Framework for Adaptable Streets Design During COVID-19: A Theory-Based, Multi-Method Approach to Temporary Urban Interventions

This paper addresses the lack of adaptable street design strategies in Cairo for responding to public health emergencies, as highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Streets in dense, historically layered cities are often treated as fixed transport corridors, limiting their capacity to accommodate rapid social and spatial change during crises. To address this gap, the study adopts a theory-based, multi-method research approach to develop a context-sensitive framework for adaptable street design. The framework consists of six sequential phases—street selection, data collection, data analysis, planning and design, implementation planning, and monitoring and evaluation—and is guided by four theory-based codes: Public Health, Place Identity, Urban Resilience, and Temporary Urbanism.The research draws on a comprehensive literature review, international case studies, field observations, interviews, and face-to-face surveys to inform the framework’s structure and application. The findings indicate that the proposed framework can effectively translate global pandemic-response practices into locally grounded interventions suitable for Cairo’s urban conditions. The resulting design strategies emphasize flexible, low-cost, and temporary measures that enhance pedestrian safety, support social activity, and strengthen street resilience without compromising local identity. By bridging theory, empirical evidence, and applied design, this study contributes a practical model for pandemic-responsive street planning in Cairo and offers transferable insights for other cities in the Global South facing similar urban and public health challenges.