oriented development enhancing livability." Journal of Urban Management 8, no. 1: 126-144.
Mark Major; Ruth Conroy Dalton. The Regular Grid as Historical Subject. The Syntax of City Space 2018, 36 -49.
AMA StyleMark Major, Ruth Conroy Dalton. The Regular Grid as Historical Subject. The Syntax of City Space. 2018; ():36-49.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMark Major; Ruth Conroy Dalton. 2018. "The Regular Grid as Historical Subject." The Syntax of City Space , no. : 36-49.
"The street is a spatial entity and not the residue between buildings."
Mark Major; Ruth Conroy Dalton. Introduction. The Syntax of City Space 2018, 2 -19.
AMA StyleMark Major, Ruth Conroy Dalton. Introduction. The Syntax of City Space. 2018; ():2-19.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMark Major; Ruth Conroy Dalton. 2018. "Introduction." The Syntax of City Space , no. : 2-19.
Mark Major; Ruth Conroy Dalton. Order and Structure in the Regular Grid. The Syntax of City Space 2018, 128 -153.
AMA StyleMark Major, Ruth Conroy Dalton. Order and Structure in the Regular Grid. The Syntax of City Space. 2018; ():128-153.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMark Major; Ruth Conroy Dalton. 2018. "Order and Structure in the Regular Grid." The Syntax of City Space , no. : 128-153.
Mark Major; Ruth Conroy Dalton. Conclusion. The Syntax of City Space 2018, 198 -213.
AMA StyleMark Major, Ruth Conroy Dalton. Conclusion. The Syntax of City Space. 2018; ():198-213.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMark Major; Ruth Conroy Dalton. 2018. "Conclusion." The Syntax of City Space , no. : 198-213.
Mark Major; Ruth Conroy Dalton. Learning from the Grid. The Syntax of City Space 2018, 176 -197.
AMA StyleMark Major, Ruth Conroy Dalton. Learning from the Grid. The Syntax of City Space. 2018; ():176-197.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMark Major; Ruth Conroy Dalton. 2018. "Learning from the Grid." The Syntax of City Space , no. : 176-197.
Mark Major; Ruth Conroy Dalton. The Syntax of City Space. The Syntax of City Space 2018, 1 .
AMA StyleMark Major, Ruth Conroy Dalton. The Syntax of City Space. The Syntax of City Space. 2018; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMark Major; Ruth Conroy Dalton. 2018. "The Syntax of City Space." The Syntax of City Space , no. : 1.
Mark Major; Ruth Conroy Dalton. The Regular Grid in America. The Syntax of City Space 2018, 66 -81.
AMA StyleMark Major, Ruth Conroy Dalton. The Regular Grid in America. The Syntax of City Space. 2018; ():66-81.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMark Major; Ruth Conroy Dalton. 2018. "The Regular Grid in America." The Syntax of City Space , no. : 66-81.
Mark Major; Ruth Conroy Dalton. The Spatial Logic of American Cities. The Syntax of City Space 2018, 82 -105.
AMA StyleMark Major, Ruth Conroy Dalton. The Spatial Logic of American Cities. The Syntax of City Space. 2018; ():82-105.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMark Major; Ruth Conroy Dalton. 2018. "The Spatial Logic of American Cities." The Syntax of City Space , no. : 82-105.
Mark Major; Ruth Conroy Dalton. Complexity and Pattern in the City. The Syntax of City Space 2018, 154 -175.
AMA StyleMark Major, Ruth Conroy Dalton. Complexity and Pattern in the City. The Syntax of City Space. 2018; ():154-175.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMark Major; Ruth Conroy Dalton. 2018. "Complexity and Pattern in the City." The Syntax of City Space , no. : 154-175.
Mark Major; Ruth Conroy Dalton. The Grid as Generator. The Syntax of City Space 2018, 106 -127.
AMA StyleMark Major, Ruth Conroy Dalton. The Grid as Generator. The Syntax of City Space. 2018; ():106-127.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMark Major; Ruth Conroy Dalton. 2018. "The Grid as Generator." The Syntax of City Space , no. : 106-127.
Mark Major; Ruth Conroy Dalton. The Essential Right Angle. The Syntax of City Space 2018, 50 -65.
AMA StyleMark Major, Ruth Conroy Dalton. The Essential Right Angle. The Syntax of City Space. 2018; ():50-65.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMark Major; Ruth Conroy Dalton. 2018. "The Essential Right Angle." The Syntax of City Space , no. : 50-65.
In this paper we examine what appear to be the ‘rules’ of geometrical composition underlying the design of plan in eight well-known houses by Peter Eisenman. The effect of these compositional rules, tied to the design process of ‘decomposition’ described by Eisenman, in the generation of spatial layout in these houses is then analysed by using space syntax analysis. In particular, the effects of this design process in structuring the relationships, if any, between everyday living and ‘private’ household functions, that is, bedrooms, and the interface between inhabitants and visitors are examined. This is done in order to understand better the relationship, if any, between Eisenman's stated aims in his own theoretical writings about the design of these houses and the architectural object itself.
Mark Major; Nicholas Sarris. Cloak-and-Dagger Theory: Manifestations of the Mundane in the Space of Eight Peter Eisenman Houses. Environment and Planning B: Planning and Design 2001, 28, 73 -88.
AMA StyleMark Major, Nicholas Sarris. Cloak-and-Dagger Theory: Manifestations of the Mundane in the Space of Eight Peter Eisenman Houses. Environment and Planning B: Planning and Design. 2001; 28 (1):73-88.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMark Major; Nicholas Sarris. 2001. "Cloak-and-Dagger Theory: Manifestations of the Mundane in the Space of Eight Peter Eisenman Houses." Environment and Planning B: Planning and Design 28, no. 1: 73-88.
In preparation for the Millennium Eve celebrations, a study was undertaken to predict crowd movement. The objectives were: to identify characteristics of crowd movement and congregation, and how this might be related to spatial layout; to evaluate, in consultation with risk management experts, how this might affect public safety; and to help develop and prepare effective crowd management measures. The study demonstrates how the observational techniques of space syntax have evolved to enable the investigation of the effect, if any, of spatial layout on crowd behaviour.
Mark Major; Alan Penn; Georgia Spiliopoulou; Natasa Spende; Maria Doxa; Polly Fong. Following the crowd: spatial layout and crowd behaviour. Architectural Research Quarterly 2000, 4, 257 -264.
AMA StyleMark Major, Alan Penn, Georgia Spiliopoulou, Natasa Spende, Maria Doxa, Polly Fong. Following the crowd: spatial layout and crowd behaviour. Architectural Research Quarterly. 2000; 4 (3):257-264.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMark Major; Alan Penn; Georgia Spiliopoulou; Natasa Spende; Maria Doxa; Polly Fong. 2000. "Following the crowd: spatial layout and crowd behaviour." Architectural Research Quarterly 4, no. 3: 257-264.