Documenting the Visual Urban Identity in Damanhur’s Historic Core

Developing countries have created a rich weaving of cultural, architectural, and urban narratives into historic Egyptian cities. However, their spatial and visual identities are seriously threatened by the fast urbanization. This study presents a documentation-based framework for examining the visual urban identity of Damanhur, a historic city in El-Behira, Egypt. By integrating historical research, architectural observation, quantitative façade analysis and digital coding techniques using QDA Miner Lite, the study develops a methodological approach for evaluating and conserving urban character. The results emphasize how landmarks, cultural narratives, and spatial continuity contribute to the formation of the city's identity. This framework provides useful insights for sustainable urban planning and heritage conservation in changing urban environments, in addition to advancing architectural heritage understanding in historic metropolises.