Abstract
This study investigates reactive social responsibility (RSR) in architecture as an approach to assessing the deterioration of historic fabrics and their revitalization process. The paper focuses on Al-Rasheed Street in Baghdad, which has experienced several revitalization efforts in response to prolonged neglect, socio-political instability, and the decline of public life. It adopts a quantitative case study methodology supported by two field surveys targeting architects and public users who visited the site before. The survey (of public users) evaluated spatial perception, social interaction, and user satisfaction; meanwhile, the specialist survey evaluated the effectiveness of the architectural and spatial interventions. By integrating expert assessment and user experience, this approach offers an overall assessment of the revitalization process. The findings suggest that the interventions exemplify the concept of reactive social responsibility by responding to major challenges, including fading spatial character, limited social interactions and declining pedestrian activity, also the comparative analysis identified differences in how the publics and experts perceive the interventions, where publics expressed higher levels of satisfaction towards visual identity and spatial experience, while architects expressed more concerns towards participatory mechanisms and long-term sustainability. Through enhanced pedestrian walkability, facade renovation, and the upgrading of cultural activity, the street’s social vitality and public interaction were restored. A theoretical framework was also developed based on indicators such as participation, adaptability, contextual responsiveness, and social sustainability. The results, however, suggest that while these interventions achieve noticeable and measurable short-term improvements, their long-term impact remains limited without integrated policies, stakeholder involvement, and sustained proactive planning strategies. This empirical study offers a framework for systematic analysis based on clear measurement indicators and field data.