A Proposed Framework of Blue-Green Linear Infrastructure for Resilient and Sustainable Urbanism: The Case of the Coastal City of Ras Elbar, Egypt

Coastal cities are increasingly exposed to the compounded effects of climate change, including sea-level rise, flooding, and urban heat stress. Integrating blue and green infrastructure presents an effective, nature-based approach to enhancing the climate resilience and ecological balance of urban environments. This study develops a conceptual framework for blue-green linear infrastructure strategies aimed at improving climate-resilient urbanism in Ras Elbar, Egypt, a coastal city located between the Nile River and the Mediterranean Sea. The research adopts a qualitative and analytical methodology based on spatial observation, field assessment, and comparative analysis of international precedents. It investigates the spatial and ecological relationships between existing blue and green elements, identifying opportunities to enhance connectivity through linear corridors that integrate environmental, social, and design functions. The proposed framework emphasizes four core principles: ecological continuity, climate adaptation, urban integration, and social accessibility. These principles form the basis for sustainable urban design strategies that promote flood mitigation, urban cooling, and biodiversity enhancement while strengthening community interaction with natural systems. The study concludes by outlining a set of design and planning recommendations for developing Ras Elbar into a model of climate-adaptive coastal urbanism, where blue and green systems are integrated as essential components of sustainable and resilient city form.