LAUSR

Al-Manarah Square in the twin cities of Ramallah and Al-Bireh, Palestine, is one example of modern urbanisation in a Palestinian context. During the twentieth century, the area was transformed from a dirty road that connected the two towns of Ramallah and Al-Bireh to a central space that evocated the major urban restructuring and transformations of both cities to an exclusive administrative and business centre with a high-end gated residential community. Thus, the aim of this paper is to study the transformation of Al-Manarah Square as a main node that connects Ramallah with its twin city of Al-Bireh. It also analyses the various dimensions of this square in the spatial configuration and urban development of both cities as a political and economic centre as well as a cultural milieu. The implemented methodology includes direct observations via site visits, fieldwork, documentation of all existing streets and buildings around the square, interviews with owners and other residents of the study area and surveys of the existing literature related to the subject. An analytical approach based on the Conzenian School has been applied to analyse the urban form, spatial layout and configuration of the square.