Toward Sustainable Compact City: (Study in Convert Traditional Najaf City to Sustainable Compact City)

The research deals with an old concept in its inception, but it is modern in its applications and theses it deals with. The concept of compact city is one of the latest strategies for the sustainable development of cities.The research tackled the concept of compactness and the characteristics of the compact city, as well as the concept and characteristics of the Traditional Arabic city, A combination of common indicators, was found (Mix land use, density and intensification, movement and transport, accessibility, harmony, diversity). These indicators also include several sub-indicators, as these indicators can provide an appropriate basis for the possibility of a shift towards sustainability. The practical aspect was the conduct of field surveys of the study area (old city of Najaf) to identify the planning characteristics of it, and then the indicators derived from the theoretical framework were applied. The research found that there was a great approach to four indicators (density, movement, transport, accessibility, compactness, diversity and vitality), which achieved quantitative values appropriate to the rate specified in the specifications of the compact cities, The land use mix index was partially achieved as it approached the minimum limits specified in the horizontal mix and was receded from the vertical mix. Thus, it is possible to draw the conclusion that the type of fabric and its degree of compactness have exerted a great influence on the indicators. This was reflected in the high and moderate density, which encouraged a mix land uses, created diversity and vitality and provided high accessibility to the region. &nbsp