Dissertation_Dr Faisal Almubarak

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Doxiadis Plan, (5) militarization, (6) the land subdivision phase, and (7), the Urban
Domain of 1989.
A. The Tapline Plan, 1950s
During the early stage (1950-1955), Arar's urban form comprised three discrete
components. First, was the planned, industrial complex, fenced and isolated from the
remaining (Arab) population. Its highly functional form, which resembled the form of an
electronic circuit, reflected the functions associated with oil processing technology. An
airfield was built across the town from Badnah wadi to the west, next to the Tapline
industrial compound's and was largely geared toward the needs of the Tapline and
Aramco's operations (Figure 7.2-C). It served as the industrial compound and the town's
major airfield until it was replaced with a new airport, 11 kilometers south of Arar in 1976.
Second, there were the "Tapline Houses" (Figure 7.3-A). They were designed and
built by the Tapline company to house Tapline workers and government employees. The
Tapline planners subdivided an area across the Badanah wadi east of the industrial
compound. The original development of the Tapline Houses covered an approximate area
of one square kilometer. It comprised a gridiron layout of streets delimiting 40-by-40
meters blocks, four lots each. The introduction of the gridiron layout resulted in larger lots
than those found in the traditional built environment. Typical grid pattern land
subdivisions' lots were platted creating lot areas no smaller than 400 square meter while
traditional residential lot areas averaged between 200 and 270 square meter.
The Tapline Houses development was bifurcated by a two-lane central road forming
the commercial spine of Arar. Shops and government public buildings serving the city's
population as well as the region at large were soon to be added to the built form of Arar.
Topography, marked by rugged terrain and presence of several wadis, was a major factor
that shaped Arar's early form and dictated its future growth. As such, Arar's original
growth was confined to the area east of Badanah and north of Arar wadis.
Originally, the Tapline development was little more than a large-scale mixed
enterprise, government-sponsored land subdivision. Although started from an auspicious
planned origin, the housing development lacked an integrated system of built zones,
circulation, recreation facilities and other open spaces. As was the case in Aramco's
planned communities for its Arab workers in Dammam, A1 Khobar, Rahima and