Journal of Climate Change and Pollution

Dr. Abdulfattah Alwah is an Assistant Professor of Landscape Architecture and Urban Design at Ibb University, Yemen, and currently a Visiting Professor at Nürtingen-Geislingen University of Applied Sciences, Germany. He is an architect, urban designer, and landscape architect with over twenty years of professional and academic experience in sustainable urban development, architectural design, and landscape planning. Dr. Alwah earned his Bachelor’s degree in Architecture and Environmental Planning (Hadhramout University, Yemen, 2005), graduating first in his class and receiving the Best Graduation Project Award. He completed a Master’s in Architecture at Menoufia University, Egypt (2015), focusing on architectural education and professional practice, and obtained his PhD in Urban Design and Landscape Architecture from Northeast Forestry University, China (2021). His doctoral research developed tools and methodologies for assessing the quality of open public spaces and their impact on social behaviour and sustainability. Since 2005, Dr. Alwah has taught extensively in architectural and urban design studios. At Ibb University and other Yemeni institutions, he has led courses in Architectural Design, Urban Design, Landscape Architecture, Architectural Drawing, Interior Design, and Working Drawings, and has supervised numerous graduation projects. He also taught Contemporary Architecture Technology and Architectural Theory in the master’s programme at the University of Science and Technology, Yemen. At Nürtingen-Geislingen University, he contributes to the International Master of Landscape Architecture (IMLA) programme, teaching courses such as Planning and Design Methods II and Landscape, Language, and Culture, and serving as a guest participant in the TELOS Landscape Economy Seminar. His teaching integrates current research with practice, encouraging students to design environmentally responsible, socially inclusive, and functionally effective spaces. Alongside his academic work, Dr. Alwah has extensive professional experience as a consultant architect. Since 2006, he has worked with the Social Fund for Development (Yemen) and in the private sector, leading architectural and construction projects, as well as preliminary studies and site supervision. In 2007, he worked with the Zaid Al Hussein Group in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, contributing to the development and rehabilitation of public parks and squares in the Al-Batha district. His practice combines strong design skills with the ability to manage technical, aesthetic, and construction challenges effectively. Dr. Alwah’s research focuses on urban design and landscape architecture, especially the quality of public spaces, the relationship between built environments and social sustainability, and cultural landscapes. He employs mixed research methods—including surveys, interviews, behavioural mapping, and activity analysis—to explore how spatial design influences human behaviour, environmental perception, and the social use of urban open spaces. His ongoing research addresses urban living labs, climate change, urban form, and cultural and historical landscapes.

• Climate Adaptation in Urban Spaces
• Green Architecture and Heritage Protection
• Social and Environmental Sustainability
• Visual and Environmental Pollution
• Sustainable Built Environments
• Urban Design and Landscape Architecture

Joint Leader, China–Yemen Joint Laboratory on Green Architecture and Heritage Protection

Visiting Scholar, Nürtingen-Geislingen University, Germany (2023–Present)

Jury Member, International Student Competition in Landscape Architecture, Estonia (2024)

Reviewer for Q1 and Q2 journals, including:

Cities (Elsevier)

Urban Forestry & Urban Greening (Elsevier)

Housing and the Built Environment (Springer Nature)

Environmental Monitoring and Assessment (Springer Nature)

Journal of Urban Design and Planning (Emerald)

1. Alwah, A. (2025). Study of the Characteristics of the Mountainous Cultural Landscape in Yemen: Mountain Cities and Villages. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science.
2. Alwah, A. (2024). Enhancing the Visual Landscape Harmony in Public Open Spaces: Sana’a City Case Study. Journal of City Diversity.
3. Alwah, A., et al. (2024). Regeneration and Developing National Botanical Garden (NBG) in Khartoum-Sudan: Effect on Urban Landscape and Environmental Sustainability. Sustainability (MDPI, IF: 3.3)
4. Alwah, A. (2023). Relationship Between the Perceived Characteristics of the Built Environment and Social Sustainability. Journal of Housing and the Built Environment (Springer, Q1).
5. Alwah, A. (2022). Evaluating the Disparity Between Supply and Demand of Park Green Space Using a Multi-Dimensional Spatial Equity Evaluation Framework. Cities, 121, Elsevier (Q1).
6. Alwah, A. (2021). Developing a Quantitative Tool to Measure the Extent to Which Public Spaces Meet User Needs. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening (Elsevier, Q1).
7. Alwah, A. (2020). Relationship Between Physical Elements and Density of Use of Public Spaces in Sana’a City. Journal of Urban Design and Planning (ICE).