The Urban and Social Fabric of Heritage Nubian Villages in Egypt: A Comparative Study in Cultural Sustainability and Spatial Morphology

This study examines the relationship between spatial morphology and cultural sustainability in three heritage Nubian villages—Gharb Seheyl, Elephantine Island, and Heisa Island. Addressing the limitations of purely quantitative or qualitative approaches, it establishes a framework integrating three cultural dimensions: community structures, environmental adaptation, and vernacular building traditions. A Situational Research Method (SRM), inspired by metamodern theory, oscillates between spatial metrics and cultural interpretation. Findings reveal distinct morphological signatures: Gharb Seheyl’s linear form supports tourism-integrated preservation; Elephantine Island’s fragmented fabric reflects millennial continuity; Heisa Island’s compact morphology embodies resilience vernacular. SRM effectively delineates socio-cultural distinctions within the urban fabric, enhancing scientific rigor in heritage research and contributing to sustainable conservation of Nubian vernacular heritage.