Evaluating new urbanism's walkability performance: A comprehensive approach to assessment in Saifi Village, Beirut, Lebanon

'Walkability' is one of the core aspects of New Urbanism. Evaluation of the factors that influence this marker requires further extension than just the physical boundaries of a New Urbanism development. This paper presents a comprehensive approach for assessing walkability based on a combination of its conceptual and applicable aspects. This approach works on two different, but compatible, scales: macro and micro. The former is concerned with evaluating the Urban Framework that is responsible for triggering walking behaviour, and indirectly influences walkability in a New Urbanism development area. The latter is concerned with evaluating the influence of different New Urbanism facets as either generating walking, or encouraging and supporting it within the New Urbanism development area itself. This paper uses this approach to evaluate the performance of various New Urbanism facets that influence 'walkability' in Saifi Village, which is a New Urbanism Development in downtown Beirut. URBAN DESIGN International (2009) 14, 139-151. doi:10.1057/udi.2009.8