IMPACT OF SPATIAL ENVIRONMENT ON DESIGNING THE URBAN PLANT LANDSCAPE FOR THE RIVERBANK AT ABU NU'AS SITE WITHIN BAGHDAD CITY

The study aimed to investigate the impact of location on the nature of the natural landscape along riverbanks and how the design of this landscape changes based on site-specific variables by establishing a theoretical framework that incorporates the principles of plant element design, considering these influences in the design of urban vegetative scenes. Subsequently, the study seeks to validate this theoretical framework along the banks of the Tigris River in Baghdad, focusing on the case study of Abu Nu’as, a site of cultural and natural significance for the city's residents. Among the key findings of the study is that the efficiency of designing urban vegetative scenes along riverbanks is enhanced through the use of local plant species that are adapted to the natural and cultural environment. This improvement is seen in both aesthetic and functional values of the riverbank due to the visual and functional characteristics possessed by these plants. Planting the appropriate species in designated locations contributes to achieving visual openness, especially with the neighboring areas and the roads perpendicular to the riverbank.