Motaleate Shahri

Corporal-social sustainability guidelines in historic sites, case study:Oodlaajaan parish (Tehran(

h k; n d

Volume 3, Issue 10 , May 2014, Pages 3-14

Abstract

The historic and valuable fabric of Oudlajaan district is not meeting the daily needs of its residents due to excessive deterioration of building structures and lack of adequate infrastructure and welfare facilities. For this reason, the indigenous population of this region gradually immigrate ... Read More The historic and valuable fabric of Oudlajaan district is not meeting the daily needs of its residents due to excessive deterioration of building structures and lack of adequate infrastructure and welfare facilities. For this reason, the indigenous population of this region gradually immigrate to the places with better facilities and new lower-income immigrants from other parts replace them. This causes social and cultural instability in the fabric which will only increase over time. There is no cultural harmony in the fabric of Oudlajaan district and neighborhood areas. Social harmony has been significantly weakened because of loss of its identity and originality. Immigration of native people from this historic region has led to a reduction in social values, nostalgia and a sense of belonging of people to the fabric of the city. Abandoned areas in Oudlajaan district have turned into places for anti-social activities. Renovation and rehabilitation of the district is needed because of the various problems of the old fabric of the city, departure of native people, change from efficient residential buildings to less efficient ones, inadequate welfare facilities and infrastructure, poor communication network facilities, lack of sufficient roads, and abundant social problems; all of which affect the stability of the area. In this research, information was collected by means of observation, photography, required map preparation, and interviews with the residents. The quantitative and qualitative information were analyzed by SWOT technique in the framework of intra-regional factors (weak and strong links) and inter regional factors (threats and opportunities). After identifying weaknesses, strengths, opportunities and threats, they were evaluated as a whole to acquire guidelines and methods for restoring historic structures. Graphing the sum total of weak points, strength points, opportunities, and threats coefficients showed that external causes and the outer environment have an impact on the durability of Oudlajaan district rather than internal and inner factors. In this regard, the adapted strategies could be utilized to increase and enhance the functional-corporal durability of Oudlajan district. The adaptive guidelines are: -Compilation of plans for renewal and restoration of valuable and historic places to prevent the deterioration of building structures and increase the physical and structural durability of buildings. -Functional change in historic and valuable buildings to lodging and cultural activities to prevent old building from becoming warehouses and workshops. -Revitalization and strengthening of the district and its valuable buildings and cultural spaces, lowering the amount of work undertaken in restoration and preparation processes by the Iranian Cultural Heritage Organization. -Inviting investors to contribute by reinforcing investments via bonuses for the renovation of deteriorated districts. -Invite residents to participate in renewal and remediation plans. an internal and inner factors. In this regard, the adapted strategies could be utilized to increase and enhance the functional-corporal durability of Oudlajan district.

Identification of factors influencing urban facade's design with an emphasis on aesthetics and ecological dimensions Case study: Valiasr (a.s.) Street –Free Region of Qeshm

m kh; m m; f j; k a

Volume 3, Issue 10 , May 2014, Pages 15-26

Abstract

Outward-oriented architecture has a short history in Iran and the history of establishment of outward-oriented buildings placed next to one another in the margin of a phenomenon called street is even shorter. Urban facades are considered as the most influential elements affecting the quality of urban ... Read More Outward-oriented architecture has a short history in Iran and the history of establishment of outward-oriented buildings placed next to one another in the margin of a phenomenon called street is even shorter. Urban facades are considered as the most influential elements affecting the quality of urban spaces, the modification of which can enhance the aesthetic qualities of the city. In recent decades, developments whether in materials, variety of styles or acceleration in construction have resulted in addressing the issue of façade and reorganization of urban facades. A review into the objectives of the study shows that the urban landscape aesthetic and environmental goals are essential in realizing the desired landscape. Therefore, urban facades as an example of urban micro perspective are not an exception to this rule. The goal of the present research is to address special characteristics of Qeshm city with an emphasis on aesthetical and ecological dimensions and identifying effective factors in the design of urban facades in Vali-e Asr Street in Qeshm as the most prominent street of that city. Looking at the landscape and urban facades of Qeshm Island as well as other cities and metropolises which meet the functional characteristics at national and international levels, it is evident that these urban facades are not in good aesthetical and ecological conditions. This emphasizes the importance and necessity of the present research. It should be noted that method used in the aforesaid research is an analytical-applied one. A surveying method was used in field studies. Data collection was based on field observations and a questionnaire survey of experts and users examining data dispersion indices of the data under study. The questionnaires were randomly (with an in-depth interview) distributed among different segments of the island at different hours. Finally, the obtained data was analyzed using SPSS-20 software. Findings regarding the the viewpoints of people and experts of the aesthetical dimension are presented. The index includes the following criteria as evaluation priorities in aesthetic (façade) beauty: proportions, cleanliness, balance and order in aesthetical dimension and attachment to place, meaningfulness, serenity, legibility and mental attraction in subjective dimension. From an ecological view, indices such as material resistance against moisture, green space to provide heat comfort, resistant materials against heat and green and oxygen generator walls are priorities in the design of urban facades according to experts. In conclusion, understanding priorities in the aesthetical and ecological points of view, a desirable urban perspective can be created. It can be stated in a general survey that it is important to address ecological and aesthetical dimensions in the design of urban facades.

Identifying the Impact of Design Factors on Improving Pedestrian Health, the Case of “Motahary Neighborhood” in Mashhad

S R; M A; n z

Volume 3, Issue 10 , May 2014, Pages 27-36

Abstract

Human health has been an important issue in society. Modern society is increasingly aware that humans and culture are components of the natural environment. In this case, human health is inevitably linked to environmental conditions. Recent changes in urban life including increases in car and motor vehicle ... Read More Human health has been an important issue in society. Modern society is increasingly aware that humans and culture are components of the natural environment. In this case, human health is inevitably linked to environmental conditions. Recent changes in urban life including increases in car and motor vehicle usage and environmental pollution make it an important issue that should be considered in the urban development process. Physical inactivity plays a crucial role in obesity leading to many illnesses such as diabetes which in turn often leads to kidney failure, heart disease, blindness, and amputations. A model based on physical activities is an important part of urban design and planning today. Drawing primarily on recent peer-reviewed literature in a broad range of subjects such as health, planning, and environmental fields, outlines the influence of design at three spatial scales of physical health, mental health and socio - cultural aspects. Enough evidence exists to support urban design as a powerful tool for improving human health and condition. Considering health as a pre-condition for the three dimension of sustainable development by the World Health Organization demonstrates that this matter is an important aspect of urban design and planning. Cars permit travel over greater distances between home and work. In addition to generating more air pollution, long commutes have been associated, in a small body of literature, with other adverse effects on human health and welfare. The main goal of this study emphasizes a pedestrian-oriented approach. In order to evaluate this approach, parameters were reviewed under two different criteria, physical –environmental and social- cultural (it is worth mentioning that these parameters have a physical aspect because of our aims in designing our case study). The research method was based on survey and field study operations. A questionnaire was completed by 200 people in “Motahary neighborhood” in Mashhad. The lack of physical activities in cities of developing countries and our city being a case in point means that important steps must be taken to counteract this issue. This paper shows that the provision of properly designed walkways through a mixed-use, human-scaled urban environment increases pedestrian activity. Neighborhood efforts in this direction will not only improve residents’ health through unstructured exercise, but also integrate marginalized sectors into urban life, and enhance the sense of place and community. These elements must be incorporated into relatively high-density neighborhood plans that include public buildings, open spaces, mixed land uses, and pedestrian walkways to increase physical exercise and enhance healthy civic life. Finally, neighborhoods must be embedded in existing urban infrastructure to provide wider cultural and business opportunities and reduce reliance on the automobile. “Motahary neighborhood” was selected as a case study and it is one of oldest neighborhoods in Mashhad. This paper concludes by presenting an urban design guideline in urban neighborhoods for improving human health taking into consideration its two dimensions: physical – environmental and social- cultural criteria. Finally, the recommended model was obtained from survey analysis and other data.

Incorporating Emergency Response Consideration and Invironmental Impact Assessment to Determin Optimal Location of Urban Facilities and Services

V D; Z Y; E S

Volume 3, Issue 10 , May 2014, Pages 37-48

Abstract

This research aims to deal with problems of material recovery facility (MRF) site selection. Since the right choice of a location will improve its performance, making a random choice will negatively affect public health and environment. This has led to a reconsideration of decision making methods. In ... Read More This research aims to deal with problems of material recovery facility (MRF) site selection. Since the right choice of a location will improve its performance, making a random choice will negatively affect public health and environment. This has led to a reconsideration of decision making methods. In this study, taking into account environmental concerns and the necessity of emergency preparation, the optimum location for the establishment of MRF in district 9 of the Municipality of Tehran was searched for using a combination of group decision making, multi criteria decision making, environmental impact assessment (EIA) techniques accompanied by emergency response planning (ERP) principles. To gain an all- inclusive perspective, the implemented decision making process of this study consisted of a two-stage analysis, beginning with an initial GIS based site screening using Delphi and fuzzy Delphi guided by a panel of experts in the site selection process followed by a pair-wise assessment of the suitability of five candidate sites applying fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (FAHP). Since the conventional decision making methods are incapable of handling uncertainty and vagueness involving the mapping of preferences to an exact number or ratio, this study applied fuzzy logic to overcome this problem. The proposed approach employed triangular fuzzy numbers to deal with the imprecision inherent to the process of subjective judgment. Fuzzy logic is a powerful mathematical tool for modeling uncertain industrial, environmental and social systems, and is a facilitator for common sense reasoning in decision making. Modeling using fuzzy sets has proven to be an effective way for formulating decision making problems where the information available is subjective and imprecise. In this research, information used in the FAHP was obtained from environmental impact assessment of MRF and principles of emergency response planning. The first stage analysis was successful in preliminary site screening leading to exclude the impermissible areas while retaining sufficient areas for further simultaneous evaluation. In the remaining regions, during second stage analysis, the FAHP method incorporated the information provided by EIA and ERP studies leading to fulfill the ranking of the five alternatives. The results indicated that “alternative A2”, the farthest proposed site from adjacent neighborhoods, is the most suitable site for MRF with a potential value of 0.33. The remaining alternatives are A3, A4, A5, and A1, with decreasing potential values of 0.27, 0.21, 0.11 and 0.08, respectively. Compared to other alternatives, A2 is more capable of meeting environmental, social and economic criteria due to its great distance from neighbors. This will mitigate the risk of emergency cases expansion into the neighborhoods. The other strength is that, A2 is close to Fatih highway and this facilitates access to the emergency response services. Thus, Delphi and fuzzy Delphi offered the means to identify five potential MRF sites based on well defined criteria, which were later ranked according to the preferences provided by environmental impact assessment and emergency response planning studies. FAHP offered the capacity to incorporate EIA findings and ERP principles in site selection which is critical in minimization of the negative effects of projects on public health and the environment. The proposed procedure was eventually proved useful in the case study identifying favorable areas for the establishment of material recovery facility. Moreover, research findings show that the proposed framework may aid in recognizing the pros and cons of potential areas for the localization of MRF sites in any urban region.

Analysis the Urban Sprawl in the Peripheral Metropolitan Areas (Case Study: Northern Peripheral Areas of Isfahan, Iran)

H P; B F

Volume 3, Issue 10 , May 2014, Pages 49-62

Abstract

Urban sprawl is a physical-spatial phenomenon. It is a kind of scattered, leapfrog, and low density horizontal urban growth far from urban centers and is usually followed by non mixed-use development. It can demonstrate resource and capital waste, threat to citizens’ health, environmental degradation, ... Read More Urban sprawl is a physical-spatial phenomenon. It is a kind of scattered, leapfrog, and low density horizontal urban growth far from urban centers and is usually followed by non mixed-use development. It can demonstrate resource and capital waste, threat to citizens’ health, environmental degradation, change city centers to deteriorated urban areas due to peripheral suburban growth pattern. The causes, patterns, consequences, costs and benefits of urban growth and sprawl, have been discussed by several researchers. However, these experts have not operated in the same way in regards the causes, patterns, costs and mechanism in this case. Most of the literature concerning urban sprawl often confuses causes, consequences, the many conditions, and spatial patterns. The theoretical question of this research is as follows: what the dimensions of urban sprawl in the historical evolution of the metropolis are; what causes urban sprawl and by what mechanism does it work. In that regard, Isfahan was chosen as a case study due to its unbridled horizontal growth in the last few decades which has had social, economic, and environmental impacts such as dissipated agricultural lands, increased air pollution and its risks to citizen’s health, increased costs of transportation, social segregation, injured historical heritages because of increasing pollutions. Moreover, Isfahan plays a prominent role in the economy of Iran. On the one hand, it has a great economic potential in tourism and mass industries, and plays a leading role in regional agricultural economics due to its fertile lands and soil. Pathology of these suburban areas, process of urban sprawl, and its mechanism in Isfahan is the purpose of this research. It seems that the highest amount of urban sprawl has occurred at the outskirts of Isfahan municipality, in regions 7 and 14. The process of this sprawl can be determined by ecological-social processes of industrial establishment in the northern peripheral areas, formation of residential settlements for laborers, impact of cooperative housing activities, natural factors (water shortage), transportation network, rural to urban migration, and formation of Isfahan’s spatial pattern by industrial-agricultural-residential function. Urban Sprawl in Isfahan has challenged spatial policy-making. The greatest degree of urban sprawl has occurred in peripheral lands along the “Dolat-Abad” road; numerous villages that are near northern Isfahan villages like “Younart”, have become neighborhoods of the city. Car dependency has increased along with the duration of daily trips within the cit. Social segregation has developed as an informal settlement of “Hadi-Gol”. This is a challenge for the whole of Isfahan city and its metropolitan areas, not just for the north of it. In terms of economic and social policy making, segregation patterns, physical separation, structural-spatial order, the urban sprawl of Isfahan affects all further spatial policy making and planning. Systemic-historical analysis was used as a method of proving the aforementioned hypothesis and exploratory factor analysis was used to distinguish the suburban areas where the most sprawl has occurred.

empowerment of informal settlements based on asset based policies of communities development

E P; ئ ق

Volume 3, Issue 10 , May 2014, Pages 63-72

Abstract

Informal settlements as a phenomenon with physical, socio-economic and spatial dimensions, are caused by modern urbanization and progress discourse in the enlightenment era present challenges for sustainable city development. Since the late 1980s, empowerment approach by patronage of the World Bank has ... Read More Informal settlements as a phenomenon with physical, socio-economic and spatial dimensions, are caused by modern urbanization and progress discourse in the enlightenment era present challenges for sustainable city development. Since the late 1980s, empowerment approach by patronage of the World Bank has been searching for transformation and regularization of these types of communities by fiscal policy making based on local assets such as social capital, physical capital and low financial capital with a process-oriented approach, a holistic view of place and people’s happiness as well as capacity building of informal settlements in order to replace a culture of entitlement and of libertinism which is the outcome of need-based policies of community development. This article is based on the internal relationship between empowerment and asset based policy making. The aim of this article is to find the effect of social, physical, and local assets on the empowerment of informal settlements of Tabriz. Asset is defined as the financial, social, economic, and physical capabilities of humans. Its appearance on the local scale is in a network format. Asset based approaches have three characteristics: (1) since it focuses on extending capacity, it is process-oriented, (2) as it focuses on all assets, it is social-oriented, and finally (3), it is an instrument. This view tends toward the congruence of “people’s happiness and place”. This paper is based on the following essential question: what is the role of local financial, physical and social assets in the empowerment informal settlements of Tabriz? Tabriz Metropolitan area is situated the northwest of Iran. Many informal settlements populations in Tabriz are especially in the northeast, south and southeast zones of the city. The physical and socio- economic situation of the informal settlements in the diverse city zones have varying characters. However, the subject of this study is how the empowerment approach can be used best in Tabriz’s informal settlements. Research method is descriptive – analytical. In the conceptual model we have tried to present how asset-based policy-making can lead to empowerment. The following indexes were selected to represent empowerment: a sense of competence, autonomy, effectiveness, being meaningful and a sense of trust. The research was carried out in the informal settlements of Molazeynal, Seylab, Gushkhane and Khalil Abad quarters are the research clusters. The sample size was 224 people. In conclusion, the components of asset based policy, namely social capital, physical capital and financial capital, in a community's development have a significant impact on the empowerment of informal settlements.

Perception of Urban Landscape Aesthetics: Comparison between experts and users Case Study: Adl-e Khomeini Sq., Mashhad, Iran

b a; m sh; m f

Volume 3, Issue 10 , May 2014, Pages 73-80

Abstract

Beauty is an issue that has always engaged urban designers, architects and authorities. However, in practice we face a notable difference between buildings and spaces which are constructed as beautiful and the aesthetic perception of them. Thus, various studies have been conducted on the aesthetic evaluation ... Read More Beauty is an issue that has always engaged urban designers, architects and authorities. However, in practice we face a notable difference between buildings and spaces which are constructed as beautiful and the aesthetic perception of them. Thus, various studies have been conducted on the aesthetic evaluation of urban landscape in recent decades. Different conclusions of these studies show that there is no consensus on aesthetic perception. Various or even conflicting interpretations have been proposed by these researches, and this has led to the different definitions of beauty. Several studies have been undertaken on the aesthetic evaluation of urban spaces, in which experts express their own standards of beauty. Regardless of minor differences between experts’ opinions, the same set of criteria has been taught to architecture and urban design students. In addition, some research have been undertaken to evaluate beauty of spaces from people’s perception and also to discover their criteria for such an evaluation. The important question here is which set of criteria to use in the design of public spaces. This paper attempts to discuss the difference between these two types of evaluations in order to obtain a more accurate understanding of what ordinary people perceive as beautiful. Thus, this paper attempts to answer the following questions: is there any difference between aesthetic evaluation by experts and ordinary people? Are their criteria for aesthetic evaluation the same? And finally, are physical criteria adequate for aesthetic evaluation? This paper is based on quantitative methods. Although there were some qualitative data involved in the selection of beautiful landscapes, the mentioned data was transformed into quantitative scores. Evaluations of this paper were based on post-construction evaluation method and the data was analyzed by comparative method. Based on evaluations and results, we can conclude that firstly, the most important point is the difference between user and expert evaluation results which could negate urban aesthetic design by expert without user` participation. In other words, what architecture and urban design students learn at universities as beautiful landscape is different from how ordinary people perceive as beautiful. This difference is more noticeable when the results of aesthetic evaluation of the same criteria are completely different between experts and ordinary people. Secondly, different results were obtained for aesthetic evaluations carried out by people at two different stages. This shows that expert criteria cannot be used by people for aesthetic evaluation because they have their own criteria in mind. Thirdly, the difference between the two performed evaluations is affected by the way these groups perceive urban landscape. While experts focus on academic criteria, ordinary people see the urban space as a whole and include their own memories in evaluation. They evaluate a landscape with all their senses and not just with their eyes. In conclusion, it is recommended that experts should change their viewpoints and focus more on whole environments and their atmosphere. Furthermore, academic teachings should change based on Gestalt theory and more attention should be paid to the environment as a whole for aesthetic evaluations. Finally, urban design projects should be carried out with people’s participation so that they are involved in the design of the aesthetic criteria. Through this, experts can learn from people's perceptions and their designs would better reflect people’s ideas of beauty.

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Volume & Issue: Volume 3, Issue 10, May 2014, Pages 3-80

Corporal-social sustainability guidelines in historic sites, case study:Oodlaajaan parish (Tehran(

Abstract

Identification of factors influencing urban facade's design with an emphasis on aesthetics and ecological dimensions Case study: Valiasr (a.s.) Street –Free Region of Qeshm

Abstract

Identifying the Impact of Design Factors on Improving Pedestrian Health, the Case of “Motahary Neighborhood” in Mashhad

Abstract

Incorporating Emergency Response Consideration and Invironmental Impact Assessment to Determin Optimal Location of Urban Facilities and Services

Abstract

Analysis the Urban Sprawl in the Peripheral Metropolitan Areas (Case Study: Northern Peripheral Areas of Isfahan, Iran)

Abstract

empowerment of informal settlements based on asset based policies of communities development

Abstract

Perception of Urban Landscape Aesthetics: Comparison between experts and users Case Study: Adl-e Khomeini Sq., Mashhad, Iran

Abstract