Regeneration and revival of historical context
Nasim Leilieyoun; Ahmad Danaeinia
Abstract
The formation and development framework of the historical core of Isfahan is based on the system of (water channels) called "Madi". On a macro scale, Madi has had a direct impact on the configuration and organization of urban spaces, and on a micro scale, it has influenced the settlement of ...
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The formation and development framework of the historical core of Isfahan is based on the system of (water channels) called "Madi". On a macro scale, Madi has had a direct impact on the configuration and organization of urban spaces, and on a micro scale, it has influenced the settlement of residential units. This element, during changes that primarily occurred after the 1960s, has gradually become a barrier to the development of urban-local spaces. The aim of this research is to clarify the characteristics of Madi flexibility and its impact on the housing configuration, thereby revealing the necessity of re-linking housing architecture with this vital element. The research combines quantitative and qualitative methods and is based on observation and analysis methodologies. Data were collected in two phases: library studies and field surveys, aimed at finding the housing pattern and how residential units are organized, with results extracted based on two methods of inference and content analysis. Basic information was obtained through aerial photographs from the 1960s and analyzed using software such as AutoCAD, GIS, and Depthmap. The findings indicate that the housing configuration system is shaped based on four indices: building pattern, area, the ratio of built space to open space, and spatial integrity and coherence. The most compatible housing construction pattern is the single-row construction and fully constructed, followed by U-shaped and L-shaped patterns. Regarding the area index, residential plots with an area of 200-500 square meters and subsequently 500-1000 square meters, and in the index of built-to-open space ratio, areas with values between 0.70-0.96 have the highest flexibility. As for the index of spatial integrity and coherence, the maximum index includes the axis of Madi, passages connected to Madi, and passages connected to the main streets bordering the neighborhood. The results show that Madi architecture is in complete connection with the city and the neighborhood, representing the most important natural pattern influencing the formation of residential units and creating interconnection throughout the neighborhood. In order to create or strengthen this pattern, housing design based on the four enumerated indices plays a significant role. Conversely, neglecting these indices will have numerous negative effects on the housing configuration and the system of neighborhoods.
Regeneration and revival of historical context
Reza Alishahi; Najma Esmailpoor
Abstract
HighlightsLeveraging economic potential from cultural heritage and community engagement are key strategies for regenerating Iran's deteriorated historic areas.Urban events provide a link between culture-based and community-driven approaches to regeneration.Aligning regeneration policies with holistic ...
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HighlightsLeveraging economic potential from cultural heritage and community engagement are key strategies for regenerating Iran's deteriorated historic areas.Urban events provide a link between culture-based and community-driven approaches to regeneration.Aligning regeneration policies with holistic frameworks enhances the success of revitalization efforts in Iran's historic urban areas. IntroductionIn recent years, urban regeneration has gained significant prominence as an approach in urban preservation and revitalization, aiming to transform abandoned or underutilized urban spaces. This approach not only seeks to restore these areas but also fosters economic growth, improves competitiveness, promotes sustainable development, strengthens cultural identity, enhances citizens' quality of life, and advances urban management practices. Despite extensive research on urban regeneration, few studies have holistically examined the integration of its dimensions and components. This study aims to investigate the role of various dimensions and components of urban regeneration in enhancing Iran’s deteriorated historic areas.Theoretical FrameworkUrban regeneration entails a series of actions aimed at improving life quality in economically, socially, culturally, or infrastructurally deprived areas by mobilizing local assets and fostering civic participation. As an interventionist strategy, it works to modernize and revitalize these spaces, paving the way for sustainable urban futures. In Iran, the past decade has seen urban regeneration initiatives attempting to tackle urban inefficiency and developmental challenges. Key milestones in this journey include the 2014 "National Strategy Document on Revitalizing, Upgrading, Renovating, and Enabling Deteriorated and Underutilized Urban Fabrics" and the 2018 "Executive Bylaw of the National Sustainable Urban Regeneration Program."These policies aim to strengthen urban governance, alleviate poverty, enrich cultural identity, and enhance urban resilience. Yet, misalignment between policy frameworks and real-world conditions, combined with the absence of concrete action plans, has hindered progress toward these objectives. Urban regeneration encompasses a wide range of dimensions—social, cultural, economic, design, management and law, and environmental—each containing specific elements intended to rejuvenate urban spaces and improve residents' quality of life. As such, urban regeneration serves not only as a tool for physical transformation but as a comprehensive and sustainable development strategy.MethodologyThis study employed a three-phase qualitative approach. In the first phase, a literature review was conducted to identify relevant dimensions and components, validated through the Content Validity Index (CVI); items with a CVI score below 0.79 were excluded. Twenty-two experts participated in the CVI assessment. In the second phase, a systematic review of articles from 2011 to 2021 yielded 28 studies on urban regeneration, which were analyzed using MaxQDA 2020. The content analysis produced 111 open codes, 38 components, and 6 dimensions. The study's reliability was confirmed through Cohen’s kappa coefficient, and VOSviewer was used to visualize spatial relationships among the elements.Results and DiscussionThe findings reveal that, throughout the 2010s, the social, economic, and cultural dimensions have been most emphasized in urban regeneration studies. The social dimension was the most prominent, with a particular focus on social participation and social vitality, which are essential for empowering communities and enhancing urban spaces. Within the economic dimension, the neighborhood and urban economy components were the most frequently highlighted, underscoring their role in improving economic conditions. The cultural dimension, meanwhile, was dominated by an emphasis on cultural heritage. Over 70% of the reviewed studies incorporated a mix of social, economic, and cultural dimensions, aiming to boost tourism and, in turn, the economic and social well-being of urban areas by capitalizing on cultural heritage and attracting investments.ConclusionUrban regeneration studies generally pursue two main goals to address urban decay and inefficiency: revitalizing the economic and social aspects of declining areas by activating existing community potentials, emphasizing social participation and its links to neighborhood and urban economies; and utilizing cultural assets for economic revival and rebranding, with a focus on authenticity and heritage. Future research should investigate the synergy of these approaches, especially the role of urban events as a connecting force between social and cultural regeneration.Comparing these findings with Iran's urban regeneration policy framework reveals alignment with the overarching research objectives and the vision of improving residents' living conditions. However, insufficient attention to environmental, managerial, and legal dimensions in the policies may have contributed to their limited success during Iran’s fifth and sixth development plans. Aligning the policy framework with comprehensive theories—such as eventful cities and Iranian-Islamic urbanism—could increase the effectiveness of development goals.This study focuses on the role of urban regeneration dimensions and components in improving Iran’s obsolete historical fabrics, drawing on Farsi-language articles from the 2010s. Primarily analyzing Ministry-approved urban planning journal articles, this research highlights the need for broader source inclusion in future studies to deepen the understanding of urban regeneration. The findings serve as a basis for identifying research challenges and gaps in this field, guiding policymakers and professionals toward more effective strategies for revitalizing historic urban areas.
Regeneration and revival of historical context
Golbarg Ghaemmaghami Farahani; Hooman Ghahremani; Hossein Bahrainy
Abstract
HighlightsEmphasizing phenomenological place quality as a more adaptive and responsive evaluation model compared to current top-down urban regeneration strategies.Advocating a phenomenological approach that reflects the perspectives of residents who experience the place firsthand.Proposing approaches ...
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HighlightsEmphasizing phenomenological place quality as a more adaptive and responsive evaluation model compared to current top-down urban regeneration strategies.Advocating a phenomenological approach that reflects the perspectives of residents who experience the place firsthand.Proposing approaches free from technocratic biases to ensure urban interventions align with the real needs of the community. IntroductionThe Abkooh neighborhood, once a rural village west of Mashhad, now faces critical urban challenges that have prompted various interventions aimed at revitalization. Initially, Abkooh was located seven kilometers from Mashhad, remaining a rural area until its formal inclusion within the city limits in 1972 as part of Mashhad’s comprehensive urban development plan. However, as the neighborhood evolved within the expanding city, it experienced substantial socio-economic, physical, and legal issues, largely due to its incompatibility with surrounding urban areas. Legal disputes involving prominent landowners, Astan Quds and Awqaf, have further exacerbated these challenges, deteriorating Abkooh’s quality of life and diminishing its integration with the city. Despite several development plans aimed at reinvigorating its identity, Abkooh today represents a vulnerable urban fabric, lacking essential qualities that contribute to a livable urban environment.Theoretical FrameworkDeteriorated urban areas like Abkooh often evolve within a complex historical, social, and economic landscape, yet face structural and functional deficits that limit their livability. Unlike other urban spaces, improving place quality in such areas demands a context-sensitive approach with distinct intervention priorities. In this study, “place” is understood as more than a physical environment; it encompasses the lived experiences, cultural meanings, and social interactions that define it. Place quality, in this sense, refers to an amalgamation of characteristics that not only enhance the physical space but also fulfill residents' needs, improving their quality of life and fostering satisfaction.The phenomenology of place quality emphasizes the exploration of lived experience, viewing place as a multidimensional concept shaped by social, emotional, and physical factors. Within deteriorated urban areas, this study examines place quality through five main dimensions: perceptual-semantic, physical, socio-economic, functional, and environmental. The phenomenological perspective allows for a more profound understanding of these qualities by considering the personal and collective experiences of residents.MethodologyThis research begins with an extensive review of theoretical approaches to place quality in deteriorated urban areas. The secondary research phase involved analyzing relevant national and international academic works published since 2000 using MAXQDA2018 software. To ensure validity, survey methods and interviews with urban design experts were conducted. The subsequent phase employs a first-person phenomenological approach, aiming to capture the lived experiences within Abkooh.Over five weeks, researchers conducted site visits twice daily, in the mornings and evenings, each lasting three hours. Observational field notes, semi-structured interviews, audio recordings, and handwritten accounts were used to document resident experiences, drawing upon participant-observation techniques. Qualitative content analysis, supported by MAXQDA2018, enabled the systematic exploration of interview data. Additional data collection methods, including participatory observation, photography, and sketching, were employed to create a comprehensive record of findings.Results and DiscussionThe research findings reveal significant challenges and opportunities within the Abkooh neighborhood regarding place quality. Analyzing these factors through the Abkooh Quality of Urban Life Improvement Plan underscores the limitations of conventional evaluation methods. Specifically, library-based studies or expert-driven priorities alone fail to provide a realistic assessment of place quality in deteriorated urban areas. Phenomenological approaches, which respond to the unique attributes of each location, yield more precise and contextually appropriate insights.The phenomenological evaluation identified six key dimensions that influence place quality in Abkooh: socio-economic, legal-management, physical, perceptual-semantic, environmental, and functional. Notably, the presence of a legal-management dimension is an essential addition due to the legal complexities surrounding land ownership in Abkooh. Furthermore, findings indicated that the prioritization of these dimensions varied throughout the three phases of research, underscoring the importance of flexible and adaptable strategies in urban intervention.ConclusionEffective urban planning in deteriorated neighborhoods like Abkooh must prioritize the relationship between individuals and place, focusing on the unique qualities and challenges of each neighborhood. Understanding place quality necessitates immersing oneself in the essence of the neighborhood without preconceived notions or standardized frameworks. Therefore, each deteriorated urban context must be approached as a unique phenomenon, evaluated through the eyes of its residents rather than solely through expert-driven or theory-based models.Phenomenological methods highlight the distinctive attributes of place quality that may differ from theoretical or authority-led approaches. Simply relying on checklists and criteria derived from theoretical models or global best practices often fails to capture the complex reality of place quality in deteriorated urban contexts. By focusing on the lived experiences of residents, phenomenological approaches yield a deeper understanding of how urban spaces are perceived and experienced, leading to recommendations that more accurately align with community needs.Incorporating this resident-centered perspective in planning processes enables cities to develop more inclusive and livable environments that address the specific needs and desires of inhabitants. By preventing gentrification and fostering a sense of belonging, phenomenological approaches encourage long-term resident retention and community cohesion, allowing neighborhoods to evolve without losing their identity.
Regeneration and revival of historical context
maryam hematian dehkordi; Afsoon mahdavi; mohammad reza iravani
Abstract
Highlights:
Urban regeneration stands at the intersection of diverse urban policies, representing a pivotal strategic choice in advancing global urban development.
Non-physical elements, embodied in the form of social capital, can serve as both a tool and a catalyst for a renovation that is not only ...
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Highlights:
Urban regeneration stands at the intersection of diverse urban policies, representing a pivotal strategic choice in advancing global urban development.
Non-physical elements, embodied in the form of social capital, can serve as both a tool and a catalyst for a renovation that is not only more desirable but also widely accepted within the context of residents.
The influential factors contributing to the development of local community culture, encompassing semantic, physical, functional, and social dimensions, play a pivotal role in empowering residents, fostering trust, strengthening their sense of belonging, and ultimately ensuring the feasibility of urban regeneration in the central core of Shahrekord.
Introduction:
Urban regeneration, situated at the intersection of urban policies, represents a crucial strategic avenue for advancing global urban development. Analysis of the evolving trends in urban regeneration experiences underscores that success within urban areas hinges not solely on physical enhancements but also on social dimensions where residents actively participate in the regeneration process. This research aims to establish criteria for the feasibility of urban regeneration, with a specific focus on fostering the development of local community culture.
The findings of the research, particularly in the context of Shahrekord, highlight that the cultivation of local community culture in the central core translates into enhanced control over the living environment and its content. Consequently, this socio-economic transformation contributes to an improved Quality of Life (QoL). The four pivotal criteria—structure (encompassing both natural and artificial dimensions), meaning (in terms of identity, authenticity, and motivational role), activity (spanning economic, social, and cultural aspects), and social factors (such as cultural needs, trust, and hope)—emerge as influential elements shaping the development of local community culture in the context of urban regeneration.
Thus, a comprehensive approach is imperative, taking into account all cultural, economic, functional, and spatial components of the plan, as cultural elements and their indicators manifest across all the aforementioned dimensions.
Theoretical Framework:
Contrary to traditional approaches that focus solely on physical perspectives, this research recognizes the significance of metaphysical components—social assets, tools, and motivators—in achieving a more desirable and acceptable urban revitalization. The study challenges the one-dimensional (physical) approach prevalent in many Iranian urban regeneration efforts, emphasizing the need to involve residents in decision-making processes. In Shahrekord, the lack of coordination among organizations, neglect of residents' opinions, and indifference toward human structures have led to a spectrum of problems in the central core. The study aims to introduce and examine feasibility criteria for urban regeneration by investigating components influencing the development of local community culture, thereby leveraging the institutional capacity of the local culture sector for socio-political and socio-economic growth.
Methodology:
Ethnography, a qualitative approach delving into the social processes and mental nature of human life, serves as the research method for field studies. The study area, the central core of Shahrekord city, is characterized by shared behavioral, cognitive, and speech paradigms among local residents. Sixteen individuals from the local community were selected using purposive and snowball sampling methods. Ethnography allowed the researcher to understand shared patterns within the group. Themes/categories derived from previous research formed the basis for interview questions. The study population consisted of inhabitants in the central core, and themes were continuously revised and finalized through consistent comparison, resulting in ultimate concepts and themes.
Conclusion:
This paper explores the feasibility criteria for urban regeneration, emphasizing the development of local community culture in Shahrekord's central core. Urban regeneration, a multifaceted process, encompasses diverse strategies and planning policies. The research sheds light on interventions in Shahrekord, particularly the central core, highlighting deficiencies in residents' participation and urban regeneration education. The lack of trust between residents and the city management system, coupled with the absence of trust in residents' decision-making capabilities, impedes meaningful engagement. The research emphasizes the need for residents' participation in shaping their living environment, connecting it to residence and employment, which provide meaning to livelihood. Social and communicative participation, along with cultural mediation, enhances social ties, meets various human needs, and improves quality of life (QoL) and welfare. The development of local community culture in the central core enhances control over the living environment, leading to socioeconomic transformation and an elevated QoL. The identified criteria—structure, meaning, activity, and social factors—emphasize the importance of a comprehensive approach, considering cultural, economic, functional, and spatial components for successful urban regeneration.
