Urban Sociology
Amir Ebrahimi Hasanakloo; بنیادی Bonyadi; Atoosa Modiri
Abstract
Highlights- This research seeks to investigate the factors affecting the levels of residents’ place attachment.- The results demonstrate that place attachment consists of four dimensions: spatial identity, spatial affect, spatial dependence, and spatial social bonding.- Of all these four dimensions, ...
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Highlights- This research seeks to investigate the factors affecting the levels of residents’ place attachment.- The results demonstrate that place attachment consists of four dimensions: spatial identity, spatial affect, spatial dependence, and spatial social bonding.- Of all these four dimensions, spatial social bonding was identified as the most powerful predictor of place attachment.- The method of validation factor analysis validated the place attachment structure as a quadratic component consisting of four dimensions. IntroductionMany urban planners and designers have considered the topic of the quality of the emotional relationship between man and their place of residence, or place attachment, in recent years. In the past, the relationships between neighborhood residents who knew each other and were aware of each other’s circumstances contributed to healthy, familiar emotional relationships among them. In other words, neighborhoods, being familiar social units, involved profound cultural roots, pursued certain traditions and customs, and even continued the rites and ways of life and the norms and customs inherited from the past. In modern cities, however, kinship, shared religious beliefs, and moral values give way to anonymity and individualism as the emotional bonds of the local community weaken. Over time, neighborhood connections have lost some of their function. Lack of familiarity with people in the neighborhoods, lack of joint activities, and lack of ethnic, linguistic, religious, and cultural ties as firm as before have reduced people’s levels of emotional connection, i.e. their senses of place attachment with their residential neighborhoods. Therefore, this article aimed to provide structural modeling to investigate the aspects effective on attachment to residential areas.Theoretical FrameworkIn recent years, many researchers have examined the aspects of place attachment through structural equation modeling, providing a framework for their classification. Understanding the dimensions of place attachment through structural equation modeling allows researchers to better explore the potentials of this concept and its complexity, which makes up the objective of this study along with identification of the dimensions. The construct of spatial attachment consists of spatial identity, spatial dependence, spatial social bonding, and spatial emotion.MethodologyThe development of a valid, trustworthy method to measure and evaluate the dimensions of place attachment has been the focus of numerous studies in recent years, with quantity-oriented academics highlighting the multidimensionality of the construct. However, no one, simple scale of measuring is agreed upon by academics and researchers in the field due to the diversity of the methodologies used in the operationalization of the idea and the levels of relevant multi-dimensionality. Because of this significance, this research sought to investigate the dimensions affecting the level of residents’ place attachment. Since this was not easily possible, the indexing technique was used for examination. In this technique, indicators were considered to identify the dimensions, and questions were asked in the questionnaire to measure them. For assessment of the respondents’ opinions about the research topic, their responses were measured with a 5-point Likert scale. Moreover, a simple random sampling method was used to select the sample in the Haft Chenar neighborhood. The sample size was 687, and data analysis was made using the SPSS software version 22. For this purpose, confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling were used. Results and DiscussionThe findings demonstrated that the level of attachment of the Haft Chenar neighborhood residents is high. On the other hand, the results of the analysis of the structural model of the research supported the hypothesis that place attachment is a quadratic component consisting of the four identified dimensions of spatial identity, spatial affect, spatial dependence, and social connection with the place. It is noteworthy that among all these four dimensions, social connection with the place was identified as the most powerful predictor of place attachment in the research, indicating that the level of social connection in a neighborhood is high, which can directly increase the level of residents’ attachment to the place. Meanwhile, spatial identity received the lowest score for the Haft Chenar neighborhood. Therefore, it seems that residents’ identity to place can be expected to increase due to the experiences formed in the context given that this factor has won the lowest score among the residents, who can realize this by planning and designing an active node and center in the context of these residential neighborhoods and by creating attractive, pleasant places for socializing and embedding community places in the long run. Moreover, a number of solutions were provided for urban planners and designers to increase attachment in the Haft Chenar neighborhood given that these four dimensions of convergent narrative for the structure indicated spatial attachment.ConclusionThe spatial attachment model was experimentally tested given spatial attachment as a secondary component and the claim of this research that spatial dependence, spatial identity, spatial affection, and social connection with place constitute different primary dimensions of place attachment. Hence, the validation factor analysis method confirmed the validity of the spatial attachment structure as a quadratic component consisting of four dimensions. As demonstrated by the fitness indices of the model, it is suitable for research data. AcknowledgmentThis article is taken from Amir Ebrahimi Hasanakloo's Master's thesis entitled "Investigation and evaluation of factors affecting the increase of residents' attachment to residential neighborhoods (with an approach to Haft Chenar neighborhood - District 10 of Tehran)" which was supervised by Dr. Naser Bonyadi and Dr. Atoosa Modiri in the urban planning department of the Islamic Azad University of Central Tehran branch.
Urban Scape
pooria saadativaghar
Abstract
Highlights- Using the quantitative method of oppression analysis of tall buildings, one can judge the location of an urban tall building.- A quantitative study of the psychological effects of tall buildings can be a complementary method to laboratory studies in this field.- Using the EFA method, the ...
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Highlights- Using the quantitative method of oppression analysis of tall buildings, one can judge the location of an urban tall building.- A quantitative study of the psychological effects of tall buildings can be a complementary method to laboratory studies in this field.- Using the EFA method, the underlying characteristics of perceptual-psychological variables were grouped in terms of quality as pleasant, depressing, green, or remarkable. IntroductionIn recent decades, humanity has moved towards the vertical expansion of cities with the help of significant advances in technology and the construction industry and for various reasons such as population growth, scarcity, high cost of land, and profitability. This issue is expanding into most countries and is not specific to advanced, rich industrialized ones. The expansion takes place at a higher rate in developed countries and at a lower rate in developing countries. The experience of examining these buildings demonstrates that besides their benefits, they create many problems for their residents and citizens who encounter them on urban roads, which has caused people’s dissatisfaction to some extent. The country of Iran is not exempt from this issue and has experienced these high-rise constructions (although at a lower rate) for several decades.However, the regulations concerning high-rise buildings in Iran have not yet been fully compiled in all aspects of these buildings, and there are shortcomings in this field that need to be reviewed and evaluated by experts.Theoretical FrameworkThe increase in the number of tall buildings that are built in various forms in the narrow streets of cities raises the need to pay attention to these buildings. These various buildings impose many effects on the city and citizens by being established in different urban areas. The current research is based on an aspect of the perceptual and psychological effects of these buildings under the title of oppression (psychological effects) on the city and citizens, which is usually less noticed by architectural and urban planning experts in cities. This subtle, significant effect of tall buildings is felt by citizens as they walk in the city streets and see the buildings, and in the long run, living in such places can create and stimulate many psychological problems for people and endanger their mental health. The present study is aimed at this important practical issue in the field of psychology of urban environments (along with tall buildings).In fact, the present study investigates the effect of configuration-related parameters and the tall building landscape on the perceptual and psychological components by focusing on the citizens’ feeling of oppression that is created by the tall buildings in the urban landscape on a daily basis.MethodologyThe present survey discussed the impacts of the variables concerning the appearance and visible view of tall buildings in the case study on psychological variables after extracting the psychological variables affected thereby with the library-document research method. Results and DiscussionThe results reported in this section demonstrated that with an increase in the solid angle of the building, the participants who encounter these buildings undergo more suppression, and satisfaction with the oppression decreases. In order to discover the underlying properties of perceptual variables, exploratory factor analysis was used, and the results indicated that the sixteen perceptual variables could be grouped into four categories in terms of quality: pleasant, depressing, green, and remarkable. Moreover, the effect of the solid angle of the building on the depression rate in the landscape demonstrated that the landscape becomes unpleasant and depressing as the solid angle of the building increases, but the effect of trees and vegetation on this environmental quality requires further research.The rest of the study is dedicated to a comparison of the oppression of the Zagros tower (the subject of the case study) on the participants who face the tower from different streets (to the relevant international standard).The results reported in this section also demonstrated (according to the mean statistics) that the pictures taken from Beynolnahreyn Street exhibit the lowest level of oppression and the highest level of satisfaction, from the participants’ point of view. Conversely, the pictures taken between Aref and Taleghani, on Jahannama, and between Mirzadeh Eshghi and Jahannama were perceived with the highest degree of oppression and dissatisfaction. Therefore, it seems that from the perspective of the above streets, the impact of the tower on participants’ perceived psychological pressure (oppression) has received less attention.ConclusionThis method can be used as a practical tool by urban decision-makers to locate tall buildings (with the aim of psychological sustainability of the urban landscape) if further studies are carried out.AcknowledgmentI would like to express my gratitude to Dr. M. Asgarzadeh, senior researcher at Harvard University, who shared with us a copy of SPCONV and guided us throughout this study. This article is based on the research project titled "The effect of visible Configuration and scape of tall buildings from urban pathways on the perceptual-psychological reactions of people (Case study: Zagros Tower in Hamedan)" which is being conducted by the author in Department of architecture, Faculty of Civil Engineering & Architecture, University of Malayer, Malayer, Iran.
Urban Design
Alimohamad Saadati; Fereshte Ahmadi; Ali Ghafari; Elham Nazemi
Abstract
Highlights:
Improvement of the quality of life in historical contexts
Presentation of a conceptual model of the role of urban spaces in public life
Without the interaction of the environment, community, and economy, the quality of life will not improve.
There are many physical-functional ...
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Highlights:
Improvement of the quality of life in historical contexts
Presentation of a conceptual model of the role of urban spaces in public life
Without the interaction of the environment, community, and economy, the quality of life will not improve.
There are many physical-functional and environmental qualities in urban public spaces that can guarantee the success of the field in satisfaction of residents and users of historic districts.
Introduction
In addition to performing all its standard functions in other urban areas, an urban space in a historic district should play its role at a higher multifaceted level matching the characteristics of a historic district with established identity. Accordingly, the present work aimed to discover how the components of an urban space, on the one hand, and the constituent elements of the flow of life in a historic district, on the other, are linked and interact so as to enable reasonable management of urban space potentials in a historic district and their proper application to enhance the quality of life for the residents and users.
Theoretical Framework
The model consisted of six components defining the following factors: the environmental component, with life quality in micro‑spaces and environmental sustainability as criteria; the empirical-aesthetic component, with old-new area integration and quality of urban landscape as criteria; the functional component, with variety in environment usage, environmental liveliness and quality, safety and security, and transportation and accessibility as criteria; the socio-cultural component, with social liveliness and cohesion and maintenance of population balance as criteria; the economic component, with economic liveliness and stability and flexibility of development plans as a criterion; and the temporal component, with time management in public spaces and continuity of place as criteria.
Generated based on the urban space components, the presented conceptual model offered a new approach to urban planning and management, and was concerned with all the urban regeneration measures adopted in historic districts. Functioning on local, regional, urban, and extramural scales, it can also assume applications in the quality assessment of measures adopted in public arenas within historic districts.
Methodology
The above strategy will in turn keep indigenous residents in historic contexts, have immigrants to those areas return, and bring about socio-economic and environmental sustainability. Employing logical reasoning, the Delphi method, and expert opinions, this descriptive-analytical study first discussed the urban space components and their qualitative requirements. Next, the dimensions and measures of the quality of urban life were analyzed, and their factors concerning the urban space and environmental quality and topics formed on urban design, planning, and management were identified based on the theoretical views found in the literature. In the next step, the factors extracted based on the characteristic features of historic districts were monitored and reviewed. The 91 factors obtained from the Delphi method were reduced to 64 after views and comments from about forty experts in the field were applied. Finally, the results were presented as a conceptual model describing the role of urban spaces on quality‑of‑life enhancement in historic urban districts.
Results and Discussion
According to the findings, there are many physical–functional and environmental qualities in public urban spaces that can guarantee the arena’s success in provision of the residents and users of historic districts with satisfaction. However, taking notice of economic activities and social mobility in these districts is fundamental to the effectiveness of a measure adopted for enhancement of the quality of life in public arenas within historic districts. Meanwhile, a rise in the sensitivity of local communities to the values of historic districts and the potentials of public arenas for enhancement of the quality of life therein encourages them to assume an active role in the application of these arenas and the local communities’ socio-economic potentials in enhancement of the quality of public arenas. This can also enable these communities to express problems and propose solutions; in some cases, it can even lead to innovative financing ideas for project implementation. In tandem with urban planning, it ensures the sustainability of public arenas in historic districts, and improves the quality of life for their residents and users. Therefore, the issues of socio-cultural livability and dynamic economy are the cornerstones of the formation of quality spaces within historic districts, and the quality of life will not improve regardless of the triad of the environment, society, and economy.
Conclusion
The presented conceptual model, based on the urban space components, offers a new approach to urban planning and management, and is concerned with all the urban regeneration measures adopted in historic districts. Functioning on local, regional, urban, and extramural scales, the model can also assume applications in the quality assessment of measures implemented in public arenas within historic districts. Here is a brief description of the intervention measures adopted for these districts and their regeneration process based on the proposed model.
The socio-cultural component. Contextualizing, contributing to/collaborating with, providing a process orientation for, innovating, and influencing the satisfaction of residents and users in public areas, utilizing the contribution/collaboration from the users of public arenas, delegating authority to non‑governmental organizations for utilization management, allowing for effective, constructive interaction among the organizations involved in the quality enhancement of historic districts and observing the pertinent legal frameworks, clarifying the procedures and promoting the accountability of officials, and respecting the cultural, social, and economic structures of life in the district.
The empirical-aesthetic component. Integrating old and new spaces within public arenas while respecting the features of their historic districts and taking notice of the mass and space simultaneously and avoiding shell designs.
The environmental component. Reducing environmental pollution and protecting energy resources and the natural heritage.
The functional component. Providing a favorable impact on space liveliness and enhancing social inclusion to be able to hold various events.
The economic component. Helping businesses flourish and promoting tourism.
The temporal component. Taking notice of nightlife, holding seasonal, monthly, and weekly events and recognizing the sense of place and making an effort to preserve it within the environment.
Urban Sustainability
Saeed Sepasi Zangiabadi; Aliakbar Shamsipour; Ali Hosseini
Abstract
Highlights- Climatic zoning of Tehran was conducted using the latest and most accurate method available.- This climatic zoning used the processing of Landsat 8 satellite images and sampling in Google Earth.- 17 climatic zones were obtained according to physical characteristics and land surface cover.- ...
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Highlights- Climatic zoning of Tehran was conducted using the latest and most accurate method available.- This climatic zoning used the processing of Landsat 8 satellite images and sampling in Google Earth.- 17 climatic zones were obtained according to physical characteristics and land surface cover.- The LCZ model focuses on the thermal loads of the city, which are affected by building density and land cover/use changes.- The central and eastern areas of Tehran, due to the high density of buildings, and the southwestern areas of the city, due to industrial and warehouse land use, have high thermal loads. IntroductionUrban spaces have different and more complex environmental conditions than natural environments because they combine human-made elements and natural features. Today, urban climate specialists focus on a combination of urban and natural factors when zoning urban spaces.The Local Climate Classification (LCZs) is a new and systematic classification system for urban spaces proposed by Stuart and Oke (2012). LCZs classify climates according to the physical structure of the city. Each LCZ is characterized by one or more distinctive features, such as land cover, height, and the distance between trees and buildings.Local Climate Zoning classifies the climate of urban spaces by focusing on the city's physical structure and surface coverage. The LCZ classification has 17 different classes, each of which represents a unique set of characteristics. LCZ classes are individually identified by one or more distinctive characteristics, such as land cover or height, the distance between trees and buildings. Classes 1 to 10 focus more on the physical structure created by humans, while classes A to G focus more on the natural aspect of the city.Theoretical FrameworkThe Local Climate Zoning (LCZ) method was extracted and presented by Stewart and Oke (2012) from the Urban Climate Zones (UCZ) method. This method is presented with an emphasis on land cover characteristics and building density for large cities.In this method, 10 climate zones are specified for urban built spaces and 7 climate zones for natural spaces. The most important data required in this method are Landsat satellite images, which are prepared in both winter and summer seasons to accurately identify the land surface cover. Additionally, for each of the 17 climate classes, it is necessary to take samples in Google Earth to use those samples in the image processing process. Therefore, the accuracy and quality of the map of local climate zones depends on the accuracy of sampling.MethodologyThree types of data were used in this study: meteorological data, satellite images, and spatial information layers.- Meteorological data included temperature, precipitation, wind speed, and wind direction data from the Doshan Tappeh, Geophysical, and Mehrabad meteorological stations in Tehran for the past 20 years.- Satellite images of the city of Tehran were used for two periods: summer and winter.- Spatial information layers included land use data, land cover, and building floors of Tehran.To create a map of the local climate classes in Tehran, the satellite images were converted to a spatial resolution of 100 meters in the SAGA-GIS environment. The measured area was then cut and saved in kml format and added to the Google Earth program. In Google Earth, samples of each climatic class were collected. This stage was the most important and decisive stage of the research, and it was conducted with great accuracy and patience using many samples.Results and DiscussionThe city of Tehran has a diverse range of local climate classes (LCZs) due to its diverse natural and human environments. Tehran is a heterogeneous metropolis in terms of its form and function, and this heterogeneity is reflected in the distribution of LCZs.The results of this study showed that the most common LCZs in Tehran are:- Dense texture and medium height (LCZ 2): These LCZs are characterized by high ambient heat load and poor ventilation capacity. They are generally concentrated in the central and northeastern parts of Tehran.- Dense and short (LCZ 3): These LCZs are also characterized by high ambient heat load and poor ventilation capacity. They are found in other parts of the city, such as the southern and southwestern suburbs.- Low-rise and mid-rise (LCZ 4 to LCZ 6): These LCZs are characterized by lower ambient heat load and better ventilation capacity. They are found in the outer parts of the city, such as the northwestern and southeastern suburbs.- Barren land and agricultural land (LCZ 7 to LCZ 9): These LCZs have the lowest ambient heat load and best ventilation capacity. They are found outside the city limits.The distribution of LCZs in Tehran is affected by a number of factors, including:- The density of buildings- The height of buildings- The presence of vegetation- The topography- The proximity to water bodiesThe high density of buildings in the central and northeastern parts of Tehran is the main reason for the predominance of LCZs 2 and 3 in these areas. The low density of buildings in the outer parts of the city is the main reason for the predominance of LCZs 4 to 6 in these areas. The presence of vegetation helps to reduce the ambient heat load and improve ventilation, while the proximity to water bodies also helps to cool the air.The distribution of LCZs in Tehran has important implications for the city's climate and environment. The high ambient heat load and poor ventilation capacity of LCZs 2 and 3 can contribute to the formation of the urban heat island effect, while the lower ambient heat load and better ventilation capacity of LCZs 4 to 6 can help to mitigate this effect. The presence of vegetation can also help to improve air quality and reduce noise pollution.Overall, the distribution of LCZs in Tehran is a complex issue that is affected by a number of factors. The understanding of this distribution is important for the development of strategies to mitigate the effects of climate change and improve the city's environment.ConclusionThe findings of this study have important implications for the planning and management of Tehran. Identifying areas at risk of high urban heat load and flooding can help to prioritize interventions to reduce these risks. For example, the city could plant more trees and vegetation to cool the air and reduce the urban heat island effect. It could also improve the drainage system to reduce the risk of flooding.Overall, this study provides a valuable contribution to the understanding of the urban climate of Tehran. The findings can be used to develop strategies to improve the livability of the city and reduce the risks of heat stress and flooding.
Urban Design
Esmat Paikan; Mohammad Reza Pourjafar; Ehsan Ranjbar
Abstract
Highlights
- The curvature in the street makes it more exciting, and greater variety in curvature causes more arousal and pleasure.
- Streets with medium enclosure (1:2 and 1:1) exhibit the most desirable values of size and enclosure.
- The presence of a square or a prominent building, the permeability ...
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Highlights
- The curvature in the street makes it more exciting, and greater variety in curvature causes more arousal and pleasure.
- Streets with medium enclosure (1:2 and 1:1) exhibit the most desirable values of size and enclosure.
- The presence of a square or a prominent building, the permeability of the street, and the variation in its landscape increase the pleasantness and arousal.
- The three-dimensional rhythms of the street walls exhibit greater pleasure and arousal than the two-dimensional rhythms.
- The portable EEG devices (MindWave MW001 headset) are suitable for evaluation of environmental design interventions in the field of architecture and urban development.
Introduction
The environment can cause positive and negative emotions in citizens. Emotions are important due to their impacts on people’s behaviors, because emotions make up a main component of social behavior, and extraction of emotional responses is one of the best ways to understand different fields of experience and perception. Nowadays, mental health problems and the emphasis on increasing social interactions have led to more and more concern for the subject of emotions, but the impact of physical-spatial factors has received less attention from the conducted studies. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of the physical-spatial measures of urban streets on pedestrians’ emotional responses by placing the individual in a pseudo-real environment. Moreover, this study makes possible the use of a new neural measurement tool in urban studies and evaluates its accuracy.
Theoretical Framework
The review of previous studies demonstrated that the environmental parameters that can affect emotion include non-physical human factors on the one hand and physical ones on the other. The physical factors that make up the subject of this research can be divided into two categories: 1- non-artificial factors, i.e. green space, and 2- artificial factors, which include the size and enclosure of the space, the shape and form of the space, the characteristics of the surfaces including architectural style, the color and texture of materials, and the variation in spatial sequences. Given the number of studies conducted on the effect of natural factors and certain characteristics of surfaces in the field of architecture, the present research examined four physical parameters.
Methodology
Ten of the most important physical-spatial variables that make up different states and types of the spatial structure of an urban street, which can affect the individual emotions of pedestrians, were selected for investigation and used to design 18 tests. The research was conducted with a combined method consisting of: 1- a self-report method of Self-Assessment Manikin (SAM) images and 2- a neurological method using electroencephalography. In the EEG method, the single-channel MindWave MW001 headset, produced by Neurosky, was used as the instrument. The research population included 50 students of Tarbiat Modares University. The research was conducted with the help of controlled experiments using the mobile digital 3D modeling technique, which makes it possible for people to navigate the virtual street in the city. After the data extracted by the health and Stroop tests were confirmed, the data analysis was made using a quantitative-statistical method.
Results and Discussion
The findings regarding the shape and form of the space demonstrated that people feel more pleased in curved streets than in straight streets, and there is greater arousal in streets of the former than the latter shape. However, the level of control in a straight street is higher than that in a curved or spiral street. As for the size and enclosure of the urban space, the results indicated that there is greater pleasure in a street with medium enclosure (1:2 and 1:1) than in one with low or high enclosure (1:4 and 1:1.2), but streets with medium enclosure exhibit less arousal. Spaces with less enclosure cause people to have more control over the space. The results also demonstrated that the pleasure and arousal experienced by people is increased by the existence of the square as a spatial element and a landmark building as a physical element, permeability in the spatial structure of the street and brokenness in the path, and variation in the landscape of the street. It was only in the street with physical retraction and protrusion that no effect on arousal was observed, although the level of pleasure should increase. Moreover, the results indicated that the pleasure in the street with the curved corner was greater than that with the other forms. However, the shape of the street corner exhibits no effect on the arousal. Furthermore, the walls that are completely three-dimensional exhibit greater pleasure and arousal than those featuring walls with two-dimensional and three-dimensional rhythms. Finally, the walls that are completely two-dimensional have the least pleasantness and arousal. There is a higher level of control in the street with 2D rhythms than in that with 3D rhythms. The results also showed that visual permeability in the physical structure of the street increases the arousal and control of the space, but it has no effect on the pleasure. Another result of this research is that there is 75% conformity in the results obtained from the two methods of SAM and EEG, which demonstrates that the data (EEG) extracted from the device can extract people’s emotions well.
Conclusion
In general, the current research confirms the results of previous studies, but it precisely demonstrated by measuring the extracted neural data that the levels of emotional pleasure, arousal, and control are affected by the shape and form of the street, the size and enclosure of the street space, the presence of a spatial and physical element that creates attention and emphasis in the street, permeability in the spatial structure of the street, rotation along the street and perspective change along the path, two and three-dimensional wall street rhythms, and the shape and form of the corners of the street intersection. However, physical indentations and protrusions exhibit no effect on arousal, and visual permeability has no effect on pleasure. In addition, the results showed that the EEG data extracted from the headset (MindWave MW001) used in this study could well capture the emotions of individuals, thus making up a proper potential tool for evaluation of environmental design interventions in the field of architecture and urban planning. The results of the present study, which indicate the psychological effects of urban design of a street, help to select and design the appropriate elements and physical characteristics of the space, increase positive emotions and reduce negative emotions, and ultimately improve the mental health of citizens.
Acknowledgment
This article is taken from the doctoral thesis of urban planning with the title "Explaining the effects of the physical-spatial components of an urban street on the emotional stimulation of pedestrians with an emphasis on the use of neuroscience" which was defended by the first author with the guidance of the second author and the advice of the third author in the Tarbiat Modares University.
Urban Planning
Roghayeh Heidary; Esmaeil Aliakbari; Ahmad pourahmad
Abstract
Highlights
The trend of spatial dynamics in the city of Rasht, Iran has been intensive and based on rapid transition.
Rasht has experienced many spatial reflections in the process of transition to a metropolis.
Rasht has been influenced by various forces and factors in its transition to a metropolis.
Introduction
It ...
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Highlights
The trend of spatial dynamics in the city of Rasht, Iran has been intensive and based on rapid transition.
Rasht has experienced many spatial reflections in the process of transition to a metropolis.
Rasht has been influenced by various forces and factors in its transition to a metropolis.
Introduction
It is believed that the city, a living, dynamic entity influenced by internal-external factors through time and space, is subject to change and transformation, and its growth and development are affected by different aspects. Therefore, given the pattern of growth and expansion of the city, continuous monitoring and forecasting of land use changes and land cover in large cities is critical for management of the growth and sustainability of the urban ecosystem. Accordingly, the present study aimed to analyze the spatial dynamics of regional cities in the process of transition to a metropolis, focusing on the city of Rasht, Iran.
Theoretical Framework
Urban development is a long-term process of interaction between human activities and land. During this process, numerous changes may be brought about from various fields, such as ones in land use conditions, road network upgrades, population migration, and industrial structure optimization. Since the needs of societies and human groups are constantly changing and transforming due to their inherent dynamics, the built spaces are also subject to gradual change as spatial systems. Therefore, urban dynamics are representations of changes in urban spatial structures over time, which embody a myriad of processes at work in cities on different but often interlocking time scales ranging from life cycle effects in buildings and populations to movements over space and time as reflected in spatial interactions. City formation and development have occurred in different ways in different regions of the world and at different times, driven by diverse political, economic, social, and cultural processes )Bruns-Berentelg et al., 2020: 2( and technological changes (Pacione, 2005). Technological innovations have allowed flows of information, knowledge, and money to circulate across the world quickly, helping to intensify the ongoing, but previously slow, process of compression between time and space (Harvey, 1989). This has supported the processes of economic decentralization and globalization, enabling the emergence of new geographies where physical and political boundaries are not as important as before (Sassen, 1991; Castells, 1997). These shifts have contested usual concepts such as scale and territoriality, resulting in new forms of spatiality )Borges, 2010). According to Berg et al. (1982), cities evolve in a clearly defined sequence of stages that can be conceptualized in a model of urban development based upon population changes in urban regions as a whole and upon shifts of population within these regions )Clark, 2003: 61(.
Methodology
The research method was descriptive-analytical. Therefore, it sought to answer the following questions. What is the process of the spatial dynamics of Rasht in the transition to a metropolis? What are the forces and spatial reflections of this city’s drive to join millions of metropolises? In order to answer the research questions, the research data were collected using the documentary method and Landsat satellite images. The main data were extracted from US Geological Survey (USGS), taking into account MSS, TM5, and OLI sensor images of the Landsat satellite with a resolution of 60 by 30 meters from 1993, 2003, 2011, and 2019 (June, July, and August without clouds). Land use maps were generated in the four uses of urban and built-up areas, water and paddy areas, forests and agricultural lands, and gardens. In this research, the cycle and spatial dynamics of Rasht were studied, and demographic information was collected from statistics, censuses, and the website of the Statistics Center of Iran using historical data and the Davis model. To investigate the trend of land use change (1993-2019), spatial metrics were used through preparation of a time series of land use maps and land cover in Rasht and measurement of its urban sprawl.
Results and Discussion
The findings demonstrated that the trend of spatial dynamics in Rasht has been intensive and based on rapid transition. Unlike what the general model of urban life cycle stated, this city has experienced population and land use and cover instability in the growth stage, like other large cities. These dynamics are constantly evolving and exhibit repercussions and consequences under the influence of various factors such as natural forces and capabilities, political components, economic policies and development plans, infrastructure and communication system developments, peripheral spatial phenomenon integrations within the physical boundaries of the city, informal settlement expansions, and immigration flows. As far as the objective characteristics and reflections are concerned, one can point out the changes in the land use system and land cover, urban sprawl, imbalance in the spatial organization of the network and urban hierarchy, service-rendering, and expansion of the city’s economy foundations. The outcomes of the above reflections are evident in the rise in urban land use levels and disastrous effects of land and cover resource instability, the increase in the growth of urban areas and vulnerability and rupture of agricultural lands and paddy fields, the gaps in the urban network, and the ever-increasing service-rendering, political-administrative, and physical-spatial development of Rasht. Overall, the results on the changes in land use and land cover confirmed the rise in urban land use levels from 4915 hectares in 1993 to 9960 hectares in 2019. Along with the growth of land use in urban areas, agricultural land coverage has experienced a declining trend in the same period. The results on the spatial metrics also demonstrated that urban areas have increasingly grown, and numerous urban plots have been developed. Concurrently, agricultural lands and paddy fields have lost their spatial cohesion and integrity and have been disintegrated into numerous plots, which implies the fast-paced urban spatial dynamics into physical dispersion.
Conclusion
The city of Rasht is in the process of transition to a metropolis and has undergone fundamental changes in its spatial-physical boundaries along with the instability of land cover resources, the disastrous consequences of which are also the main concern about the city and the urban ecosystem today. Thus, spatial urban management through short-term land cover transformation, on one hand, and infill development policy strategies, i.e. redevelopment and new development, on the other hand, are very important to stabilize growth and slow down transition into a metropolitan area.
Acknowledgment
This article is derived from the doctorate thesis of the first author with the guidance of the second author and the advice of the third author who defended the thesis in September 2020.
Urban Design
Shirin Eslami; ahmad shahivandi
Abstract
Highlights- The functional activity component exhibits the greatest weight in the measurement of the sense of place in the Qods district of the city of Qom, Iran.- The physical-visual component has the lowest weight in the measurement of the sense of place in the residents of the Qods district.- Structural ...
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Highlights- The functional activity component exhibits the greatest weight in the measurement of the sense of place in the Qods district of the city of Qom, Iran.- The physical-visual component has the lowest weight in the measurement of the sense of place in the residents of the Qods district.- Structural equation modeling indicates the optimal fit for the sense of place measurement model in the residents of the Qods district.- The indicator of invitation has the highest weight in the specification of the sense of place of the residents of the Qods district. IntroductionThe weakening nature of the place is one of the most important challenges facing contemporary cities. The contemporary citizen faces spaces without meaning and identity that have not yet turned into places. This is more important in new urban settlements, due to the lack of historical, identity, and existence backgrounds. The subject of this case study, the Qods district, located in the city of Qom, Iran, which suffers from disturbances in various aspects, is an example of new urban developments that require attention. The purpose of this research is to measure and analyze the importance of the components of the sense of place in the Qods district, to answer the following questions: What are the indicators of achieving a sense of place in the Qods district as a new urban development? How can one evaluate the effects of each component of the sense of place on the Qods settlement residents?Theoretical FrameworkThe term sense of place denotes people’s attachment and relation to the place, or the structure of feeling, as some have put it (Agnew, 1987, cited in Arefi, 1999: 180). Experts have held relatively similar viewpoints regarding the components of the sense of place and its indicators. In large part, most of these opinions have confirmed the physical environment, activity, and perception as the three main components. According to Shamai (1991), the sense of place consists of three phases. The first phase concerns belonging to a place, the middle phase is attachment to a place, and the final phase is commitment to a place (Shamai, 1991: 349). Hummon (1992) describes five levels of the sense of place, or place attachment, as follows: uncommitted placelessness, relativity, place alienation, divided rootedness, and cohesive rootedness (Cross, 2001: 10). As a result of the interdisciplinary nature of the concept of sense of place, numerous experts and schools of thought have offered various perspectives that can be said to have a lot of similarities and few differences. Different experts such as sociologists, geographers, environmental psychologists, anthropologists, architects, and urban planners have addressed the concept of sense of place in different ways in their studies. Among the numerous kinds of research conducted in different countries in the past half-century, most of the academic studies have been focused on conceptual analysis and formulation of theoretical models on the one hand and on evaluation of this category in different scales on the other. MethodologyThis research was conducted through a mixed paradigm and a descriptive-analytical method. The data collection tools were library-documentary studies, and the population included 245 residents of the Qods district. The data analysis tools involved two descriptive and inferential analyzes using the statistical methods of Structural Equation Modeling and Pearson correlation test, implemented in the SPSS 23 and Amos Graphics 26 software. The conceptual model of this research consisted of 3 main components, i.e. form, activity, and perception, 12 indicators, and 45 sub-indices.Results and DiscussionThe results obtained from the second-order factor analysis model in this research indicate which of the components affecting the sense of place in the residents of the Qods district has a greater weight and effect in the induction of this concept to the residents. Based on the research findings, among the 3 identified components, 12 indicators, and 45 relevant sub-indicators, the functional-activity, perceptual-semantic, and physical-visual components, in that order, exhibit greater weights in the evaluation of the sense of place from the perspective of the Qods district inhabitants. Among the variables observed in the assumed model of this research, the factors of invitation, social participation, motivation, land use, and activity have greater weights in the specification of the residents’ sense of place. Moreover, the correlation between the conceptual components of the research indicates that there is a significant relationship between the three components of the sense of place in the residents of the Qods district. Furthermore, the measurement of the fitness of the conceptual model of the research, according to the indicators of structural equations, demonstrates that the model is desirable.ConclusionThe following can be stated in response to the first research question as the indicators of achieving a sense of place in the Qods district as a new urban development: indicators of identity and authenticity, motivation, and mental image (in the perceptual-semantic component), indicators of land use and activity, accessibility, urban furniture, invitation, social participation, and safety-security (in the functional-activity component), and indicators of visual coherence, construction form, and visual richness (in the physical-visual component). In response to the second research question, the greater importance and weight of the functional-activity component than the perceptual and visual components indicates that if urban management pays more attention to the residents’ functional and social needs, the indicators of this component, as the most important factor in the induction of a sense of place, will have a greater impact. Moreover, the inferential analysis of the structural equation modeling in the evaluation of the indicators confirms that many indicators have received less attention in the Qods district, while these indicators can be effective on the residents’ continuity and satisfaction, their sense of attachment to the place of residence, and fulfillment of their mental expectations.
environmental psychology
Mohammad Hasan Yazdani; abolfazl abdolahi fard; shiva velayati; samira saeidi zarangi
Abstract
Highlights- Beautification of the urban space using public art improves the quality of life.- It removes defects and eliminates visual disturbances and urban landscape.- Public arts bring vitality and health to women, who make up half of the society.IntroductionArt has always had a rational and improving ...
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Highlights- Beautification of the urban space using public art improves the quality of life.- It removes defects and eliminates visual disturbances and urban landscape.- Public arts bring vitality and health to women, who make up half of the society.IntroductionArt has always had a rational and improving function in human societies as one of the important pillars of education and training. A skilled artist can control many social anomalies and lead the society to a desirable and bright life. The perception of beauty is one of the human needs that the citizens in the city seek (Moeinifar, 2012:21). Today, cities have become places for doing repetitive activities and the machine life of citizens. In this regard, it is necessary to strengthen the points that have value in terms of urban facilities in the urban design for the benefit of the people, and also the factors and forces required for the entry and stopping of people in the space. Therefore, public art can be used to beautify and improve the visual quality of the city of Ardabil, eliminate architectural problems, beautify, optimize the urban environment and improve the quality of life of the city and its citizens, especially urban women.Theoretical FrameworkTo define public art, two words "art" and "public" should be discussed. The term public art has a very broad meaning and includes everything from urban sculptures to subway graffiti, but is often used as a collective term to cover any art that is not shown in official galleries or museums. Meanwhile, proper planning and special attention to women can be an important factor in urban development; Therefore, the active participation of women in the preparation and implementation of urban plans, laying the groundwork for the greater presence of women in urban spaces, improving the security of public spaces, paying attention to the protection of places where women are more present, the ability to increase visibility, openness and ease of access, increasing the strength of the transportation system at night is one of the things that can play a favorable role in creating suitable urban spaces for women. Joy and happiness are one of the most important human needs that prepare them to face the complexities and problems of today's world. Although many people believe that this art is internal and the person himself should create happiness in his life, but since the city space establishes the most connection with people and the living environment,MethodologyThe current research is applied in terms of purpose and descriptive-analytical in terms of method. According to the nature of the study, the method of data collection is a survey and a library using a questionnaire with the women of Ardabil city. Cronbach's alpha was used to confirm the validity of the questionnaire, considering that little research has been done in this field, according to professors and specialists, and to check the reliability of the questionnaire. The total alpha coefficient was equal to (.906), which shows the high reliability of the questionnaire. The statistical population in the current research is women (experts and non-experts in art and architecture) in Ardabil who are between 20-35 years old (57,913). To estimate the sample size, Cochran's formula was used, and the number of 381 samples was estimated, of which 185 healthy questionnaires were distributed and completed among the statistical population by a simple random method. In this research, the questionnaire measures the research variables, which consists of 41 questions, divided into two sections, public arts and interactive arts, and one image from each type of art, similar to what was shown in the introduction section of public arts, was selected and An online questionnaire format, in which the participants were asked to express the level of joy they felt after watching that artwork in urban spaces according to the 5-point Likert scale, was designed and sent to the target community through virtual space applications. It should be noted that the questions were evaluated through a 5-option Likert scale. In order to analyze the data in the descriptive statistics section, Excel, Spss software and for inferential statistics in which the relationships between variables are examined based on the purpose of the research, the statistical test with inclusion (one-sample T) was used.Results and DiscussionTo investigate the impact of public art on the perceived vitality of women in Ardabil city and to answer the research question of which type of public art has a greater impact on improving the perceived vitality of women in urban spaces, a one-sample t-test was used.The results of the single-sample t-test showed that abstract art had the highest average score (4.71), followed by the vitality created by this item (4.60), and the desire to create abstract art in the urban space from the point of view of women (4.63). This means that abstract art was the most popular type of public art among the women surveyed.In the next ranks, art embedded in space and applied art had an average score of (4.25), followed by art appropriate to the site and natural environment with an average score of (4.18), artistry (sculptures of celebrities) with an average score of (4.16), and finally the musical fountain with an average score of (4.03).These results suggest that women in Ardabil city perceive abstract art as the most vitalizing type of public art. This may be because abstract art is open to interpretation and can be seen in many different ways, which allows women to connect with it on a personal level. Additionally, abstract art can be seen as a form of escapism, which can be appealing to women who are looking for a way to relax and de-stress.ConclusionThe city of Ardabil has a lot of potential to create public art that is both visually appealing and revitalizing for women. However, the current state of public art in the city is lacking. There are only a small number of famous statues and some examples of murals and lighting. This is a missed opportunity to create a more vibrant and inviting urban environment for women. The managers and planners of the municipality and related bodies should pay more attention to the vitality and vitality of not only the women of the city of Ardabil, but also all sections of the society. They should commission more public art that is designed to appeal to women and other marginalized groups. This would help to create a more inclusive and equitable urban environment for everyone.In addition to commissioning more public art, the municipality should also take steps to improve the security of public spaces. This would make women feel more comfortable and safe in the city, which would encourage them to spend more time outdoors and enjoy the public art. By taking these steps, the municipality can create a more vibrant and inviting urban environment for women and all residents of Ardabil city.
Urban Scape
soudabeh gholipour; Jamaloddin Mahdinezhad; Bahram Saleh Sedghpour
Abstract
Highlights
Relevant key issues were extracted form users’ responses to an open-ended questionnaire and their application to a closed-ended questionnaire.
The environmental variables affecting the security of urban public spaces were documented and summarized.
The factors and criteria effective ...
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Highlights
Relevant key issues were extracted form users’ responses to an open-ended questionnaire and their application to a closed-ended questionnaire.
The environmental variables affecting the security of urban public spaces were documented and summarized.
The factors and criteria effective on users’ sense of security were extracted using exploratory factor analysis.
Introduction
One of the most important components of environmental quality, environmental security plays an important role in the use of urban spaces. In fact, the feeling of fear and lack of security in urban environments, including parks, has turned into a problem in today’s societies. Parks are areas in cities where any citizen can spend their leisure time and enjoy park-based recreational activities. Many factors affecting the security of urban parks can be attributed to their design and physical conditions. Therefore, it is necessary to identify these factors and provide appropriate solutions to improve their conditions. Since an urban park needs a conscious design that provides the users’ satisfaction, it is necessary to consider their characteristics, which can be achieved through their participation.
Theoretical Framework
To explain the theoretical concept of security, two distinct dimensions are mentioned. The first is the objective dimension, which is evaluated using objective environmental and behavioral parameters, and the second is the mental dimension, which is understood based on the security of the community. Both dimensions can have a positive or negative effect on the other. Therefore, it is necessary to consider the two dimensions together in order to improve public security.
Methodology
Since a comprehensive questionnaire was not found to measure the security of urban parks based on users’ preferences, a researcher-made questionnaire was prepared, and its validity and reliability were verified. The research method was qualitative and qualitative-quantitative. In the first step, the qualitative research method was used based on content analysis, and the questions of the open-ended questionnaire were implemented in textual form based on the contents of the experts’ statements. The components were obtained from content analyses of users’ responses to the semi-structured open-ended questionnaire, and the closed-ended questionnaire was developed on that basis. The final questionnaire was designed as a closed-ended one to quantify the variables faster and be capable of running on a larger scale. The questions had the structure of a four-point Likert scale, with the answers ranging from strong disagreement to strong agreement. The questionnaire was distributed among 250 visitors of Mellat Park, Tehran. Since the differences in the environmental, socio-economic, and physical characteristics of different places can give different senses of security or fear to citizens, a major park in Tehran (Mellat Park) was chosen for a case study. It extends over an area of about 34 hectares in Municipal District 3. The purpose of this study was to construct, normalize, and validate a security scale for urban parks from the users’ perspective.
Results and Discussion
Content validity was verified through preliminary implementation, open interviews with users, and expert approval. In the preliminary step, reliability was measured using the internal coordination of the questions with Cronbach’s alpha. The final questionnaire was distributed among 250 park visitors. The results indicated that the questionnaire was valid and standard, and eight explanatory factors were obtained from the users’ preferences as the data obtained in SPSS 22 were analyzed using the exploratory factor analysis technique. These included artificial element design, control and surveillance, plant design, readability, physical accessibility, aesthetics, activity patterns, and space size and extent. From the users’ point of view, artificial element design was the most significant factor, followed by control and surveillance, plant design, readability, and physical accessibility, and aesthetics, activity patterns, and space size and extent were ranked next.
Conclusion
Understanding users’ perceptions of landscape design methods and considering their preferences and desires helps landscape designers with their jobs. It can be considered as a topic for future research how each of the obtained components can induce a feeling of fear or security in urban park users. Examples include specification of the relationship between vegetation or readability and the feeling of fear or the standard for each of the service elements, pieces of furniture, etc. Through presentation of a model, the hidden relationships between factors can be achieved, and a theoretical pattern composed of many different components can be examined both entirely and partially. Of course, it should be noted that none of these factors alone induces fear or security; rather, there are a number of factors that contribute to a complex interaction, such as personal characteristics (age, gender, etc.) and social characteristics (familiarity with the environment, solitary presence, frequency of presence, etc.), which can be investigated in future research.
Acknowledgment
This article was extracted from Soudabeh Gholipouri’s doctoral thesis, entitled Modeling the environmental security in urban parks based on users’ preferences, developed under the supervision of Dr. Jamal-e-Din MahdiNejad and advisory of Dr. Bahram Saleh Sedghpour at Shahid Rajaee Teacher Training University.
Urban Planning
mohammad hasan saeedi motlagh; naser barati
Abstract
Highlights
The quality of perception of the residential environment as a tool for urban planners to promote and organize the environment promotes social interaction.
Using Bonito, Fornara and Bones in 2003, the effect of residential quality perception components on continuous social interaction ...
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Highlights
The quality of perception of the residential environment as a tool for urban planners to promote and organize the environment promotes social interaction.
Using Bonito, Fornara and Bones in 2003, the effect of residential quality perception components on continuous social interaction was explained using double regression.
Among the indicators, the highest impact factor belongs to the maintenance and care of the environment, the attachment and urban streets respectively.
Modelling of perceived residential quality index effects on continuous social interactions have been confirmed and explains nearly half the variations of social interaction.
There is a significant relationship between social interaction and the quality of the perception of residential environment in the Bagh Shater.
1. Introduction A tool for urban planners to improve and organize the environment of residence, the quality of its perception can provide the requirements for the formation and promotion of social interaction. The obligations of neighborhoods and neighborhood units include the provision of a tool to enhance social interaction and of a place for citizens to meet each other and the management and coordination of civic activities. Accordingly, the purpose of this article is to investigate the effects of the indicators of residential environment quality perception on continuous social interaction. 2. Theoretical Framework A factor that affects the quality of life involves the establishment of an appropriate level of collective and social interaction in living environments. The perceived quality of the residential environment is defined as the experience of life satisfaction and happiness. Likewise, the process of perceiving the urban environment is a determining factor in an individual’s image drawn and stored of his surrounding environment, and plays a fundamental role in the formation of his residential environment and his satisfaction with it. Environmental perception is a process where one chooses the required data according to his needs from the environment. Environmental quality is complex, and includes the mental perceptions, attitudes, and values of different groups and individuals. The quality of the environment can be defined as a fundamental part of the broader concept of quality of life. The process of social interaction is the key to the perception of social processes. Environment information is achieved through perceptual processes that are evoked by mental images and guided by human needs. Finally, perception of these processes can help to measure the effects of residential environment perception on social interaction. 3. Methodology To investigate the effect of the perceived residential quality indicator on continuous social interaction, this research used the descriptive-analytic procedure and the survey method. The population of the case study involved the inhabitants of the Bagh-Shater neighborhood in Tehran, Iran. The sample size was selected based on factors such as location and urban planning and architecture features. First, the indicators and components of perceived residential quality were assessed, and the qualifications of the perceived residential environment quality indicator were then studied using Bonaiuto, Fornara, and Bonnes’s (2003) questionnaire. Finally, the effect of the residential quality indicator on continuous social interaction was analyzed. 4. Results and Discussion The results demonstrated that modeling the effects of the perceived residential quality indicator on continuous social interaction confirmed and explained nearly half of the variations therein. The indicators with the highest impact factors included the maintenance and care of the environment, attachment to the place, and urban streets, in that order. With respect to the main hypothesis of the study, there was a significant relationship between social interaction and the quality of perception of the residential environment in Bagh-Shater. This resulted in a positive, almost high correlation between the quality of environmental perception and social interaction, which increased as the quality of environmental perception rose. Based on the obtained results, the best policy to improve continuous social interaction was to enhance the capacity of local communities, thus enabling individuals to maintain the neighborhood spaces where they lived. 5. Conclusion The results obtained on the effect of attachment to social interaction were in line with Fisher’s (1977). Accordingly, this could be associated to a large extent with the way in which an individual has established social relations with people and social institutions. If it can facilitate the flow of citizenship through man’s sense of attachment to the environment, urban space can serve to improve continuous social interaction and, consequently, the quality of the residential environment. The results of this study were in line with the views of Peter Kaltrop (1989) and the new principles and guidelines of urban planning, which have considered the creation of neighborhood units with high walkability as the main factor in establishment of social interactions and enhancement of environmental quality. Moreover, they were consistent with the promotion of social interactions according to the results of Torabi and Rafieian’s research, based on the significant impact of the sociability of space, which is a physical characteristic of space, indicating the effect of the environmental quality in promotion of social interactions. This alignment can also be accounted for by the structure of the network of passages and the general ossification of the neighborhood, which plays an important role in formation of appropriate spaces compatible with social interactions despite its old, distressed quality.
Urban Architecture
Masoumeh Mirsafa; zeinab Talebi; Mansoureh Kianersi
Abstract
Highlights
- Children’s Independent Mobility (CIM) is affected by their interpersonal characteristics, the social environment, and the quality of the built environment.
- Based on the Grounded Theory, childhood obesity, regulations and controlling process, and social and urban situation ...
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Highlights
- Children’s Independent Mobility (CIM) is affected by their interpersonal characteristics, the social environment, and the quality of the built environment.
- Based on the Grounded Theory, childhood obesity, regulations and controlling process, and social and urban situation introduce casual, contextual, and intervening conditions, respectively.
- CIM can be promoted by various spatial qualities such as walkability, safety and security, playfulness, health, attractiveness, and access to nature.
- The social acceptance and awareness of the community play a role in promotion of children’s independent mobility.
- Promotion of CIM through effective planning and design guidelines results in higher degrees of mental and physical health among children.
Introduction
In the past few decades, the social conditions of cities have changed the children’s urban life and imposed a huge impact on their freedom of movement and independence in the public realm. Moreover, many parents are caught in “social traps,” and are consequently more likely to restrict their children’s independent, active movement in the public realm. While Children’s Independent Mobility (CIM) originally focused on their independent travel to and from school, the concept has further expanded to embrace their independent, active mobility and play around their neighborhoods without adult supervision or accompaniment. Thus, this paper attempts to study the shared spaces in residential complexes, providing a child’s first independent outdoor experience, and identify the qualities that can contribute to and improve (CIM) in such areas.
Theoretical Framework
As an essential quality of a child-friendly environment, CIM is an indicator of children’s acceptance in the society, which provides them with the opportunity to be present in the public, play in the neighborhood without adult supervision or accompaniment, and interact with others and develop their social circles. It provides a wider variety of opportunities for socialization and hangouts among children and contributes to their sense of identity. Therefore, CIM is considered as an important quality that aids children’s physical, social, and cognitive development. The main factors that influence CIM include interpersonal characteristics, a sense of community and social environment, and the quality of the built environment.
With regard to children’s interpersonal characteristics, one has to take into consideration the importance of age and sex in their mobility and play patterns in the public realm. Children aged 8 to 12 years are more likely to receive permission from their parents to go out and play than younger children. There are also clear differences in the ways that boys and girls use and experience urban neighborhoods and spaces; generally, boys enjoy greater freedom of mobility and are more visible in neighborhoods and playgrounds.
The social environment of a neighborhood is influenced by the level of social cohesion, the existence of shared values and norms, a family’s mental image of their place of residence, their concerns about the presence of strangers, the likelihood of crime and delinquency, and child abuse in the area. In turn, it exhibits impacts on the level of independence that children might experience in their use of public spaces in the neighborhood.
The Physical characteristics affect CIM on two scales: the neighborhood where the residential complex is located and its shared spaces. At the larger scale of the neighborhood, the compact city form, which provides children with short distances between various destinations, increases their chances of active, independent mobility. Furthermore, such areas improve children’s sense of security in public spaces as they enjoy higher population density. In the shared spaces of residential complexes, the characteristics that are closely associated with CIM include density, pedestrian-friendliness, cleanliness, access to green spaces, and proximity to nature. One has to take into consideration that other environmental characteristics, including the climate conditions, air quality, and temperature affect the time for which children would like to stay and play in public areas.
Methodology
The research employed the grounded theory methodology to construct a theory from the collected data. Due to the necessity of obtaining insights from various groups of stakeholders, the data were collected through 107 semi-structured interviews to reach saturation. This included 53 children, 38 parents and caregivers, and 16 professionals. Given the importance of the physical qualities of the environment, direct field observations were also made in 15 selected residential complexes in Tehran. The qualitative data analysis was carried out through the MAXQDA software, where 74 concepts, 25 principal codes, and 9 categories were extracted. The codes and categories were integrated and optimized, and their relationship with the core of the research was specified.
Results and Discussions
The results of the data analysis demonstrate that the causal and intervening conditions of children’s independent mobility include the inadequacy of the legal framework and the inefficiency in implementation of plans and their monitoring and evaluation systems. Moreover, CIM is affected by the qualities of the social environment where children live, and the social acceptance and awareness of the community can thus play a role in promotion of CIM strategies. The results further reveal that strategies used to improve the social atmosphere within the residential complex in favor of more independent, freer presence of children include improvement of the physical qualities of the environment, involving attempts made to keep children safe and secure from all possible risks and threats, to plan for playful spaces, to facilitate access to nature and green spaces, and to keep the spaces clean and healthy. As a consequence, the children will enjoy higher degrees of mental and physical health.
Conclusion
Social traps and lack of responsive quality control and evaluation systems for child-friendly residential complexes emphasize the necessity to develop a qualitative framework to promote opportunities for children’s independent mobility and unsupervised play in shared spaces in residential complexes, while meeting parents’ expectations from the quality of the built environment to permit CIM within these spaces.
Urban Sustainability
Ali Riahi Dehkordi; Mahdi Montazerolhodjah
Abstract
Highlights
In general, the difference between this research and others lies in the different time period and the type of perspective of this research, as detailed below.
This research was conducted during the Covid-19 epidemic, adopting a detailed approach to the research ...
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Highlights
In general, the difference between this research and others lies in the different time period and the type of perspective of this research, as detailed below.
This research was conducted during the Covid-19 epidemic, adopting a detailed approach to the research problem.
Among all the dimensions of the quality of life, only the physical dimension and its variables were addressed.
The research adopted a mental approach to measure the physical quality of life of people living in the relevant neighborhoods during the epidemic.
Introduction
A new type of global bio-experience was formed following the spread of Covid-19, and this emerging phenomenon is considered as the biggest challenge and international problem of mankind since World War II. This epidemic also affected and changed people’s mental images of their cities and residences. If the history of epidemic diseases is a guide for urban officials, the outbreak of this disease can also involve a series of important urban policies adopted to improve people’s quality of life in cities and their places of residence. Due to the changes in citizens’ lifestyles and their exile from public urban spaces to spend most of their times in their residences, these neighborhoods could play an important role in the battle against the virus by raising the residents’ quality of life. Among the factors that affect people’s quality of life in the localities, the body exhibits a tremendous impact by getting involved in the organization of the environment in order to break the chain of virus transmission.
Theoretical Framework
Epidemics of infectious diseases have always been part of the history of cities. By reviewing the history of epidemics, one can gain more insight into the consequences of changes in the design of cities, urban zoning laws, and the primary concepts of quarantine. The Covid -19 virus has also been added to a long list of rapidly spreading infectious diseases in the current century, such as tuberculosis in Southern Africa in 2006 and Ebola in Western Africa in 2014.
Generally, actions taken against urban crises can be divided into the short-term and medium-term categories in terms of response time. The former deals with functional interventions, and the latter involves basic interventions in the structure of a city. Short-term functional measures include planning to make cities more flexible, considering the role of neighborhoods and their function in satisfaction of the residents’ needs, raising the quality of housing, etc. On the other hand, medium-term actions attempt to reconstruct the healthcare systems, take urgent health measures, etc.
The term quality of life (QoL) originally meant good life, and was limited to the notions of having or not having common consumer goods, being rich, owning a car, and owning a house. The concept gradually evolved to include life satisfaction. In the classification of quality of life, two objective and subjective states can be noted. Objectivity concerns the degree to which a life conforms to the correct standards of good life and is evaluated using objective criteria that can be collected, recorded, and visualized from relevant statistical data in an accessible data platform. The mental state pertains to self-evaluation based on implicit and subjective criteria and includes feelings, individuals’ or groups’ opinions, and satisfaction with life, which is a function of pleasant and unpleasant experiences. The quality of life, however, can include dimensions such as social, economic, and physical ones. The physical dimension is one of the most important aspects that exhibit great impacts in the field. The components of the physical dimension are numerous and can include the quality of the surrounding neighborhood landscapes, lighting, air and noise pollution, access to facilities in the neighborhoods, etc.
Methodology
This research is considered as an applied quantitative study. The survey and descriptive research methods were used in the sections on the research background, theoretical framework development, and data extraction, and the causal-comparative method was used in the analysis phase. The present study sought to compare the differences in the physical factors affecting the mental quality of life from residents’ perspective in the contemporary residential areas of Iran during the current pandemic crisis (Covid-19 virus) in three urban scales: metropolitan areas (with populations over 1 million people), medium-sized cities (with populations from 500 thousand to 1 million people), and small towns (with populations of 200-500 thousand people).
Since the quality of residential environments is a subjective concept and is retrieved from the subjective perspectives of people, the approach adopted in this research is also subjective.
The research data were collected through distribution of an online questionnaire to measure the relationship between people and their surrounding environments. The questions were designed based on 38 indicators in 6 categories: environmental health, lighting, mental health, accessibility, and environmental and residential design.
Discussion and Results
The most seriously involved urban element in the crisis of Covid-19 pandemic, urban neighborhoods have played a key role in the attempt to cut the chain of virus transmission. The results obtained from this research indicate that the residents of metropolitan neighborhoods believe in the physical quality of their lives in these neighborhoods as higher in the areas of mental health, environmental design, lighting, and housing. This lies in the category of environmental health in medium-sized cities and in the category of accessibility in small cities. In addition, it is worth mentioning that the categories of environmental health, lighting, access, and environmental and residential design and their relevant indicators do not exhibit a significant difference between the three urban groups, and it is only the category of mental health that does. This difference points out that greater attention is paid to people’s psyche than to the environment physics in such crises.
Conclusion
The results of this research suggest that future studies can be conducted to investigate issues such as the role of maintaining mental health in epidemic crises, the effect of environmental design in the improvement of people’s mental health in epidemic crises, and the effect of the quality of public spaces in the control of factors harming people’s mental health in crises.
Finally, suggestions such as the following can be made given the priority of the residents’ perspective in all the three urban scales toward the stability and responsiveness of the neighborhoods during the viral disease epidemic crisis:
1- to increase the psychological security of pedestrian paths during public quarantines due to reduced attendance by adapting side street paths and those away from residential environments through placement of monitoring kiosks
2- to organize the pedestrian access network in order to facilitate access to residential houses in the epidemic crisis by making access paths more legible, considering lighting, doing environmental design, and placing visual signs therein
3- to design appropriate vegetation to reduce the noise pollution of vehicles and prevent the transmission of traffic noise into residential spaces in order to keep people calm during the period of illness.
Regional Planning
fardis salarian; mahin nastaran; Hashem Dadashpoor
Abstract
Highlights- Sprawling has turned into a very important issue in Mazandaran Province, because it has affected the natural, socio-cultural, and economic subsystems besides changing the spatial structure and its physical effects.- The important issue in regard to sprawling is to study the causes of its ...
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Highlights- Sprawling has turned into a very important issue in Mazandaran Province, because it has affected the natural, socio-cultural, and economic subsystems besides changing the spatial structure and its physical effects.- The important issue in regard to sprawling is to study the causes of its occurrence and its consequences on urban and regional subsystems to enable optimal planning and management based on a deep understanding of the issues.- Research pertaining to the issue of sprawling should be influenced by diverse perspectives and adoption of a multidimensional approach.- Sprawling is a dynamic phenomenon with a complex nature, which must be investigated with a layered approach for a comprehensive understanding. IntroductionThe central city-region of Mazandaran Province, including the cities of Sari, Qaemshahr, Babol, and Amol, contains more than 53% of the population in only 30% of its area. Based on the set of issues that the spatial patterns of sprawling have brought about in the central city-region of Mazandaran Province, a research gap seems to be there in the presentation of a conceptual model of the relations governing the causes of sprawling and the consequences in this city-region. This research attempts to take an effective step in that regard.Theoretical FrameworkThere are two perspectives on the issue of sprawling: spatial and non-spatial. From the spatial point of view, issues such as land use changes, housing and land demands, transportation and infrastructure development, and inefficient land development have been raised, which directly or indirectly affect the causes and consequences of sprawling. From the non-spatial point of view, on the other hand, socio-demographic, economic, environmental, and management and supervisory system issues are discussed, the impacts of which on the causes and consequences of sprawling cannot be ignored. In line with the diversity in the spatial patterns of this type of growth in the urban and regional space, the causes of occurrence and the consequences arising from the spatial patterns of sprawling are different, an issue that is controversial due to the dynamic nature of the phenomenon. If sprawling is accompanied by poor control and supervision, there will be many negative consequences such as development inefficiency, extensive change in land use, destruction and waste of natural lands, excessive growth, increase in land and housing prices, formation and prosperity of temporary residence and second housing patterns, unplanned formation of residential centers, spatial imbalance, change in peri-urban and rural landscape, and combination of urban and rural boundaries. This causes many more issues in the physical and spatial subsystem of the planning environment and also has negative effects on spatial development processes. MethodologyThe purpose of this study is to investigate the causes of sprawling by planning subsystems and to analyze the consequences of sprawling and achieve the underlying, causal, and continuity conditions in the city-region under study. This applied descriptive-analytical survey adopts a library-documentary method of data collection.Result and DiscussionIn the first part, the experts were provided with a questionnaire on the variables affecting sprawling extracted from studies around the world using purposive sampling, and the results were then analyzed using the fuzzy Delphi method. In the second part, structured interviews were made with the experts in the grounded theory system using the MAXQDA software, and they were then reviewed, analyzed, and coded. To investigate the causes of sprawling, 38 variables on 6 factors were provided to 25 experts who were selected based on purposive sampling. We used semi-structured interviews with 34 participants in the study area in order to analyze the consequences of sprawling, studied the spatial consequences of sprawling in the city-region, and specified 249 initial codes and 28 focal codes. Then, we formulated with the technique of continuous comparison the underlying conditions of development and economic structure change, the causal conditions of the inefficiency of the management and supervision system, the conditions to continue the transformation of the local community and destroy the natural structure, the consequences of change in the physical and spatial structure of the extraction area, and the grounded theory of the consequences of sprawling.ConclusionThe most common causes of sprawling in the study area include per capita household income, land and housing trade, and land prices. In the analysis of the consequences of sprawling, we explained the background conditions for economic development and restructuring, the causal conditions of the inefficiency of the management and supervision system, the conditions of continuity including the transformation of the indigenous community and the destruction of the natural structure, and the consequences of physical and spatial restructuring of the region. To interrupt the process of formation and reduce the negative effects of sprawling, proposals were made on attempts to regulate and reform the decision-making structure, apply economic policies and adjust the market, slow down the accelerated process of destruction of the natural environment, improve the structure of regional planning (draft a codified, updated land use plan, apply detailed policies and ones to avoid promotion of land speculation, avoid provision of construction and building permits for peri-urban lands in the study area, partition natural lands and prioritize future developments in low-value lands, adopt approaches to endogenous development, development in brown lands, and intermediate development, and achieve a sustainable local society.
Urban Transport
shahabeddin Kermanshahi; Mohsen Sadeghi; Hamid Shamanian; Maryam Momeni
Abstract
Highlights- Iran's "Urban Master Plan" and "Transportation Master Plan" have been developed independently, typically across different time frames.- Semi-structured interviews and context analysis were used to get expert knowledge to address the contradiction in the two development plans.- This inconsistency ...
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Highlights- Iran's "Urban Master Plan" and "Transportation Master Plan" have been developed independently, typically across different time frames.- Semi-structured interviews and context analysis were used to get expert knowledge to address the contradiction in the two development plans.- This inconsistency of two development plans was revealed through discussions with the experts.- Combining two separate blueprints into one may seem simple, but interviews reveal organizational obstacles make it challenging to implement.IntroductionLand use and transportation are dynamic processes that are interrelated. How land is used has an impact on transportation, and vice versa. The development of new highways and access to metropolitan areas may have an effect on the structure of urban areas. The growth that has occurred around ring roads is an example of how the expansion of transportation networks may guide urban growth. Therefore, urban planning must take into account this connection. However, Iran's "Urban Master Plan" and "Transportation Master Plan" have been developed independently, typically across different time frames, and with approval coming from two separate sources. This has led to inconsistency between the two plans, which can have negative consequences for urban development.Theoretical FrameworkThe Transit Oriented Development (TOD) approach places an emphasis on the integration of land use and transportation. Through taking this strategy, accessibility is improved by providing passengers with a variety of transportation options. Private cars have the advantages of being quick, adaptable, and having a low capacity. The public transportation system is characterized by a large capacity, acceptable speed, and a minimal degree of flexibility. The non-motorized systems have a wide range of possibilities but are quite slow. The fundamental idea of development based on public transportation is that in order to create an alternative to the use of private automobiles, the benefits of public transportation and non-motorized modes of transportation should be combined, and accessibility should be taken into consideration. Therefore, non-motorized options compensate for the inflexibility of public transportation, while public transportation compensates for the slowness of these alternatives. This combination and replacement only work when the population, building density, and distance to services are suitable for walking.MethodologySemi-structured interviews were employed for this study. The focus of a semi-structured interview has been set in advance, and all respondents are asked the same questions; yet, they are free to react according to their own unique perspective. In order to address the issue of inconsistency that arose during the process of drafting the two primary development plans, we acquired the knowledge of subject matter experts through semi-structured interviews and contextual analysis.Results and DiscussionThe first category that has been derived from the interviews is titled "The Urgent Need to Coordinate Comprehensive Plans for Urban Development and Transportation." This type of coordination is essential for the development of broad policies, comprehensive urban planning, and in-depth transportation studies. This inconsistency was revealed through discussions with experts. It is interesting to note that both transportation and urban planning organizations have emphasized the irregularities in plan design. For example, there is a lack of coordination between land use and the construction of new railway lines, traditional car-oriented development continues, and parking restrictions in city centers are inconsistent. Combining two separate blueprints into one may seem like a simple solution. However, expert interviews show that this solution does not directly solve the lack of coordination due to organizational challenges and the interests of specialized consultants in each sector. It is not a high priority for the set of actions to be taken. However, separating the information collection and modeling processes can lighten the burden of developing comprehensive plans, especially in the transportation sector, and provide a framework for the eventual integration of the planning preparation section in urban planning and transportation. This is especially true in the case of the former. It would seem that carrying out two different plans at the same time would be an efficient way to reduce inconsistency. This strategy is operationally preferable to combining two programs and has fewer obstacles. However, it has been shown to be impractical due to bureaucratic, technological, and, most importantly, institutional inequalities in previous experiences. Finding solutions to the earlier problems in the medium term before combining the two strategies could be successful.ConclusionAltering current trends was recommended as a short-term strategy. These ideas highlight the need to use the expertise of experts from multiple fields when developing comprehensive plans. Other suggestions for the short term include having urban planners and transportation experts collaborate to review and regulate overall urban plans. These measures could improve coordination between transportation and land use development. Finally, establishing specialized training and skill development programs, as well as using tools that are both easy and practical for integrated land use and transportation planning, can help to develop human resources and facilitate future process reforms.
Urban Architecture
Shahrad PourMohammad; Seyyed Alireza shojaei; Hosein Kalantari Khalil Abad; Masoud Taghvaei
Abstract
Highlights
- The results obtained from the present paper can be considered as a point of origin for assessment of the cognitive effects of social and physical memory on the promotion of residents’ sense of attachment to the living spaces in their neighborhoods.
- In the old fabric, the highest ...
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Highlights
- The results obtained from the present paper can be considered as a point of origin for assessment of the cognitive effects of social and physical memory on the promotion of residents’ sense of attachment to the living spaces in their neighborhoods.
- In the old fabric, the highest effects on the promotion of residents’ sense of attachment to their living spaces are associated with the neighborhood memorability factor, from physical memory, and individuals’ familiarity with the neighborhood, from the social memory.
- In the new fabric, however, the highest effects on the promotion of residents’ sense of attachment to their living spaces are associated with the factor of the neighborhood’s memory elements, from physical memory, and neighborhood relations, from social memory.
Introduction
A sense of belonging to a place, i.e. place attachment, means to have a perception of the environment and more or less conscious emotions on the surroundings, which brings one into an internal relationship with the surrounding environment. Thus, a person’s perception and emotions are bound by and integrated with the semantic context of the environment. A sense of place gives people comfort in an environment, and also leads individuals towards possession of an identity. Moreover, it can be stated that the sense of belonging to a space is a complex concept of human emotion and attachment to an environment, which is developed as a result of adaptation to the space and man’s application thereof.
Theoretical Framework
A review of the related literature can lead one to the roles of different factors in the formation of this sense, including the physical aspects of the environment, social characteristics of the residents, relationships between individuals and the environment, duration of residence, and, in general, memorability factors. The memorability factors influencing residents’ place attachment to the environment in their neighborhoods are divided into the two broad categories of physical memories and social memories. The measures affecting the probability of development of collective memory in cities include the residents’ familiarity with the neighborhood, neighborhood relations, etc., and the measures concerning the development of physical and spatial memory include the neighborhood center features, signs, introversion, etc.
Methodology
The process of conducting the research is described as involving seven steps. The first step includes an extraction of the memorable factors which are influential on residents’ sense of attachment. For this purpose, the memory indicators are extracted via the documentary-analytical method. The results from the section on the theoretical framework reveal that the physical and social indicators are the most influential factors on the promotion of the sense of attachment in residents of neighborhoods in the city of Shiraz, Iran. The second step involved the development of the main research questionnaire. The features of physical and social memory are considered as the independent variables, and residents’ sense of attachment is considered as the dependent variable. In the third step, the ANOVA test is used for assessment of the level of homogeneity of the population from the old fabric and that from the new fabric. In the fourth step, the Spearman correlation coefficient is calculated for investigation of the effects of the memory factor on the promotion of the sense of attachment in the old and new fabrics. The fifth step involves the application of Tukey’s integrated test for comparison of the effects of physical and social memory on residents’ levels of sense of attachment in different neighborhoods. In the sixth step, the paired-samples T test is employed to analyze the effects of physical and social memory on the improvement of residents’ sense of attachment to their neighborhoods and the significance of the differences. Consequently, the Pearson coefficient is used for investigation of the correlation between the different elements comprising the physical and social memory component, which influences residents’ sense of attachment to their neighborhoods. The neighborhoods selected for the case study include three situated in the old fabric, namely Sang Siyah, Eshagh Beig, and Bazare Morgh, examined along with three neighborhoods located in the new fabric, namely Abyari, Eslahe Nezhad, and Havabord. The districts to be examined for the case study are selected separately from the old and new fabrics given the similarities of the cultural components and the shared physical and social features measured in the present study.
Results and Discussion
It can be stated based on the above that the effect of physical and social memory on the promotion of residents’ sense of attachment in the selected neighborhoods of the same fabric is insignificant, and the selection for the case study has been appropriate in terms of feature similarity and homogeneity at the end of the assessment. The results obtained from the Spearman correlation coefficient reveal that a significant relationship exists between the sense of place attachment and memory in all the neighborhoods from the old and new fabrics. However, it can be stated in general that the Eshagh Beig neighborhood exhibits the greatest effect of physical memory in the old fabric on the improvement of the sense of attachment, and Bazare Morgh shows the least effect. In the new fabric, the Abyari neighborhood exhibits the greatest effect, and Havabord shows the least.
Conclusion
In terms of the effects of social memory on the promotion of the sense of attachment, the Sang Siyah neighborhood exhibits the greatest effect, and Bazare Morgh shows the least effect in the old fabric, while the Abyari neighborhood exhibits the greatest effect, and Havabord shows the least in the new fabric. Based on this assessment, the mean effect of physical memory on the promotion of the sense of attachment is less than that of social memory in the old fabric. In the new fabric, however, the mean effect of physical memory on the promotion of the sense of attachment is significantly greater than that of social memory, and it can be stated in general that residents’ sense of attachment to neighborhoods in the new fabric is significantly lower than that in the old fabric. Given the results for the old fabric, memory-making elements in the neighborhood, from the physical memory indicator, and individuals’ familiarity, from social memory, exhibit the greatest effects, while the historical monuments factor, from physical memory, and NGOs, from social memory, have the least effects on residents’ sense of attachment to the living spaces. In the new fabric, memory-making elements in the neighborhood, from physical memory, and neighbors’ relations, from social memory, exhibit the greatest effects, and historical monuments, from physical memory, and social class, from social memory, have the lowest effects on the improvement of residents’ sense of attachment to the living spaces.
Slum Settlements
Alireza Nazarnia; Leila Zare; Fariborz Dolatabadi
Abstract
Highlights The informal settlement, as a result of rapid urbanization, is created in or outside of formal and illegal skirts of cities. This research insists on the strategy of incremental housing as a process in the physical improvement of Chabahar informal settlements. In the final pattern for residents, ...
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Highlights The informal settlement, as a result of rapid urbanization, is created in or outside of formal and illegal skirts of cities. This research insists on the strategy of incremental housing as a process in the physical improvement of Chabahar informal settlements. In the final pattern for residents, besides enhancement in physical aspects, maintaining spatial units among residents is highlighted. compatibility of replaced plans with the culture of living in the community is a key aspect in any upgrading physical pattern. From one step to the end, the residents themselves decide how to subdivide, aggregate, or complete the inner spaces. 1. Introduction Informal settlement, as a result of rapid urbanization, takes place inside or outside the formal, legal limits of cities. These areas are mainly settlements of rural immigrants or poor urban dwellers. Inefficiency in the housing supply system and instability of the economic aspect of housing in the urban market are the main causes of the emergence of informal settlements. This research is focused on the strategy of incremental housing as a process effective in the physical improvement of informal settlements in the city of Chabahar, Iran. Moreover, it seeks to promote the quality of life in informal settlements and, consequently, integrate them into the official areas of the city. In the final model for the residents, maintenance of the spatial structures is highlighted besides enhancement of the physical aspects. This means that the alternative plans are compatible with the residents’ culture. The residents’ economic restrictions are considered besides all these features. The results demonstrate that a decent model can be achieved using incremental housing and its varieties: subdivision, aggregation, and expansion. This model assumes a more cooperative attitude than in the top-down type of development. The incremental approach is based on individuals’ participation in the processes of making their own houses given their types of social network and cultural habits. The research method involves the researcher’s active attendance of the study area and observation of the inhabitants’ experiences. After all, the designer has no more than a facilitating role in this strategy. From a certain step on, the residents themselves decide how to subdivide, aggregate, or complete the inner spaces. Thus, a sympathetic method of creation occurs within the target community. 2. Theoretical Framework In Nazrie et al. (2016), the consent rate of residents of informal settlements in the Afshar district, Kabul, Afghanistan to the promotion strategy was challenged through interviews with them. The findings highlighted that it was insufficient to consider only the physical aspects of upgrading settlements, and that the economic and social perspectives were as important as the physical features. In a study on the strategy of upgrading informal settlements in Egypt, Khalifa (2015) discussed the negligence of the residents of these areas. As long as the existing settlements are a kind of compensation for the lack of formal settlements, they must be assumed to have a positive aspect as well. These constructive features can contribute to any upgrading alternative model. 3. Methodology The methodology of this research involves deep interviews with residents of Chabahar informal settlements and active in-field participation of the researchers. The natural lifestyle of the inhabitants is observed, and the culture dominant among the target community is interacted with more deeply. The data collection methods involve a physical study and assessment of units where the informal dwellers live. 4. Results and Discussion In Chabahar, the Balochi word kampan is used to refer to a residential unit with a unique role and distinct social, economic, and spatial features. Socially, the families inside each kampan can interact with each other. The members of these families have an ethnic relation with each other. Economically, a kampan is a place where the inside dwellers play the role of self-employers. Spatially, there is a courtyard inside each kampan where means of both livelihood and life are provided. The results indicate that a kampan has an organizing characteristic as a spatial module within the fabric of Chabahar informal settlements. Thus, a kampan can maintain its functions in any new pattern devised for promotion of the informal settlements. For application of the economic aspect to the pattern, the outside structure of the design is established, and the inside of the units is then completed by the residents in a post-occupancy process. 5. Conclusion The main strategy adopted to confront informal settlements, incremental housing can be regarded as a productive, participatory process. In this strategy, the architect has a facilitating role, designing and preparing the outside and intermediate spaces. Then, the residents themselves complete the inside of the residential units. There are a number of rules governing the completion process. Firstly, development is restricted inside the courtyard, because of the importance of this space. Secondly, the residents can add up to one story to the existing buildings. Overall, the residents have an approach in parallel with the architects’ toward a proper solution to the problem of upgrading informal settlements. From a certain step on, the residents themselves decide how to subdivide, aggregate, or complete the inner spaces. Thus, a sympathetic method of creation emerges within the target community.
Urban Sociology
parastoo mohammadyan; Nasibeh Zanjari; Yadollah Abolfathi Momtaz; Ahmad Delbari
Abstract
Highlights
Among the examined variables, economic status and then health status exhibited the greatest impacts on satisfaction with the place of residence in the elderly.
The elderly who lived in apartments were more satisfied with their places of residence.
There are different sources of residential ...
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Highlights
Among the examined variables, economic status and then health status exhibited the greatest impacts on satisfaction with the place of residence in the elderly.
The elderly who lived in apartments were more satisfied with their places of residence.
There are different sources of residential satisfaction or dissatisfaction among older people in different societies.
Introduction
With the advancement of technology and health and medical sciences, the population of the elderly is increasing all over the world, in such a way that the population of people aged sixty years or more is estimated to reach 2.03 billion by 2050 (Nations, 2015; Zhao & Chung, 2017). The elderly are among the valuable capitals of any country and a symbol of the development of societies. As a result, understanding the needs of this part of the society and planning to meet their needs can improve their quality of life and life expectancy (Moghimi & Momeni, 2019). In most epidemiological studies, the factors affecting the health of the elderly have been studied, one of which is satisfaction with their place of residence, with a great impact on the performance and well-being of the elderly (Balfour & Kaplan, 2002). Satisfaction with the place of residence is an important issue in environmental psychology because it is one of the most prominent environments in human experience, especially for the elderly; For those with physical and financial limitations, their homes and places of residence often make up the focus of their daily lives, which makes it very important to understand and identify the factors affecting satisfaction with the place of residence (Rioux & Werner, 2011). Satisfaction with the place of residence is a factor with great impacts on the health, performance, well-being, and quality of life of the elderly. In Iran, however, there have not been enough studies in the field of environment and aging. Therefore, the aim of the present study is to investigate the level of satisfaction with the place of residence and the relevant factors in the elderly in the city of Sanandaj, Iran.
Theoretical Framework
In the present study, the theoretical framework of Rioux and Warner’s research was used. This framework includes two parts of satisfaction levels: residence and predictive factors. The examined levels of satisfaction with the place of residence included the assessment of the dimensions of the neighborhood (beauty, safety, etc.), access to services and shopping centers (transportation and conditions of sidewalks), social relations with neighbors (mutual, positive respect and respect for privacy, and internal features of the house (desirability, comfort of accommodation, absence of coercion, etc.). The investigated predictive factors included the convenience of the physical environment (properties of the residence, distance from shopping centers, and distance from green spaces), social environment (meetings, visits, and transition in the neighborhood), self-perceived well-being (self-perceived health, self-perceived economic status, etc.), and demographic characteristics (age, gender, household size, etc.) have been investigated (Rioux & Werner, 2011).
Methodology
The present research is a cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study that was performed on 280 older people in the city of Sanandaj, Iran in 2021. The population included all the residents of Sanandaj aged 60 years or older. In this study, the multistage cluster sampling method was used. The data were collected using a questionnaire measuring satisfaction with the place of residence, and the SPSS software version 24.0 was used to analyze the data.
Results and Discussion
The mean age of the older adults in the present study was 68.34 with a standard deviation of 7.26, and 55% of the participants were men. The mean score of satisfaction with the place of residence in this study was 3.65 with a standard deviation of 0.54, the lowest mean score pertained to the quality of the surrounding environment (mean = 3.51, sd = 0.90), and the highest mean concerned the facilities (mean = 3.85, sd = 0.78). Significant relationships were found between satisfaction with the place of residence and the following according to the results of bivariate analysis: gender (t = 2.47, p < 0.01), marital status (t = 4.52, p < 0.001), academic degree (f = 22.62, p < 0.001), employment status (f = 10.96, p < 0.001), economic status (f = 60.81, p < 0.001), length of stay in the neighborhood (r = -0.29, p < 0.001), general well-being (r = 0.60, p < 0.001), economic well-being (f = 60.10, p < 0.001), and self-perceived health status (f = 32.58, p < 0.001). According to the multilinear regression model, controlling the simultaneous effects of the predictor variables demonstrated that the participants with better general well-being, economic well-being, and health status were more satisfied with their places of residence. Moreover, the elderly who lived in apartments were more satisfied with their places of residence than those who lived in houses. Overall, the regression model explained 59% of the changes in satisfaction with the place of residence among the participants.
Conclusion
According to the results, there was a significant relationship between satisfaction with the place of residence and well-being (general well-being, self-perceived health, and financial well-being). These results are in line with those of Rioux’s study. The elderly who considered themselves more active and healthier reported the highest satisfaction with their places of residence, because the more capable and active people are, the more easily they can match and adapt themselves to their residential conditions and places of living (Rioux & Werner, 2011) The results of the present study also demonstrated that the elderly who lived in apartments were more satisfied with their places of residence than those who lived in houses. In James’s study, however, different and even contradictory results have been expressed. In some of the studies mentioned in this research, dissatisfaction has been reported with life in apartments because of overcrowded buildings; dissatisfaction has been stated with houses, on the other hand, as the residents may be far from each other in terms of location, leaving the residents less capable of establishing social connections (James, 2008). The results of this research also indicated that there is moderate satisfaction with the residence among the elderly. The findings can help policy-makers in the field of housing and urban planning to pay attention to the level of satisfaction of the elderly and their health and well-being.
Urban Sociology
Narges Ghodsi; mahin nastaran; Vahid Ghasemi
Abstract
Highlights
- A systematic classification of studies based on questions of what, why, and how with a systematic review and qualitative meta-analysis.
- The importance of reviewing the phenomenon of segregation from a wide range of dimensions (physical-spatial, political-management, and socio-economic).
- ...
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Highlights
- A systematic classification of studies based on questions of what, why, and how with a systematic review and qualitative meta-analysis.
- The importance of reviewing the phenomenon of segregation from a wide range of dimensions (physical-spatial, political-management, and socio-economic).
- The importance of qualitative research explaining whats, focusing on conceptual modeling, and modeling measurement.
- The importance of research explaining whys, and focusing on identification and examination of the contextual factors affecting segregation.
- The importance of research explaining hows and identifying and examining the policies and effective trends according to all the dimensions.
Introduction
An inherent characteristic of cities, segregation pertains to the social distance between residents and their physical separation. When this phenomenon prevents some groups from accessing services, activities, and spaces, it leads to urban problems. Due to the interdisciplinary nature and large scope of this phenomenon, many researchers from different expert groups have investigated it in the past three decades. Although the number of studies is not small, it is important to note the dispersion of the principles and topics and the lack of coherent conceptual frameworks as a result of the variety of relevant specialties. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to study the diagnostic status of the scientific Persian articles addressing the concept of segregation and to analyze the nature and quality of these research topics and present a systematic categorization thereof.
Theoretical Framework
The review of the literature shows different concepts proposed for definition of segregation. In the middle of the 20th century, segregation was first recognized as a social issue (Legeby, 2013), the main purpose of which is to investigate the distinction between two demographic groups (Feitosa et al., 2007) or the separation of several groups (Morgan, 1975; Sakoda, 1981; Jargowsky, 1996; Reardon & Firebaugh, 2002). In the 1970s, new studies were conducted for identification of the causes of the segregation of social groups, linked with spatial analysis (Morgan, 1975; Sakoda, 1981; Jargowsky, 1996; Dupont, 2004; Lima, 2001: 494; Reardon & Firebaugh, 2002; Smith, 2009: 682; Romero et al., 2012: 76).
Depending on whether one has the freedom to choose to separate, segregation can happen in two ways: voluntary and involuntary (Izadi et al., 2016: 83; Lotfi & Ghazaei, 2019: 20). Therefore, segregation includes various dimensions, such as socio-economic and spatial dimensions, in which terms it has been investigated in recent studies under the title of socio-spatial segregation.
Systematic review is made using regular methods to identify, select, and critically evaluate the conducted research and collect and analyze the obtained data in order to respond to a specific question (Crocetti, 2016: 3). A function of this technique is to examine the history of the research and extract and summarize it to improve the approaches to the study to obtain appropriate results (Ghazi Tabatabaei & Vadadhir, 2010: 59). Generation of the meta-analysis involves the statistical analysis of a large set of results from individual studies, which is performed for integration of the findings (Glass, 1976: 3). Although this technique is usually considered as part of quantitative methods, however, it can also be used for qualitative approaches (Tizchang & Azam Azadeh, 2020: 10).
Methodology
The qualitative research approach is adopted here. The method of data collection is based on the basic text type using documentary methods. The systematic review and open coding techniques were used for data analysis, followed by qualitative meta-analysis. For this purpose, 50 Persian articles based on the topic of segregation and published from 1996 to 2021 were selected and reviewed in 15 categories. The research was conducted in four stages. First, all available information from the selected studies were collected and summarized. Then, classification and coding was performed based on the evaluation parameters (principles and categories) in two groups of structural and content features. Next, all the information extracted from the studies were processed, analyzed, and interpreted based on their frequency and percentages. Finally, the research questions were answered.
The structural section sought to investigate the general characteristics of the selected articles to explain the state of research in the field of urban segregation in Iran using the results. The content section attempted to outline the researchers’ views of the original concept, research method, type of research, attributes used for segregation, type of main question, thematic principles, and aspects investigated in the field of segregation.
Results and Discussion
The findings helped to categorize the selected articles based on the types of their main questions (what, why, and how) in the form of 5 main thematic principles. These principles include investigating the concept and methodology of segregation, examining the lived experiences of residents, identifying background factors affecting the formation of segregation, and investigating the relationship between segregation and contextual factors affecting it. In addition, the evolution of the concept of segregation in the research conducted in the field was divided into four general periods: early, middle, late (current period), and future, which were then compared. Socio-spatial separation was defined on that basis. The results demonstrate that segregation is an interdisciplinary, multifaceted, context-oriented issue involving socio-economic, physical-spatial, and political-management dimensions. In the current research conditions of the country, there is need for qualitative research on subjects such as conceptual and measurement modeling of segregation (to explain what it is), identifying and investigating the background factors affecting segregation, including the structures and compositions of cities (to explain why), and identifying and examining policies and trends effective on segregation (to explain how) considering all the dimensions. In this case, it is possible through a correct understanding of the concept to more precisely investigate its spatial patterns over time in the fields of urban development, planning, and design.
Conclusion
Since segregation is an interdisciplinary discourse, many researchers from different fields have investigated it from their specialized perspectives. The necessity of using methods such as meta-analysis can be explained by the large, increased amount of available research, the authors’ different views of the subject, and the need to summarize and combine them and to identify the repetitive and problematic research areas. The results of the research demonstrate that there are still many ambiguities about the meaning of segregation despite the abundance of research and urban science experts’ greater concern in the past ten years. This is confirmed by all the results highlighted in this research, concerning the use of different Persian translations of the concept, multiple attributes involved in its description, and unclear optional or mandatory aspects of the phenomenon. Therefore, it is necessary to review the multifaceted phenomenon of segregation in Iran in the form of new issues, taking into account its wide range of dimensions, to obtain a better, more accurate, more comprehensive understanding thereof.
Urban Sociology
sara farahpoor; Sina Razzaghi Asl
Abstract
Highlights
- This research develops a new approach to applying an artistic medium as the subject of urban studies.
- Researchers can identify and classify the dominant patterns of urban life in Tehran’s historical center through the narratives in Iranian movies.
- Urban spaces in the ...
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Highlights
- This research develops a new approach to applying an artistic medium as the subject of urban studies.
- Researchers can identify and classify the dominant patterns of urban life in Tehran’s historical center through the narratives in Iranian movies.
- Urban spaces in the historic area of Tehran in recent Iranian movies are commonly represented as isolated, dangerous spaces.
Introduction
Urban spaces, especially in historic areas, have undergone a transformation as a result of de-semantic processes and new formulations of declined urban areas. The process has led to a decline in the quality and transformation of the inhabitants’ everyday life in these areas. Since cinematic spaces best reflect the nature of everyday urban life, looking at urban spaces through the lens of the movies may be an approach that enables a new way of encounter with space and history.
The relationship between cinematic spaces and urban spaces will help to understand the contrast between urban development and the everyday life of the residents of urban areas from a human point of view, an aspect that has often been neglected by other approaches to urban studies. This relationship, which originates from the emergence of the movies at the heart of the modern urban society and continues to this day, was also manifested in Iran from 1930. In fact, the production of the first moving pictures coincided with major urban developments in the historical center of Tehran.
On the other hand, many urban spaces in these areas have gradually been emptied of their original functions and meanings over time, and they have assumed a representative, false function instead. The loss of connection and continuity between the historic area and other parts of the city has led to the transformation of urban spaces into something other than the environment containing the flow of everyday urban life. Therefore, the main purpose of this study is to identify and classify urban themes and the dominant patterns of everyday urban life in Tehran’s historical center through visual data and narratives in Iranian movies.
Theoretical Framework
In order to elaborate on the theoretical framework, it is necessary to explain the notions of space, representation, and everyday life, and this will not be possible without referring to Henri Lefebvre. Lefebvre considers space to be three-dimensional, related to society, time, and history. In the book Production of Space, he presents three formulations of the concept of space by stating that urban spaces are created through the dialectical interaction of three modes of production. The first mode is the tangible, material dimension of spatial experience (real space), the second is the representation of space (mental space) as a concept that is built by existing discourses and conventional ideologies, and the third is representational space, or lived space, as a concept that is understood from space through everyday life and is a combination of the first two forms.
Accordingly, reliance on the creative capabilities of the movies demonstrates that the notion of representational spaces in this article can help to understand and explain the evolution of these spaces and the symbolic determination that they accept and display in each period of time.
Until achievement of theoretical saturation, the authors continued the review and analysis of the movies based on the criteria taken from the theoretical framework of the research, including the representation of the historic center of Tehran in the movies and the detailed representation of the urban spaces in this area, the connection between the movie plots and the changes made in the function and quality of these spaces as a result of the intervention policies adopted in the historical center, and the representation of the everyday life of the residents of historical districts and their methods of resistance against the above developments. In the first phase of thematic analysis, all the elements presented in the movie text which contained meaning related to the purposes of the research were extracted and translated into semantic expressions. In the next phase, the frequent concepts were outlined and highlighted. Then, the categories formed from the selected relevant codes were classified under one main theme, and this process continued until theoretical saturation was achieved.
Finally, in the explanation of each theme, the movies were described and analyzed based on the common themes that make up a central category and based on a time trend. While drawing the semantic and historical relationships between the main themes, the authors portrayed the transformations taking place in the representation of urban spaces under each main theme and in each historical period.
Method
Utilizing the method of thematic analysis in the study of Iranian movies, this research seeks to adopt a new approach to spatial transformation in this area. For this purpose, thirty Iranian movies released between 1964 and 2019 were selected to make up the sample.
Findings and Discussion
The findings demonstrate that the Iranian movies are capable of providing a rich image of the relationship between the evolution of urban spaces and the patterns of everyday urban life in Tehran’s historic area. These patterns are formulated in five themes under the following titles: urban transformation, conversion of the social context in Tehran’s historic area, wandering around the city, social life at a caravanserai, and resistance efforts in everyday urban life in Tehran’s historic area.
Conclusion
It seems that the image represented in Iranian movies of everyday interactions in the historic area of Tehran has been severely damaged in the recent decades. Spaces that were once reflected as places of praxis and resistance are represented today as dangerous, isolated spaces, which is a result of injecting new meaning into the urban area and manipulating the citizens’ mental image.
Meanwhile, the approach adopted in some movies to depicting the methods of resistance in everyday urban life turns into something more than just a representation of space. In other words, perhaps due to the inherent nature of the image in the representation of reality and the filmmaker’s creativity in the reflection of liberating forms, the characters of a movie can challenge the structure of the social environment using unconventional forms of presence in space and creating meaning through resistance efforts and praxis in urban life.
Acknowledgment
This article is extracted from the first author’s master thesis in titled “Studying the representation of urban spaces transformation in Tehran`s historical fabric on Iranian cinema” at the Shahid Rajai University of Tehran.
Urban Design
Iman Ghalandarian; Golbarg Ghaemmaghami Farahani
Abstract
Highlights- This paper proposes a model for improving the implementation of small-scale participatory projects.- The model is based on the findings of a case study of the Mahalle Ma project in Mashhad, Iran.- The model identifies three key relationships: the people and the facilitator, the people and ...
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Highlights- This paper proposes a model for improving the implementation of small-scale participatory projects.- The model is based on the findings of a case study of the Mahalle Ma project in Mashhad, Iran.- The model identifies three key relationships: the people and the facilitator, the people and urban management, and urban management and the facilitator.IntroductionContemporary urban planning knowledge has undergone significant changes, shifting from natural and engineering sciences to interdisciplinary fields with a focus on social and human sciences. Urban development plans now emphasize public and private participation. As the second-largest city in Iran, Mashhad plays a vital role within the country due to its regional centrality, large population, and diversity. It is essential to prioritize social sustainability and encourage public participation in the planning process.Theoretical FrameworkImplementation is a critical component of the urban design process and can be interpreted in two ways: as the essence of the entire process or as an independent step within the process. Through a systematic study of various sources and analysis of urban design processes conducted by researchers, it is possible to categorize the urban design process involved in selecting the design group, defining initial objectives, assessing the existing conditions, clarifying goals, presenting design alternatives, evaluating options, optimizing, developing an implementation plan, implementing, and conducting post-implementation evaluations. Based on research synthesis, factors influencing the implementation of small-scale participatory projects can be categorized into five aspects: development stakeholders (including designers and implementers), management-planning system structures, economic considerations, public participation, and legal considerations.MethodologyThis paper adopts a qualitative approach and data-based method through semi-structured interviews to identify obstacles, challenges, and factors influencing the implementation of small-scale participatory projects (specifically, neighborhood units) in Mashhad. The study focuses on stakeholders including individuals, urban management, and facilitators involved in the "Mahalle Ma" project. Theoretical sampling was employed until saturation was reached. Data analysis utilized qualitative content analysis with a summative approach and MAXQDA 2018. Open and axial coding techniques were applied to identify the foundational concepts related to the implementation of the targeted projects.Results and DiscussionThe results of this study highlight the importance of effective collaboration and communication between stakeholders, including the people, urban management, and the facilitator team. Building trust, improving public participation, and addressing financial constraints are essential for the successful implementation of small-scale participatory projects.The relationship between the people and the facilitator: The quality of real participation by the people, as the most important stakeholder group, has a significant impact on achieving the goals of the plan. Negative experiences and a lack of trust in city management can present challenges for the project. To enhance citizens' participation, the facilitator and designer can employ appropriate techniques to involve people in the process, clarify the project definition, and connect it with the needs assessment stage. Effective communication with the social council of the neighborhoods is also crucial, as the lack of it can hinder the quality of citizens' participation.The relationship between the people and urban management: Urban management has initiated this plan with long-term goals in mind, including fostering a culture of participation. However, the inadequate allocation of funds and a lack of effective inter-organizational synergy have resulted in intangible short-term outcomes for the people. This situation raises concerns about increasing mistrust and decreasing satisfaction with the municipality's performance.The relationship between urban management and the facilitator: Both urban management and the facilitator play crucial roles in promoting public satisfaction with the project. They should work towards achieving long-term goals by monitoring, improving, and maintaining a continuous planning process. This entails fostering a culture of participation through trust-building and capacity development. However, the frequent changes in design and planning approaches due to shifts in the urban management structure can affect the facilitator's authority to achieve project goals. The facilitator team should also ensure a constant connection between the needs assessment stage, design, and implementation steps.ConclusionThis study highlights the crucial role of urban management throughout the various stages of an urban development project. In the pre-implementation stage, urban management plays a fundamental role in selecting an expert design and implementation team. They also prioritize goals based on the type of management system in place.Recognizing the current situation requires the collaboration of the facilitator and the people to establish a shared understanding of the problem. The facilitator acts as a mediator, identifying the real demands of the people and conveying them to management levels to define the project in subsequent stages. Verification of goals and adjustments are made in consultation with citizens, academic experts, and local institutions.The presentation of design alternatives by the facilitator team ensures alignment with the real needs of the people. Evaluation and optimization of alternatives involve active participation from the people, who contribute to selecting the optimal alternative based on their genuine needs. Urban management also considers economic and technical factors in choosing the optimal option.During the implementation stage, urban management plays a critical role in ensuring the design team's recommendations are executed properly by selecting the right contractors. The involvement of the social council, representing the people, is essential in monitoring the implementation process in line with the goals and needs assessment.In the post-implementation stage, continuous monitoring and modification are necessary, with direct input from the people through the facilitator team and urban management. This promotes the long-term continuity and success of the plan, fostering a culture of participation.
Seyed Mojtaba Fakhrahmad; Sahand Lotfi; Golrokh Zolghadri; Zahra Namdari Noruzani
Abstract
Highlights
Internal and environmental features relevant to street music are investigated to allow discovery of the predictors of the sociability of the public realm.
Voluntary presence, active social presence, and passive social presence are examined as three types of public life characteristic.
Environmental ...
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Highlights
Internal and environmental features relevant to street music are investigated to allow discovery of the predictors of the sociability of the public realm.
Voluntary presence, active social presence, and passive social presence are examined as three types of public life characteristic.
Environmental factors have a predominant impact on the citizens’ attendance of music performance venues as compared to internal factors.
Introduction
The physical expansion of cities and the proliferation of motor vehicle use have led to the fact that contemporary public spaces are less primed to people’s daily commute. In such circumstances, cultural events held at the heart of the urban settings turn up essential to the improvement of the socialization potentials of the public realm. Street music is a type of cultural micro-event emerging in the public domain, which affects the public life of urban spaces by boosting the socio-cultural qualities of the public realm. The purpose of this study was to compare the impacts of the different forms of citizen presence in public spaces, including voluntary presence, inactive social presence, and active social presence during the street music performance, and to compare the impacts of environmental and relevant internal factors on audience enthusiasm.
Street performance in Iran has not been limited to a specific era, and the contents have mainly included narration of the lives of mythical figures and praise for the kings. Reproducibility can be considered as a major characteristic of these performances, which have been well integrated with urban open spaces from the past to the present, both individually and collectively.
Theoretical framework
Pioneers of public life studies have pointed out several categorizations of presence in urban public spaces mainly through direct observation. Since most of today’s cities are automobile-oriented, citizens’ mandatory attendance of public spaces is not usually observed. Their voluntary activities, however, could be encouraged through enhancement of the quality of the characteristics of the space. Improvement of the quality of public spaces is aimed at making these spaces more sociable through facilitation of social activities, which are mainly dependent on the contribution of more and more citizens in voluntary activities. Temporary communication among people in public spaces creates a third form of activity, namely social activity, which could be performed either actively or passively. The latter is more important to public life researchers because livable spaces are those where a variety of social activities are held.
One of the most important events that occur at music venues is the provision of the opportunity to gain more knowledge of other people’s cultures, which realized through face-to-face interactions with other people at such places. A Music venue can also define the identity of a street or neighborhood or evoke shared memories of a community.
Urban soundscape is affected much more by street music performances than urban landscape. Sounds heard at public spaces are twofold: main sounds and background sounds, which could lead to different perceptions of soundscape at these spaces.
Therefore, street music performance plays a significant role in the revitalization of the urban public realm by attracting people in both static and dynamic modes, on the one hand, and encouraging their long-term interaction with each other, on the other.
Methodology
The present descriptive-analytical study used data obtained through distribution of 250 questionnaires, in the form of a Likert scale, randomly among people present at six sites of street music performance in the city of Shiraz, Iran. Ordinal logistic regression was carried out to obtain the main predictors of presence at the street music venues. The dependent variables included the tendency to perform voluntary activities, the tendency to perform active social activities, and the tendency to perform passive social activities. The independent variables fell into two categories: the environmental factors associated with music performance in urban spaces, including perceived security, sense of pleasure, place identity, and psychological comfort, and the internal factors associated with music performance in urban spaces, including interest in music, performance venue, performers’ mobility, and music sound clarity.
Results and discussion
The results of the ordinal logistic regression analysis indicated that passive social presence was affected by street music performance more than the other two components. Moreover, environmental factors relevant to street music had predominant impacts on the citizens’ attendance of these urban spaces as compared to internal factors. Of the significant predictors of voluntary presence, gender, sound clarity, and sense of pleasure were found to be the most important among all the variables, the internal variables, and the environmental variables, respectively. Passive social presence was mainly determined by the sense of pleasure, the most effective factor in both the complete model and the set of environmental features, and by sound clarity, the most effective factor in the set of internal variables. Active social presence was predicted mainly by gender, perceived security, and sound clarity, the most important factors in the sets of all variables, environmental variables, and internal variables, respectively.
Conclusion
Based on the results derived from the case study, a policy was proposed to provide the venues with advanced equipment and adapt the musicians’ technical levels given the importance of each space in order to increase the vibrant attendance of the public realm. Another suggestion was to apply a policy combined with incentives and deterrent initiatives to adjust the environmental quality of the venues.
Urban Planning
fazilat tahari; mahin nastaran; Parviz Ejlali
Abstract
Highlights
Organizing influential factors in realizing the diversity-oriented approach in the form of causal, contextual, intervening, and consequential categories and strategies.
Classification of influential factors in realizing the diversity-oriented approach in intellectual, political, instrumental, ...
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Highlights
Organizing influential factors in realizing the diversity-oriented approach in the form of causal, contextual, intervening, and consequential categories and strategies.
Classification of influential factors in realizing the diversity-oriented approach in intellectual, political, instrumental, organizational, legal, financial, educational, and social-cultural infrastructures.
Introducing grounded theory as a suitable method to understand all the influential factors in realizing the diversity-oriented approach in Rasht.
Introduction
As an Iranian city, Rasht is made up of diverse people of different ages, sexes, physical abilities, and ethnic backgrounds. Many of the world’s urban planning mechanisms have shifted to adopt diversity-oriented approaches and incorporate diversity and difference into urban planning processes by embracing the diversity of urban residents. However, the urban planning mechanism in Iran and the city of Rasht still treats citizens as the same thanks to modernist thoughts, disregarding the differences in age, sex, ethnicity, religion, and physical ability and, consequently, the differences in the citizens’ needs in the city. Planning theory and practice has recently become more conscious of the need to cater to diverse needs and preferences. Planning for diversity and difference is a social interpretation of planning for cities and an approach that considers the needs of different groups of people. This study aimed to identify the factors affecting the realization of diversity-oriented urban planning in Rasht based on the viewpoints of planning experts in the city.
Theoretical Framework
Diversity refers to the increasingly wide range of social and demographic backgrounds of people who live and work in the city. The notion of diversity is now used as a label for policies addressing the heterogeneity of local populations. Certain differences give rise to discrimination and disadvantage, while others do not. Gender, race, disability, and age are critical issues at the root of much discrimination in the society. The critical point is that differences between diverse social groups in enjoyment of the opportunities of urban planning measures are continually reproduced by a range of processes and policies, rendering a number of people mainstream and others marginal. Planning for diversity is a social interpretation of planning for cities, and is an approach that considers different groups of people. There are two conceptual frames, or ways of regarding this profoundly social interpretation of planning for cities, that need to be deployed simultaneously. Firstly, planning for diversity is planning for the diverse range of people who live in and use the city. Secondly, planning the institutional settings to encourage equality of access across places is planning to reduce difference.
Methodology
One of the most efficient qualitative research methods, the grounded theory method was used to help achieve the research purpose; since the research problem is multifaceted, complex, and procedural, grounded theory can be an excellent way to provide an understanding of all the adequate conditions and factors. A semi-structured questionnaire was developed for data collection. Then, in-depth interviews were conducted with ten of the planning experts of this city. Sampling was carried out using a nonrandom sampling method called Snowball Purposive Sampling. In this research, a systematic approach known as grounded theory was applied. The systematic approach emphasizes the adoption of data analysis steps, including open coding, axial coding, selective coding, and the development of a logical model or a visual description of the generated theory. After the collection of textual interview data, analysis and coding began along with sampling. Specialized qualitative research software called Max QDA was used for that purpose. The main tasks of this software are to categorize data and connect the categories and to enable more sophisticated data analysis. In grounded theory, the researcher extracts subcategories, main categories, and core categories from the data, and continues the analysis.
Results and Discussion
Finally, the factors effective on the realization of the diversity-oriented urban planning approach were identified, including 17 main categories and 59 subcategories and the relationships between them. These factors include 1) reflection to govern the urban planning mechanism, 2) significant urban planning policies, 3) improvement of the approach applied to develop urban development plans, 4) modification of the contents of urban development plans, 5) public demand, 6) types of urban planning system, 7) national laws protecting the rights of various social groups, 8) law enforcement, 9) citizens’ cultural and social characteristics, 10) financial strength of municipalities, 11) organizational structure of the authority implementing the plans, 12) inter-organizational coordination, 13) education of urban planning students, 14) the knowledge and experience of the producers of urban development plans, 15) city council approvals, 16) needs assessment, 17) improvement of the quality of the urban environment/diversity-oriented urban environment. In the next step, we selected the category of applying and realizing the diversity-oriented approach from the open coding stage, placed it at the center of the process studied as the central phenomenon, and then related the other categories to it. These categories include causal conditions, strategies, contextual conditions, intervening conditions, and consequences. Next, a diagram called the coding pattern was drawn, which illustrates the relationships between causal conditions, strategies, contextual conditions, intervening conditions, and consequences. In the following step, we developed a theory of the relationships between categories in the axial coding pattern. This theory provides an abstract description of the process examined in this study, namely the application and realization of the diversity-oriented urban planning approach.
Conclusion
The results demonstrate that a wide range of intellectual, procedural, instrumental, organizational, legal, financial, educational, and socio-cultural infrastructures effectively realize this approach. Identification and explanation of these factors can guide the future decisions and practices of Iran’s urban planning authorities to help recognize diverse social groups, respond to their different needs in the city, and address discrimination in urban planning practices.
Acknowledgment
This article has been extracted from the first author’s doctoral dissertation, entitled Developing a Conceptual Model of the Diversity-Oriented Urban Planning Approach: Case study of Rasht, defended at the Art University of Isfahan under the supervision of the second and third authors.
Urban Sustainability
mehrab mehrabi; Majid Ansari; MOHSEN RAFIEAN
Abstract
Highlights
The foresight is very important in the preservation of the valuable heritage of a city and its transfer to the next generation.
The connection of the TOPSIS method and the fuzzy model is a realistic composition, which analyzes complex issues and relationships correctly and simply at the ...
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Highlights
The foresight is very important in the preservation of the valuable heritage of a city and its transfer to the next generation.
The connection of the TOPSIS method and the fuzzy model is a realistic composition, which analyzes complex issues and relationships correctly and simply at the same time.
Scenarios and scenario planning make up an essential part of the future research process.
The world heritage of the city of Yazd, Iran is a unique testimony of a cultural tradition or a living or lost civilization of human-environment interaction.
Up-to-date tourism services, development of identity-oriented employment, and balance in the migration process are very important in the sustainable development of the world heritage area.
Introduction
Various issues have threatened the stability of cities. The application of the concept of sustainable development in the modern urban environment can be very effective in the solution of these problems. In the meantime, the study of the sustainability of cities with cultural and historical heritage such as Yazd is different from that of other cities. The presence of precious historical and cultural heritage has made this city unique, and it has also made its studies and management more sensitive. Therefore, given that the Yazd contains a valuable heritage that has been inherited from generation to generation and based on the perspective of sustainable development, it is necessary for the present generation to make efforts to preserve and transfer it to the next generation. Thus, the ever-increasing changes in the historical areas of the city make it necessary to be aware of the future of this valuable area and overcome its future transformations based on this knowledge. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to identify the driving forces affecting the process of sustainable development and to provide the future scenarios of the world-heritage area of Yazd with an emphasis on sustainable development.
Theoretical Framework
Urban planning and future studies are both primarily future-oriented. They both deal with ambiguous, multifaceted, controversial issues with uncertain outcomes. Their common goal is to provide a better future. The responsibility of future researchers is to help people express beautiful dreams, and the responsibility of planners is to help make these dreams come true. The previous studies and observations of the process of formation and construction of the world heritage of Yazd and the stability of this valuable treasure from the past up to now indicate the conscious connection made by the people of that age between efficient and futuristic urban planning. By learning from our predecessors, developing plans and future research techniques, and understanding the importance of connecting these two fields, we must preserve this lasting heritage by understanding future changes and planning intelligently.
Methodology
The current research is practical in terms of purpose and a document survey in terms of data collection. An initial study of the relevant documents helped to identify the drivers of the process of sustainable development of the world-heritage site of Yazd. Then, the key drivers were identified and ranked based on experts’ opinions using the fuzzy method of TOPSIS. Finally, optimistic, intermediate, and critical scenarios were provided for the studied area based on the different states of the engines in the Scenario Wizard software.
Results and Discussion
The findings of the research demonstrate that of the 24 variables affecting the process of sustainable development of the historical area of Yazd, 7 drivers play leading roles in the future state of the area population, participation of residents, migration, competitiveness, tourism services, protection of the area (physical-functional), and employment. Moreover, the findings indicate the prominent role of social indicators compared to others in the process of sustainable development of this area, which shows the importance of these indicators in regard to preservation and sustainable development. In the interpretation of the thematic layering of the seven identified drivers, the three drivers of population, migration, and employment are defined as the components of the concept of sustainable development of the historical area. This means that changes made in these drivers considerably affect the area. Eight powerful scenarios were developed based on the results of the analysis matrix of the mutual effects of the assumptions made in the three optimistic, intermediate, and critical situations for each of the identified drivers. One ideal scenario, two optimistic scenarios, three pessimistic scenarios, and two critical scenarios were evaluated.
Conclusion
In the analysis of the scenarios, it can be pointed out that the existing historical conditions of Yazd are far from the ideal scenario, and the city is heading towards a critical scenario, facing ups and downs in order to maintain the stability of operation. Let us assume the planning scene as a spectrum from critical conditions to full optimality and consider the former as the longest distance from the ideals and the latter as the shortest. It should be stated that the historical context is currently not in the right direction, and there are not proper conditions. Therefore, in order to become closer to the ideal scenario based on the identified drivers, it is suggested that service conditions should be considered based on the needs of today’s residents and fair distribution in line with the increase in the population along with the preservation of the original and native population. Moreover, priority should be given to the enhancement and revitalization of the area with an emphasis on tradition, culture, and the use of local materials. In the meantime, particular attention should be paid to the prosperity and diversity of compatible jobs due to the important role of economic issues in development.
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.
Urban Sustainability
hossein daneshmehr; saaied khani; vorya molasalimi
Abstract
Highlights- There is a significant positive relationship between the level of apartment life standards and social capital in residents of Mehr Dwellings.- There is no significant relationship between the type of residence and social capital in residents of Mehr Dwellings.- The variables of neighborhood ...
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Highlights- There is a significant positive relationship between the level of apartment life standards and social capital in residents of Mehr Dwellings.- There is no significant relationship between the type of residence and social capital in residents of Mehr Dwellings.- The variables of neighborhood relations and level of acquaintance have influenced the social capital of residents of Mehr Dwellings. IntroductionToday, social capital is an indicator of growth and development in societies, without which it is highly challenging to achieve development at different levels. This capital increases investment in the fields of physical capital and human capital and establishes the structures created by public and private sector agents. Housing is one of the most important human needs leading to social conflicts or peace in different ages. The occurrence of each of these conditions is directly related to the amount of social capital among the residents, from the point of view that the social norths and souths in cities have turned into a concept for class distinction. Projects like Mehr Dwellings may have been capable of meeting the housing market needs in terms of quantity and shelter to a large extent, but what is stated in the theoretical literature on social housing at the global level, i.e. the level of satisfaction of residents of social housing projects, concerns the conditions therein in social, cultural, and other terms. It seems that the Mehr Dwellings project was carried out in a hasty manner regardless of basic criteria such as social capital. Therefore, the current research seeks to investigate the social capital conditions among the residents of Mehr Dwellings in the city of Sanandaj, Iran and the effective sociological factors. The questions raised on that basis concern the level of social capital among the residents of Mehr Dwellings in Sanandaj based on the above indicators and the extent to which sociological and contextual factors have affected each dimension of social capital.Theoretical FrameworkThe theoretical framework of the current research is based on the theories available in the field of social capital and the studies conducted in Iran and around the world on the research title. The structure of social capital is investigated here based on the socio-cultural dimensions of the Mehr Dwellings project. Following the discussion, the conceptual model of the research, which involves the link between the research literature and the results, is formulated in the concluding section.MethodologyThe current research is a quantitative survey and therefore involves a method of data collection in which certain groups of people are asked to answer a certain number of specific questions, which are the same for all respondents. The research population includes all the households in the Mehr Dwellings in Sanandaj in 2019. According to the statistics published by Kurdistan Province Directorate-General for Roads and Urban Development, there are 38,000 Mehr Dwellings in the whole province, of which 13,606 have been built and submitted in Sanandaj, where a population of 43,091 people lives (Kurdistan Province Directorate-General for Roads and Urban Development, 2018). The statistical sample includes people over eighteen years of age residing in 7,600 Mehr Dwellings in Baharan Neighborhood in 2019. The sample size was specified through Cochran’s formula, based on which a size of 340 people was estimated; given the possibility of drop in the sample size, 10% was added to this number, and 374 people were finally selected to make up the study sample. The sampling methods included clustering according to Mehr Dwellings blocks and random selection of people over 18 years of age. In the selection of the samples, we tried to observe the age and sex combination as far as possible. The research tool was a researcher-made questionnaire, the formal and content validity of which were evaluated by experts in the fields of urban development and sociology. Moreover, the validity of the questions was evaluated using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient as 0.849, which indicates the appropriate reliability and validity. As a research measurement tool, the SPSS version 21 software was used to analyze the data in two sections: descriptive and inferential.Results and DiscussionThe findings of the research demonstrated that there are significant positive relationships between the social capital of residents of Mehr Dwellings and a number of the variables making up the level of apartment life standards, including the degree of neighborhood relations, the level of acquaintance with the social environment, satisfaction with the place of residence, access to facilities, and the quality of urban services and infrastructures, and the contextual variables of residence background, income, and marital status. The statistical results demonstrated that there is no significant relationship between the residents’ social capital and the variables of social relations and type of residence and contextual variables (age, gender, occupation, and academic degree). Apartment life standards and social capital among the residents of Baharan Mehr Dwellings will not change overnight, because the residents of these blocks are mainly immigrants from villages, unemployed people, female householders, urban subordinates in sociological terms. Corridors of social relations are limited, while there are stable conditions from another point of view. Although the residents’ harmony has undergone major changes during the past two years due to the high costs of housing, fundamental measures need to be taken by the institutions and trustees in the urban area. According to the results of the research, important actions to be taken in the current conditions include the participation of citizens in the affairs of the neighborhood, enhancement of the infrastructure and access networks, formation of civil institutions, and establishment of service and security institutions.ConclusionThe results of the multivariate regression analysis also indicate that the variables of apartment life standards, neighborhood relations, and level of acquaintance impact the social capital of the residents of Mehr Dwellings and explain 32% of the changes in the dependent variable.
