Slum Settlements
zahra shahihagh; Minoo Gharehbaglou; Hamed Beyti
Abstract
Highlights- Any factor that makes residential spaces liveable, also increases the capabilities of its residents.- The most important and influential dimension in the direction of empowering the residents is the components of the perceptual-meaning dimension of livability (sense of belonging, security, ...
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Highlights- Any factor that makes residential spaces liveable, also increases the capabilities of its residents.- The most important and influential dimension in the direction of empowering the residents is the components of the perceptual-meaning dimension of livability (sense of belonging, security, religious beliefs and way of life).- In terms of economic empowerment, the material criteria of livability have the greatest impact; Also, the functional-activity criteria of livability, two dimensions of economic and social empowerment, and the perceptual-meaning criteria of livability mostly affect the psychological capability of the residents.- The northern area among other marginal areas of Tabriz city, due to the lowest level of livability, has the lowest level of realization of empowerment components, which should be given special attention.
Introduction
Informal settlements, as a prominent manifestation of urban poverty, are typically formed within or adjacent to cities. These settlements often lack building permits and official urban development plans. The primary reason for their formation is the inability of people to secure housing in the formal market, compelling them to seek shelter through informal means. This leads to numerous problems. Consequently, various approaches have been proposed globally, particularly in third-world countries, to address the issue of informal settlements.
In contemporary discourse, empowerment is considered the most effective strategy. It aims to enhance the capabilities and improve the living standards of residents while upholding the principles of human dignity and social justice. However, neglecting the environmental qualities and the needs of the residents can cause this strategy to fail. Life unfolds within the context of the environment, and livability addresses the connection between housing and human life, along with its needs, by focusing on the quality of the environment in residential spaces.
Theoretical Framework
This research encompasses two key concepts and variables: viability and empowerment. Researchers have identified various dimensions of the concept of empowerment. Some scholars emphasize the psychological aspects of empowerment, considering elements such as the feeling of competence, the sense of being effective, and the perception of freedom of action as core components of empowerment. In contrast, the social dimension of empowerment has been prominently featured in the theories of many empowerment thinkers, including Sara Longwe (1991), Stromquist (1999), Naila Kabeer (2012), and Hoyt Oliver (2020). These theorists highlight awareness, interaction, and social participation as crucial elements of empowerment. Their theories stress the importance of awareness and the power of connections, interactions, and social partnerships in empowering individuals.
Additionally, the presence of elements such as welfare and access (Longwe), income (Sen, 1999), resources and possessions (Kabeer), and economic ability (Stromquist, 1999) among the components related to empowerment underscores the significance of the economic dimension of empowerment. Therefore, the concept of empowerment encompasses three primary dimensions: economic, social, and psychological.
However, the most critical aspect of empowerment is gaining the power to control and master the forces that affect human life. By acquiring certain abilities, individuals can influence the determining factors of their lives. Life is one of the most fundamental aspects of human existence, and attention to it and the quality factors of residential space can enhance the quality of the environment and the satisfaction of residents.
Based on previous studies and in line with the research's purpose and its relationship with the dimensions of empowerment, the components of livability are categorized into three dimensions: material (economic, physical, environmental), functional-activity, and perceptual-meaning (cultural and psychological). The relationship between each of the three dimensions of empowerment and the dimensions of viability was examined.
Methodology
The research method is practical based on its objective. In terms of data collection and analysis, it employs a correlational approach and is founded on the structural equation model. The primary tool for data collection is a questionnaire. The statistical population of the study comprises residents from the following neighborhoods: Seilab in the northern zone, Abuzar in the northwestern zone, Zamzam in the southern zone, and Akhmakiyeh in the southwestern zone.
To determine the sample size, a simple random sampling method was utilized. Initially, a pre-test was conducted as a pilot among 35 residents of the aforementioned neighborhoods, and the Cronbach's alpha value was calculated to be 0.744. For estimating the sample size, the formula proposed by Tabachnick and Fidell (M8 + 50 ≥ N) was applied, resulting in an estimated sample size of 150 individuals.
Results and Discussion
The research findings are divided into four parts:
Structural Model Analysis:
The structural model reveals a positive and significant relationship between the variables of empowerment and viability.
Effective Dimensions in Livability:
The most influential dimension in livability is the perceptual-semantic dimension. Within this dimension, the components of sense of belonging to the place and security are the most effective criteria for the livability of residential spaces. Following these are the components of the functional-activity and material dimensions.
The most impactful dimension for empowering residents is the psychological (cognitive) dimension, where the components of meaningfulness and trust are the most significant criteria for empowerment.
Interrelation of Viability and Empowerment Dimensions:
Each dimension and criterion of viability affects not just one, but all dimensions of empowerment. However, by comparing their factors, it becomes evident that each dimension and criterion of livability in residential spaces has a more pronounced effect on one or two dimensions of empowerment.
Comparative Analysis of Informal Zones in Tabriz City:
The degree of fulfillment of the functional-activity dimension components of livability is consistent across all four informal zones of Tabriz city, with a range of 3.33-3.66. This indicates that in all areas, the access to public transportation, employment services, educational, health, sports, and leisure facilities, as well as the level of participation and sociability of the residents, are similar and face the same challenges.
The differences in the vitality of the zones are attributed to variations in the components of the material and perceptual-semantic dimensions.
The northern zone exhibits the lowest level of empowerment, while the southern zone shows the highest level compared to other zones.
By refining the analysis and focusing on the specific dimensions and criteria, the study provides a comprehensive understanding of how various factors contribute to the livability and empowerment of residents in informal zones. This nuanced approach highlights the importance of addressing both perceptual-semantic and material dimensions to enhance the overall quality of life in these areas.
Conclusion
The research results indicate that any factor enhancing the viability of residential spaces concurrently boosts the empowerment of their residents. The most influential aspect in empowering residents is the perceptual-semantic components of livability. This is because everyone's living environment contains elements that affect their activities, and a person's behavior is influenced not only by their inner needs and motivations but also by their living environment. Ignoring the livability capacities, especially the perceptual-semantic components, in planning and intervention measures will pose serious challenges in improving the quality of life and empowering residents.
Thus, in all marginalized areas, strategies should be adopted to realize and strengthen the sense of belonging, security, and attention to the residents' religious beliefs and way of life for their psychological empowerment, which has the most significant impact on their overall empowerment. Among the marginalized areas of Tabriz city, the northern regions exhibit the lowest level of realization of empowerment components due to the lowest level of viability, necessitating special attention.
Regarding economic empowerment, the material criteria of livability have the greatest impact. Additionally, the functional-activity measures of livability significantly influence two dimensions of empowerment: economic and social empowerment, respectively. The perceptual-semantic criteria predominantly affect the psychological empowerment of the residents.
Urban Architecture
sahar borhanifar; Mohammad Ebrahim Mazhari; Vida Taghvaei; behzad vasigh; Reza Ashrafzadeh
Abstract
Highlights This study examines the relationship between privacy and interactions together. The results show that the two criteria of border and territory, and interpersonal distances, have the greatest impact on social interactions and the criterion of audio-visual privacy has the least impact on social ...
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Highlights This study examines the relationship between privacy and interactions together. The results show that the two criteria of border and territory, and interpersonal distances, have the greatest impact on social interactions and the criterion of audio-visual privacy has the least impact on social interactions compared to other components. The results of Friedman ranking test showed that the indicators of physical flexibility, social homogeneity, interpersonal flexibility and spatial planning have the greatest impact on social interactions and the indicators of dimensions, proportions and hierarchy have the least impact on social interactions. Compared to other indicators. The study of the results in sheshsad Dastgah Residential Complex in Mashhad also shows that the designer's attention to the criteria and indicators affecting interactions with an approach to maintaining privacy in the design, has played a significant role in promoting interactions between users and residents of the complex. Which has been considered by the designer more than other criteria. 1. Introduction In residential complexes, securing privacy, in its two main dimensions, namely family privacy and individual privacy, is prioritized as an effective component in ensuring the security and tranquility of residents. In fact, people’s attitudes toward privacy are part of their socialization process. For establishment of social relations, the privacy of individuals and groups in the public must be considered. It is essential to provide a balance between privacy and social interaction in the light of the cultural values of the community. The purpose of this study is to identify and prioritize the indicators of privacy effective on social interactions in a residential complex with 600 apartments in the city of Mashhad, Iran. 2. Theoretical Framework Privacy is a process undergone for determining the boundaries between individuals, through which the individual or group monitors how they interact with others (Altman, 2003). Altman (1975) considers personal space and territoriality as the main mechanisms used for achievement of privacy (Lang, 2009: 165). Communication means the ability to transfer human information, thoughts, and behaviors from one person to another. Social interaction is a need that involves actions and emotions such as the sense of belonging and attachment, joining a group, loving, and being approved (Siramkaya, 2017). The factors effective on the promotion of social interactions with the privacy approach include the following: Physical characteristics, Borders and territories (hierarchy, border clarity, and controllability in the separation of private and public areas), Interpersonal distances, Audio and visual privacy. 3. Methodology The research method is descriptive-analytical, adopted besides documentary and library methods to identify the components of privacy affecting social interactions. The population examined in the present study consists of the residents of the Sheshsad Dastgah residential complex in Mashhad. The sample size is set to 322 people using Cochran’s formula. A questionnaire is used to collect the required information, and the data are analyzed using the SPSS and PLS software. Confirmatory factor analysis is applied to evaluate the research model and the validity of the questionnaire, along with the one-sample t-test to compare the means and the Friedman ranking test to rank the components. 4. Results and Discussion The findings of the one-sample t-test of the population demonstrated that the mean values of all the components and subcomponents were higher than the obtained averages, and that all the specified components and indicators had relatively large impacts on social interactions (p < 0.05). The mean for the interpersonal distance component was 4.48, that for the boundaries and territories was 4.38, that for the physical characteristics was 4.12, and that for the visual-auditory space was 4.06. The results of the Friedman ranking test also indicated that the components of border and territory and interpersonal distance ranked highest in average, and therefore exhibited the greatest impacts on social interactions. Moreover, physical flexibility, social homogeneity, and interpersonal flexibility exhibited the highest average ranks among the subcomponents and the greatest impacts on social interactions. 5. Conclusion As explained in the Methodology section, the SPSS 25 and PLS 3 software were used to analyze the data. The extracted average variance index (AVE) was used to verify the convergent validity. This index measures the amount of variance that a hidden variable gets from its markers, and its value ranges between 0 and 1, where higher values indicate greater convergent validity for the structure. The mean extracted variance, which measured the convergent validity, varied from a minimum of 0.53 for the boundary and a territory to a maximum of 0.70 for the physical characteristics. Since the mean values of extracted variance were close to or greater than 0.50, we could confirm the convergent validity (total validity of each component). Finally, the results demonstrated the validity and reliability of all the components and relevant questions. The effects of the four main criteria of privacy on social interactions in the examined residential complex could be analyzed using the Friedman test, ranking the criteria and the degrees of their impact on social interactions as follows. The findings on the ranking of the privacy criteria with respect to a chi-square value of 226.81 (df = 3) indicated significant relationships with social interactions (P < 0.05), from which it could be inferred that there was a significant difference between the four criteria of privacy affecting social interactions, and the extents and degrees of their impact on social interactions were also found to be different. The results of the Friedman ranking test demonstrated that the border and territory criterion ranked highest in average, and exhibited the greatest effect on social interactions in the residential complex. Shortly after that, there was the criterion of interpersonal distance, with an average rank of 2.97. According to the results, the two criteria of border and territory and individual intermediate distance had the greatest impacts on social interactions, and the criterion of audio-visual privacy affected them less than the others. There were significant differences between the fourteen indicators affecting socialization, the ranks and values of which were also different. The results of the Friedman ranking test demonstrated that physical flexibility ranked highest in average, and was the most important indicator affecting social interactions. The social homogeneity, interpersonal flexibility, and spatial arena sub-components were ranked next, averaging 10.34, 10.20, and 8.82, respectively. According to the findings, the indicators of physical flexibility, social homogeneity, interpersonal flexibility, and spatial arena exhibited the greatest impacts on social interactions, and those of dimensions, proportions, and hierarchy affected them less than the others. The results indicated that the components of territoriality, such as interpersonal distance, physical characteristics, spatial domains, and audio-visual privacy, could be regarded as variables affecting social interactions in the Sheshsad Dastgah residential complex with an approach to maintenance of privacy.
Regional Planning
amirhosein abdollahzadeh; esfandiar zebardast
Abstract
There are two main approaches to housing planning on national or regional scales: first, comprehensive housing plans and, second, subject-specific housing plans. Comprehensive housing plans bear a significant flaw: their lack of economic evaluation, which only comes at the end of the planning process. ...
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There are two main approaches to housing planning on national or regional scales: first, comprehensive housing plans and, second, subject-specific housing plans. Comprehensive housing plans bear a significant flaw: their lack of economic evaluation, which only comes at the end of the planning process. This makes them quite distant from economic realities of the province or region. However, in subject-specific housing plans, the emphasis is on the most consequential and primal issues and therefore the economic and financial factors are very well reflected. Therefore, these two approaches to planning take opposite directions as the first step in one is the final step in another. One is planning-oriented and the other is implementation-oriented.In the analysis of housing in national or regional planning sectors, the main method is to calculate an appropriate coefficient in different economic sectors for input-output charts. The calculated coefficient for housing sector can be used in housing planning for estimating investment, economic efficiency, job creation, export and import demand and supply.After data collection, 30 provinces were selected using input-output charts of 2001 fiscal year to be observed in a period of 10 years. The coefficients for different economic sectors show that water supply, electricity and natural gas are the frontline sectors followed by leisure services (e.g. hotels and restaurants), public services and the construction sector with a coefficient of 1.25. The annual inflation rate was applied in each sector and then the input-output chart of 2011 was produced in which the water, electricity and gas supply were again identified as the leading sectors. Finally, the housing sector with a coefficient of 1.167 was identified as the third on the national level.The charts were recalculated for each province using the RAS method by applying the sector estimates for each province and calculating the medium consumption, production and added value of each province. The results show that housing and construction sector remains the leading sector in most provinces. The coefficient is in the range of 1.56 to 2.24. In most provinces, this sector has the second to fourth rank. In Kohkilouyeh & Boyer Ahmad and Sistan & Balouchestan though, housing ranks first. Also, in Semnan, Qazvin, Zanjan, and Markazi its rank varies from 6 to 9. In analyzing the role of housing in economy using input-output tables and quanti-connectivity method, construction and housing sectors ranked first in the economy sector within the 10-year period. Construction sector was identified as the leading one in provinces. In this sector, three basic indexes in the input-output analysis include intermediate consumption, output and added value. Output rate is 6-8%, intermediate consumption is 4-6% and added value is 3-5% in provinces. These values are very low as compared with their consumption levels. Moreover, in the provinces, housing sector has the highest output to other sectors and the lowest input from other sectors.
Urban Planning
Keramattolah ziari; mahsa haji; asad moradi
Volume 4, Issue 15 , August 2015, , Pages 37-52
Abstract
Although the rate of urbanization in developed countries remains in a suitable position and is under control, the continued rapid growth of urbanization in developing countries (such as Iran) is quite evident. This issue of providing shelter and adequate housing in the country has turned into a ...
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Although the rate of urbanization in developed countries remains in a suitable position and is under control, the continued rapid growth of urbanization in developing countries (such as Iran) is quite evident. This issue of providing shelter and adequate housing in the country has turned into a serious crisis and has global-scale problems. Housing has an important role in satisfaction of the the physical, emotional and social needs of people. In addition, housing can serve to promote social justice and reduce the relative gap between different social classes. Moreover, it has an important role in economic solidity and social constancy of community and national development. The qualitative and quantitative indicators of housing are one of the key measurement tools for development in of countries. Although worldwide the analysis of housing indicators and the their role are very important, they are not used in codification of housing policy in Iran. Therefor policy and decision-makers have no knowledge of housing indicators`in decision making and their impact on residents. The goal of this research is a comprehensive recognition of housing conditions in the urban areas of Iran and the transition process of quantitative and qualitative indicators of housing in Kurdistan Province and the city of Marivan will be assessed comparatively in the period 1966 – 2011. . The research method used was analytic – descriptive and based on analysis of secondary data. The results of this research show that quantitative indicators of housing desirably proceeded from 1966 to 2011. Although the scope of the study in terms of housing and household density of residential units have had relatively favorable conditions, there is a distance in reaching the desirable conditions in other quantitative indicators (household members per room and residential unit). Furthermore, qualitative indicators of housing have come a long way from 45 years ago, but some housing units in urban areas are made from semi-durable and non-durable materials. Most housing units in urban areas of the country have exhausted their habitability and are in need of modernization and improvement. In terms of occupation, the property in urban areas of the country had an upward trend until 1986(68/98 per cent). The main reason for this being law enforcement of urban land and land transfer. However, from then to 2011 a downward trend occurred in the country which reached 56/57 percent in urban areas. The rate for Marivan was 53/94 percent and 56/34 percent in urban areas of Kurdistan Province. In addition, renting from 1986 to 2011 followed an upward trend (33/18 percent).Although the rate of ownership of property is different in different societies and high property ownership rates is not an indicator of favorable housing conditions, according to our cultural norms a decline in household ownership must be a sign of increased gap between social classes and low-income groups (particularly the first and fourth deciles) This is a manifestation of the effects of inefficient policies of the past, especially for low-income housing groups. Thus, index and housing standards should be flexible enough to meet the needs of users in different parts of the country to link with their cultural preferences and be based on preferences of residents.
