Urban Design

The Role of Street Cafes in Producing the Third Place with Emphasis on Oldenberg's Theory (Case Study: Enghelab Square to Tehran University)

parima Yami Marandi; Hassan sajadzadeh

Volume 15, Issue 58 , May 2026, Pages 3-18

https://doi.org/10.22034/urbs.2026.145040.5232

Abstract

Highlights This study investigates street cafés along the Enqelab Square–University of Tehran axis as urban “third places.” Street cafés perform functions beyond commerce by fostering social interaction, psychological security, and collective identity. Café ... Read More Highlights This study investigates street cafés along the Enqelab Square–University of Tehran axis as urban “third places.” Street cafés perform functions beyond commerce by fostering social interaction, psychological security, and collective identity. Café management, spatial quality, and social vitality exert the strongest influence on users’ experience. Temporal flexibility, integration with the street, and environmental conditions emerge as the main weaknesses. Management, spatial quality, and social interaction explain more than 70% of the perception of third place. Major improvements include human-centered design, enhanced management, adjusted operating hours, and stronger integration with the sidewalk. Extended Abstract Street cafés along the Enqelab Square–University of Tehran corridor function as significant third places that enhance social interaction, sense of belonging, and urban experience. The findings indicate that café management, spatial quality, sensory experience, and social vitality have the strongest positive effects on users, whereas environmental sustainability and café–street integration remain comparatively weaker dimensions. Overall, these cafés make an important contribution to the creation of vibrant urban spaces; however, improvements in sustainability and connectivity with public space are still required. Introduction Urban public spaces play a vital role in supporting social interaction, shaping identity, and sustaining everyday urban life. The concept of the “third place” refers to spaces beyond home and work that facilitate informal social interaction, with cafés representing one of the most prominent examples of such environments. These spaces strengthen social capital and reinforce place attachment. Street cafés along the Enqelab–University of Tehran corridor operate as human-centered settings that promote interaction, memory, and urban vitality. Accordingly, this study examines their role in the formation of third places and explores how design, management, and micro-scale planning can enhance their social performance and improve users’ experience. Theoretical Framework General characteristics of the third place and the position of street cafés The concept of the “third place,” introduced by Oldenburg, refers to informal and accessible spaces beyond home and work that support social interaction, a sense of belonging, and community cohesion. Such places help reduce loneliness and strengthen social life. In the Iranian context, they also provide opportunities for dialogue and informal engagement within urban environments. Street cafés constitute a key example of third places, where design qualities and semi-public settings encourage interaction and, in turn, improve livability, social satisfaction, and neighborhood vitality. Street cafés as third places and spatial experience Street cafés function as third places by offering informal and accessible environments for social interaction and the exchange of ideas. They bring together diverse social groups, thereby reinforcing social cohesion and trust, and often serve as a “second home” for regular users. Design features such as human scale, comfort, natural light, and soft boundaries encourage longer stays and richer patterns of interaction. Along the Enqelab–University of Tehran corridor, these cafés contribute to socialization and urban vitality and are assessed in this study through 13 third-place indicators. Theoretical linkage of the third place with the views of Jacobs, Lefebvre, and Relph The concept of the third place is theoretically grounded in the ideas of Jacobs, Lefebvre, and Relph, all of whom emphasize lively public spaces, everyday interaction, and place attachment. Third places foster social capital, identity formation, and civic participation through social, cultural, and physical dimensions. This study extends the concept by incorporating management and environmental sustainability, demonstrating that the physical, spatial, and managerial characteristics of street cafés shape users’ experiences and enhance vitality, psychological security, and sense of place along the Enqelab–University of Tehran corridor. Figure 1. Conceptual model of the relationships among the research variables Methodology This applied descriptive–analytical study investigates how street cafés along the Enqelab Square–University of Tehran corridor contribute to the formation of third places. Drawing on data collected from 380 café users, together with expert opinions, the research evaluates 13 third-place indicators through questionnaires and field observations. The findings show that, owing to their accessibility, informal atmosphere, and street-edge location, these cafés function as hubs of social interaction and urban vitality. The principal contribution of this study lies in its comprehensive analysis of the social, cultural, physical, managerial, and environmental factors that shape user experience and place attachment within one of Tehran’s most important cultural corridors. Case Study Introduction The Enqelab Square–University of Tehran corridor is one of Tehran’s most vibrant cultural and social spaces, distinguished by its large student population, cultural activities, bookstores, and numerous street cafés. Field surveys identified 42 active street cafés that serve as accessible and informal gathering places for students, artists, employees, and visitors. The corridor’s strong cultural identity, social diversity, pedestrian-friendly environment, and concentration of cafés make it an ideal case for examining the concept of the third place. These cafés contribute to urban vitality by promoting social interaction, cultural identity, sense of belonging, spatial quality, and psychological security. Figure 1. a) Location of the study area, b) Spatial distribution of cafés within the study area, and c) Photographs of the cafés Results and Discussion Street cafés along the Enqelab–University of Tehran corridor function effectively as third places. The study demonstrates high reliability ( ) and reveals that café management, spatial quality, social vitality, and sense of belonging are the factors that most strongly shape user experience. Among these, management, spatial quality, and social interaction emerge as the principal predictors, explaining approximately 71% of the variation in users’ perceptions. The weaker dimensions include temporal continuity, social equality, and integration with the street. Overall, the findings support Oldenburg’s theory and indicate that cafés enhance social interaction, place attachment, and urban vitality, although improvements in design, management, and pedestrian planning remain necessary. Conclusion Street cafés along the Enqelab–University of Tehran corridor function as important third places that extend beyond commercial use and contribute to social interaction, psychological security, place attachment, and urban vitality. Analysis of 380 questionnaires shows that café management, spatial quality, social vitality, and sensory experience are the strongest factors shaping users’ perceptions, while temporal adaptability, street integration, and environmental quality remain weaker dimensions. Correlation and regression analyses confirm that management, spatial quality, and social interaction are the main predictors of third-place formation, explaining more than 70% of its variance. Overall, these cafés successfully support third-place functions; however, improvements in operating hours, sidewalk integration, and environmental management are still needed. Key recommendations include strengthening human-centered design, improving management quality, adjusting opening hours, and enhancing the physical connection between cafés and the street in order to reinforce their role as urban social nodes. Acknowledgment The authors sincerely express their appreciation to all individuals who contributed to this research through their collaboration, guidance, or support. This study received no specific financial or institutional funding.

Urban Planning

The Role of Events in Shaping Collective Urban Visions: A Case Study of the 'Rasht’s Civic Event 1422'

Aliakbar Salaripour; Sara Nikmard Namin; Mohammad Nouripour sedehi; Zahra Ahmadi

Volume 15, Issue 58 , May 2026, Pages 19-36

https://doi.org/10.22034/urbs.2025.143548.5154

Abstract

Highlights Events as an operational mechanism: Public events function as core methodological instruments in strategic-operational planning, rather than mere symbolic gestures. A practical step-by-step model: The study introduces a scalable, procedural model for integrating public events throughout ... Read More Highlights Events as an operational mechanism: Public events function as core methodological instruments in strategic-operational planning, rather than mere symbolic gestures. A practical step-by-step model: The study introduces a scalable, procedural model for integrating public events throughout the urban visioning process. Extended Abstract Introduction In recent decades, Iran’s urban planning system has faced persistent criticism regarding the inefficacy of conventional master and detailed plans. These top-down frameworks have largely failed to address the dynamic needs of contemporary cities or meet the expectations of citizens, practitioners, and policymakers. Consequently, strategic planning—centered on formulating a shared, long-term vision—has emerged as a compelling alternative. While numerous studies have addressed participatory planning theoretically, few have examined the empirical, step-by-step implementation of participatory visioning in a real-world context. This paper addresses this gap by analyzing ‘Rasht’s Civic Event 1422’, a public initiative designed to formulate a shared vision for the city of Rasht within its strategic-operational planning framework. The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the stages of ‘event-readiness’ in achieving a shared vision, thereby offering a replicable practical model for other Iranian municipalities. Theoretical Framework The theoretical foundation of this research rests on three interconnected pillars: participatory strategic planning, collaborative visioning, and event-based public engagement. Participatory strategic planning asserts that effective urban strategy must originate from an inclusive visioning process involving municipal management, the private sector, civil society, and the general public. Participation legitimizes decision-making, broadens perspectives, and enhances social capacity. However, the literature warns that participation remains tokenistic unless it actively empowers citizens and fosters robust stakeholder networks. Collaborative visioning is defined as a collective process through which community members identify their current identity, core values, and future aspirations. Successful visioning requires two essential elements: a comprehensive baseline assessment of present conditions and genuine public engagement. Without these, visions remain bureaucratic exercises rather than living social contracts. Events and festivals (including public gatherings and carnivals) are proposed here as strategic catalysts for engagement. Events create unique socio-linguistic spaces where citizens, institutions, and urban environments converge. They facilitate dialogue, foster a sense of belonging, and amplify diverse voices, including those of marginalized groups. Based on this synthesis, the study developed a conceptual framework (Figure 1) positing that effective visioning occurs when citizens, urban institutions, and physical space interact through event-driven dialogue. This interaction generates a shared language and a mutual understanding of collective values. (Figure 1. Conceptual Framework) Methodology This research employs a policy analysis methodology within an extended framework that incorporates qualitative textual analysis. The study followed a four-step process: Step 1: Literature Review: Examining the theoretical foundations of participation, visioning, and event-based planning. Step 2: Textual Analysis: Refining the conceptual framework and conducting qualitative content analysis of national, regional, and local strategic documents, alongside international case studies. Step 3: Pre-event Process Analysis: Collecting multi-dimensional data through: 900 structured questionnaires across Rasht’s five districts (Cochran’s formula, 0.08 margin of error). 30 in-depth interviews with citizens. 50 semi-structured interviews with experts, elites, and city council members (snowball sampling). Consultations with 102 thematic working group participants and 25 district-level stakeholders. Step 4: Event Analysis: The primary public event, ‘Rasht’s Civic Event 1422’, was held on July 16, 2023, in the pedestrian zone of Rasht’s Municipality Square. The event engaged approximately 500 adults and 100 children through: (a) interactive mapping of local challenges and assets; (b) a children’s drawing workshop titled ‘My Lovable City’; and © a ‘fingerprint voting’ system for prioritizing vision themes. Results and Discussion The findings demonstrate that event-based visioning is both feasible and effective, provided that participation is embedded throughout the entire planning cycle rather than treated as a final validation step. Key results include: Divergent Priorities: A significant gap was observed between elite and citizen priorities. While experts emphasized smart governance and integrated management, citizens prioritized tangible, everyday concerns: river restoration, efficient public transport, waste management, and family-friendly public spaces. This divergence underscores the necessity of early-stage citizen involvement. Synthesized Vision: The final vision statement (Horizon 1422/2043) successfully synthesized 29 strategic axes prioritized by the public. Creation of ‘Language Spaces’: The event transformed the pedestrian square—a site of collective identity—into a platform for face-to-face interaction between planners and the public. Children’s drawings added a crucial intergenerational dimension, revealing desires for safety and nature often overlooked in formal technocratic documents. Structural Barriers: Despite the event’s success, deep-seated challenges remain, including bureaucratic centralization, lack of managerial stability, and historical mistrust. Some citizens’ reluctance to participate in ‘fingerprint voting’ highlighted a lingering skepticism regarding whether their input would manifest as tangible change. Conclusion This research provides an empirically grounded model for utilizing public events as legitimate policy instruments that bridge the gap between technocratic planning and lived experience. The study concludes that: Genuine participation requires citizen involvement from the earliest stages of problem identification, not just during final prioritization. Sustainability of Participation: The effectiveness of public events is contingent upon their continuity. Consistent follow-up and oversight mechanisms are essential to enhance participatory capacity and strengthen citizens’ agency. Without such continuity, participation risks being reduced to a superficial, one-off exercise. Institutionalization: ‘Event-readiness’ must be institutionalized within municipal frameworks through dedicated budgets, transparent feedback loops, and continuous reporting to the public. Structural Reform: Without addressing the underlying pathologies of urban governance—such as bureaucratic resistance and systemic distrust—even the most well-designed events may remain symbolic gestures rather than drivers of participatory democracy.

Urban Design

Understanding the Process of Representing Collective Memories through Instagram Narratives

Farshad Nourian; Sajedeh Nazarimajd

Volume 15, Issue 58 , May 2026, Pages 37-50

https://doi.org/10.22034/urbs.2025.143540.5153

Abstract

Highlights Instagram narratives reshape the production and reproduction of collective urban memories. The study integrates collective memory theory with social media–based urban research. A systematic literature review based on the PRISMA and TCCM frameworks was conducted. The proposed Urban ... Read More Highlights Instagram narratives reshape the production and reproduction of collective urban memories. The study integrates collective memory theory with social media–based urban research. A systematic literature review based on the PRISMA and TCCM frameworks was conducted. The proposed Urban Memory Cycle model explains the temporal process of memory representation. The framework contributes to urban planning, urban design, and heritage management studies. Extended Abstract Introduction Urban spaces are dynamic arenas in which collective memories are continuously formed and reproduced through interactions among physical environments, social activities, and everyday narratives. In recent years, social media platforms, particularly Instagram, have significantly transformed the ways urban experiences are documented, circulated, and remembered. Through geotagging, visual storytelling, and user-generated narratives, Instagram has become an influential medium for shaping citizens' perceptions of urban places and collective urban identities. Despite the growing body of literature on collective memory and social media data in urban studies, there is still no integrated conceptual framework capable of explaining the temporal process through which collective memories are represented through Instagram narratives. Most previous studies have either focused on the physical and historical dimensions of memory or emphasized quantitative analyses of social media data, while the relationship among temporal interaction, spatial experience, and digital representation has remained underexplored. Therefore, this study seeks to answer the following research question: What conceptual framework can explain the representation of collective memories in urban spaces based on Instagram narratives? Theoretical Framework The theoretical foundation of this study lies at the intersection of collective memory studies, urban spatial theories, and social media research. Maurice Halbwachs defined collective memory as a socially constructed process shaped within spatial and cultural contexts. Urban spaces, particularly historic public spaces, preserve and reproduce collective memories through landmarks, monuments, and shared experiences. Scholars such as Aldo Rossi emphasized the role of urban artifacts in maintaining the identity and spirit of cities. At the same time, digital platforms have transformed the mechanisms of memory production and representation. Instagram creates a visual archive of urban experiences through geotagged photographs, hashtags, captions, and user interactions. However, many previous studies have primarily focused on quantitative analyses, such as spatial clustering and network structures, while the qualitative and temporal dimensions of memory representation have received comparatively less attention. To address this gap, the study adopts temporal interaction theory, which explains the relationship between users and places through three stages: pre-experience, experience, and reflection. Based on this perspective, the article develops the conceptual model of the Urban Memory Cycle, which connects these temporal stages with three dimensions: the physical environment, activity, and meaning. Methodology This study employs a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) approach to identify and synthesize the conceptual foundations related to collective memory, Instagram narratives, and urban representation. The review process was conducted using the PRISMA framework to ensure transparency and methodological rigor. Relevant studies were collected from Scopus, Google Scholar, and ResearchGate using Persian and English keywords, including collective memory, social media, Instagram, urban space, and city. English-language studies published between 2015 and 2024 were included, whereas Persian-language studies were considered without temporal limitation because of the limited number of relevant sources. Non-scientific materials and studies unrelated to urban environments were excluded. Initially, 121 records were identified. After removing duplicate and irrelevant sources through title, abstract, and full-text screening, 28 studies were selected for the final analysis. The selected studies were then analyzed through qualitative coding and organized using the TCCM framework, including Theory, Context, Characteristics, and Methods. This approach enabled the identification of dominant theoretical trends and methodological gaps necessary for constructing the final conceptual model. Results and Discussion The findings reveal that previous studies have extensively examined physical dimensions, such as landmarks, monuments, historic spaces, and urban symbols, as well as social activities and visual narratives associated with collective memory. However, the integration of temporal processes and mixed qualitative–quantitative approaches remain limited. The TCCM analysis demonstrated that collective memory studies mainly emphasize historic urban spaces and place identity, whereas Instagram-based urban studies often focus on geotagged data, spatial clustering, and user interaction patterns. Only a limited number of studies have examined how digital narratives influence the formation and reproduction of collective memories over time. In response to these gaps, this article proposes the Urban Memory Cycle model. The model integrates three dimensions—the physical environment, activity, and meaning—with three temporal stages: pre-experience, experience, and reflection. During the pre-experience stage, users form expectations about places through Instagram narratives and images. During the experience stage, individuals physically interact with urban spaces while simultaneously documenting their experiences through photographs and captions. During the reflection stage, users revisit and reproduce memories by sharing and reinterpreting digital narratives. The model explains how Instagram functions as a digital archive of collective memory and how urban experiences evolve from data to narrative and from narrative to memory. Conclusion This study proposes a conceptual framework for understanding the representation of collective memories in urban spaces through Instagram narratives. By integrating collective memory theory, place attachment studies, and social media–based urban research, the article introduces the Urban Memory Cycle model, which explains the temporal relationship among physical space, social activity, and meaning-making processes. The findings indicate that, while previous studies have addressed the physical and narrative aspects of urban memory, limited attention has been paid to the temporal and process-oriented dimensions of memory reproduction in digital environments. The proposed framework contributes theoretically by bridging collective memory studies with data-driven urban research and contributes practically by providing a conceptual basis for urban planning, public space design, and heritage management. Future studies may empirically test the proposed model through case studies and comparative analyses across multiple social media platforms. Acknowledgment This article is derived from the Master’s thesis of the second author conducted at the School of Urban Planning, University of Tehran, under the supervision of the first author.

Urban Planning

Analyzing the Environmental Impacts of Tourism in Urban Historical context: A Meta-Methodological Study

Hamideh Boghrati; Toktam Hanai

Volume 15, Issue 58 , May 2026, Pages 51-66

https://doi.org/10.22034/urbs.2025.143886.5174

Abstract

Highlights This study integrates a meta-method approach with a systematic review of 28 Web of Science articles (2010–2024) to develop a comprehensive framework for assessing tourism impacts on historical urban areas. The proposed framework supports urban planners and heritage managers by identifying ... Read More Highlights This study integrates a meta-method approach with a systematic review of 28 Web of Science articles (2010–2024) to develop a comprehensive framework for assessing tourism impacts on historical urban areas. The proposed framework supports urban planners and heritage managers by identifying methodological gaps and promoting integrated mixed-method approaches. The study highlights the limited attention paid to socio-cultural dimensions despite their importance for sustainable tourism management. The framework contributes to evidence-based decision-making for balancing tourism development with heritage conservation. Introduction The rapid growth of tourism has generated considerable economic and cultural benefits while simultaneously imposing increasing environmental pressures on historical urban areas and local ecosystems (UNWTO, 2020). High tourist concentrations contribute to pollution, traffic congestion, excessive waste generation, and the degradation of cultural landscapes, threatening both environmental quality and social sustainability (Ricaurte et al., 2023). These challenges are particularly evident in historical urban fabrics and World Heritage Sites, where sensitive physical structures and cultural values require careful protection (García-Hernández et al., 2017; Yawer et al., 2022). In developing countries such as Iran, limited environmental planning and fragmented policymaking have reduced the effectiveness of tourism impact assessment (Sharpley & Telfer, 2014). Despite possessing exceptional cultural and historical assets (UNESCO, 2021), many Iranian historic cities have experienced increasing environmental degradation, pressure on natural resources, and deterioration of heritage sites as tourism has expanded (Holden, 2016). Mashhad, Iran's largest religious tourism destination, exemplifies these challenges, receiving millions of visitors annually while facing growing environmental and infrastructural pressures (Statistical Center of Iran, 2022). Although previous studies have examined tourism impacts using either quantitative or qualitative approaches, few have integrated both perspectives within a comprehensive methodological framework. Assessing environmental impacts in historical urban areas requires the simultaneous analysis of measurable indicators, such as pollution and traffic, alongside qualitative dimensions, including stakeholder perceptions and socio-cultural change. Therefore, this study adopts a meta-method approach to review existing methodological practices and answer the following research question: How can a meta-method approach provide a more comprehensive framework for assessing the environmental impacts of tourism on historical urban fabrics than conventional research methods? Theoretical Framework This study is grounded in sustainable development theory (Brundtland, 1987) and the concept of sustainable tourism, which seeks to balance economic development, environmental protection, and socio-cultural well-being. In historical urban environments, uncontrolled tourism growth has intensified environmental degradation while placing increasing pressure on cultural heritage and local communities (Gössling & Hall, 2005; Holden, 2016). The research adopts a meta-method approach (Sterman, 2000; Watkins et al., 2010), which integrates qualitative and quantitative evidence to capture the multidimensional nature of tourism impacts. Unlike mono-method studies, this approach combines environmental indicators—such as pollution, traffic, and resource consumption—with qualitative evidence derived from stakeholder experiences and cultural perspectives. The methodological framework is further organized using the Saunders Research Onion (Saunders et al., 2016), which structures the research process across philosophical assumptions, methodological choices, research strategies, data collection, and analytical techniques, thereby ensuring methodological transparency and reproducibility. Methodology This applied research employs a meta-method approach based on a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) of peer-reviewed articles indexed in the Web of Science database between 2010 and 2024. Following predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, 28 articles were selected for detailed analysis. A structured coding framework was developed in MAXQDA to extract information on research philosophy, methodological approach, research strategy, data collection techniques, analytical methods, and software applications, including NVivo, ATLAS.ti, SPSS, GIS, and Excel. The Saunders Research Onion served as the organizing framework for integrating methodological layers, while triangulation was employed to validate coding consistency and compare findings across multiple studies. This process enabled the identification of dominant methodological trends, existing research gaps, and opportunities for developing a comprehensive framework for tourism impact assessment in historical urban contexts. Results and Discussion The review identified several methodological and thematic trends across the 28 selected studies. From a thematic perspective, natural resource consumption (56%), transportation systems (68%), and economic development (60%) received the greatest research attention. In contrast, socio-cultural dimensions—particularly quality of life, community well-being, and cultural identity—remain comparatively underexplored despite their importance for sustainable tourism management. Methodologically, mixed-method approaches were the most frequently adopted (14 studies, 50%), followed by qualitative (9 studies, 32%) and quantitative approaches (5 studies, 18%). Interpretivism emerged as the dominant research philosophy, reflecting the importance of stakeholder perspectives and contextual understanding. Similarly, the inductive approach and case study strategy each accounted for 20 studies (71%), with Safranbolu, Bordeaux, Porto, and Pingyao representing the most frequently investigated cases. Document analysis was the primary data collection method (17 studies), followed by interviews (10 studies) and observation (9 studies), whereas questionnaires were comparatively less common (4 studies). Among analytical tools, NVivo was the most frequently applied qualitative software, while descriptive statistics remained the dominant quantitative technique, with relatively limited use of advanced methods such as regression analysis and spatial modeling. The review also identified persistent methodological challenges, including limited stakeholder representation, interviewer and respondent bias, restricted generalizability of case-study findings, incomplete sampling frameworks, and the substantial resources required for mixed-method research. Overall, the findings demonstrate that comprehensive tourism impact assessment requires integrating quantitative indicators—including pollution, traffic, and resource consumption—with qualitative evidence related to stakeholder perceptions, cultural values, and community experiences. Such integration provides a more comprehensive understanding of environmental and socio-cultural changes than either approach can achieve independently. Conclusion This study demonstrates that a meta-method approach, supported by a systematic literature review and qualitative–quantitative synthesis, provides a comprehensive framework for assessing the environmental, social, and economic impacts of tourism on historical urban fabrics. The analysis of 28 Web of Science articles (2010–2024) indicates that environmental issues, transportation systems, and economic development dominate current research, whereas socio-cultural dimensions remain insufficiently addressed despite their significant role in sustainable tourism. Methodologically, mixed-method approaches outperform mono-method designs by integrating measurable environmental indicators with stakeholder experiences and contextual knowledge. The proposed framework offers a practical decision-support tool for urban planners, heritage managers, and policymakers by facilitating evidence-based tourism management while balancing heritage conservation and local development. Its application is particularly relevant to rapidly growing tourism destinations in Iran, such as Mashhad, where increasing visitor numbers place considerable pressure on historical environments and urban infrastructure. Furthermore, the framework is transferable to other historic cities in Iran—including Isfahan, Shiraz, Yazd, Tabriz, and Kashan—as well as comparable international contexts. Future studies are encouraged to expand the empirical application of this framework through larger datasets, advanced analytical techniques such as spatial regression and system dynamics, and more systematic investigation of socio-cultural dimensions, including resident perceptions, cultural identity, and social equity.

Urban Planning

Identifying and analyzing women’s preferences and needs in urban park planning: Developing an experience-based gender equity index (Case Study: Shohada park, Sanandaj)

Mohanna Sarvari; Nina Khalighi; Mehdi Saidi

Volume 15, Issue 58 , May 2026, Pages 67-84

https://doi.org/10.22034/urbs.2026.144581.5216

Abstract

Highlights This research introduces the innovative Gender Equity Experience Index (GEPI), which uniquely evaluates both physical infrastructure and women’s perceived experiences to understand their presence in urban parks. The findings reveal that improving park infrastructure alone is insufficient ... Read More Highlights This research introduces the innovative Gender Equity Experience Index (GEPI), which uniquely evaluates both physical infrastructure and women’s perceived experiences to understand their presence in urban parks. The findings reveal that improving park infrastructure alone is insufficient to achieve gender equity, as social, cultural, and economic factors play decisive roles. A significant gap exists between the provision of physical lighting and women’s perceived sense of safety, primarily due to the lack of effective social surveillance mechanisms. The study highlights the need for a multidimensional approach that integrates physical design with social, cultural, and economic planning to create inclusive and welcoming urban public spaces for women. Introduction International frameworks and theories, including Lefebvre’s theory of the production of space and the concept of the embodiment of space, emphasize that space is socially produced through human interactions. When urban planning fails to address women’s needs, their lived experience of space becomes constrained by insecurity, limited accessibility, and reduced opportunities for participation. In Iranian cities, the dominance of conventional planning approaches has resulted in public spaces that inadequately respond to women’s requirements for safety, accessibility, and comfort. Previous studies have identified security, activity diversity, and individual characteristics—such as age and marital status—as key determinants of women’s presence in public spaces. Weak security, cultural constraints, and the lack of gender-responsive public services have further reduced women’s participation in urban spaces and intensified spatial inequality. Focusing on Shohada Park in Sanandaj, this study demonstrates that inadequate lighting, insufficient urban furniture, and limited public services have contributed to women’s lower presence despite their substantial share of the city’s population. Theoretical Framework This study develops a theoretical framework to examine the factors shaping women’s preferences in urban parks and to evaluate park planning quality from a gender-responsive perspective. The framework draws upon studies of urban parks, women-centered planning, public participation, and women’s use of public spaces. It assumes that women’s experiences of urban parks are multidimensional and influenced by the interaction of physical, social, cultural, economic, and environmental factors. Accordingly, park quality is conceptualized as a multidimensional construct that reflects both objective physical conditions and women’s subjective experiences. The framework is operationalized through measurable indicators to support practical and gender-responsive urban park planning. A theoretical framework for analyzing women’s preferences and evaluating park planning quality. Grounded in the literature on urban parks, women-centered planning, public participation, and women’s use of public spaces. Women’s experiences are shaped by physical, social, cultural, economic, and environmental dimensions. Park quality incorporates both objective characteristics and subjective perceptions. The framework is translated into measurable indicators for practical planning applications. Methodology This applied study adopts a mixed-methods (qualitative–quantitative) approach to develop and evaluate the Gender Equity Experience Index (GEPI) across five dimensions. Qualitative data were first used to identify the relevant indicators, which were subsequently tested and quantified through quantitative analysis. Applied research using a mixed-methods approach. Development and measurement of the Gender Equity Experience Index (GEPI) across five dimensions: physical, social, economic, cultural, and environmental. Study population: women aged over 20 years in Sanandaj (population: 148,920; 2016 Census). Shohada Park was selected as the case study because of its importance as a major urban public space. Results and Discussion The findings indicate that women’s presence in Shohada Park is influenced by the combined effects of physical, social, cultural, economic, and environmental factors rather than by physical conditions alone. The principal innovation of this study is the development of the Gender Equity Experience Index (GEPI), which simultaneously evaluates objective park infrastructure and women’s subjective experiences. The results demonstrate that physical improvements alone cannot achieve gender equity in urban public spaces. Instead, social cohesion, cultural acceptance, economic opportunities, and environmental quality are equally important in shaping women’s experiences and encouraging their presence. Conclusion The findings demonstrate that increasing women’s presence in urban parks requires more than physical improvements. A multidimensional approach that simultaneously addresses social, cultural, economic, and environmental factors is essential for creating equitable and inclusive public spaces. The study introduces the Gender Equity Experience Index (GEPI) as a practical, policy-oriented tool for evaluating public spaces from a gender equity perspective through the integration of qualitative and quantitative evidence. The results also highlight several planning priorities, including improving restroom facilities, providing multipurpose public spaces, expanding cultural programs, strengthening affordable commercial services, enhancing children’s play facilities and urban furniture, and increasing both actual and perceived safety through improved lighting and social surveillance. By incorporating economic and cultural dimensions within a mixed-methods framework, the study provides a more comprehensive understanding of women’s experiences in urban public spaces. Nevertheless, the research is limited by its focus on a single park and its cross-sectional design. Future studies should employ comparative and longitudinal approaches to validate and expand the proposed framework across different urban contexts. Ultimately, achieving safe, inclusive, and gender-responsive urban spaces requires a fundamental reconsideration of conventional urban planning approaches. Acknowledgment This article is derived from a Master’s thesis in Urban Planning titled 'Planning Urban Parks Based on the Needs and Preferences of Women: A Case Study of Shohada Park, Sanandaj,' presented at the University of Kurdistan by the first author, supervised by the second author and consulted by the third author.

environmental psychology

Assessment of the Impact of acoustic and visual Environments on the Stress Levels of Urban Residents (Case Study: Isfahan, Iran)

Roya Hatami varzaneh; Mahmoud Shokuhi Dolatabadi; Fatemeh Bahrami Gahruei

Volume 15, Issue 58 , May 2026, Pages 85-104

https://doi.org/10.22034/urbs.2026.144283.5203

Abstract

Highlights The psychological quality of urban spaces and the mental health of urban residents are influenced by urban design grounded in multisensory perception. Stress reduction and psychological restoration in urban environments result from the interaction and synergy of acoustic and visual stimuli. The ... Read More Highlights The psychological quality of urban spaces and the mental health of urban residents are influenced by urban design grounded in multisensory perception. Stress reduction and psychological restoration in urban environments result from the interaction and synergy of acoustic and visual stimuli. The effect of acoustic environments on reducing urban stress is 1.4 times greater than that of visual environments. Urban environments combining natural landscapes with nature sounds provide the highest restorative potential. Introduction Urban stress, one of the most prevalent mental health-related conditions, reflects the relationship between the urban environment and human psychological well-being. In this context, improving the quality of urban spaces through therapeutic urban design contributes to enhancing residents’ mental health. Perceived stress in urban environments is influenced by both acoustic and visual settings, as well as by environmental stressors such as natural features, traffic, enclosure, crowding, and natural or human-made sounds. Although previous studies have highlighted the importance of acoustic and visual environments in promoting mental health, their independent and interactive effects on perceived urban stress remain insufficiently understood. Consequently, research tailored to the specific environmental and cultural context of Isfahan is necessary to advance knowledge in urban psychology. Accordingly, this study addresses the following research question: How do acoustic and visual environments affect residents’ perceived stress levels in the urban spaces of Isfahan? Theoretical Framework According to Environmental Stress Theory, psychological stress results from the dynamic interaction between individuals and their surrounding urban environment. Through cognitive appraisal, individuals interpret environmental conditions as pleasant or unpleasant, compatible or incompatible with their preferences, needs, and coping abilities (Vaessen et al., 2016). Consequently, environmental perception and stress experience are shaped by both exposure to environmental stimuli and the psychological responses that follow such exposure (Crosswell & Lockwood, 2020). Based on the physiological functions of human senses, approximately 80% of environmental information is perceived through vision, reflecting the dominance of spatial perception, while the remaining 20% is received through hearing, emphasizing temporal perception. Therefore, stress experienced in urban environments is influenced by the interaction between acoustic and visual stimuli. Furthermore, citizens’ perceptions of stress and their responses to acoustic and visual environments may vary according to their lived experiences, lifestyles, and social, economic, environmental, and ecological contexts. Finally, perceived psychological stress can be assessed either through individuals’ subjective evaluations of negative emotions—such as pressure, fear, or discomfort—or through the physiological and psychological symptoms reported following exposure to stressors (Tryon et al., 2015). Methodology This study employed a laboratory-based experimental design to evaluate the therapeutic effects of acoustic and visual environments on residents’ perceived stress in urban spaces in Isfahan. A two-way factorial design (four acoustic environments × five visual environments) was adopted, with participants randomly assigned to one of 20 virtual reality environments. Twenty videos were developed to simulate realistic urban experiences by combining images of selected urban locations in Isfahan—including Shahid Rajaei Park, Sepah Street, Imam Ali Underpass, and Shahid Keshvari Neighborhood—with three categories of sounds: nature sounds, crowd murmurs, and traffic noise. Nature sounds represented restorative experiences in green spaces, crowd sounds reflected everyday human activity, and traffic noise represented common urban stressors. A total of 100 students from the Art University of Isfahan completed the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) to induce a moderate level of stress before exposure to the experimental environments. Participants reported their perceived stress levels before and after exposure using the State–Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). The independent effects of acoustic and visual environments, together with their interaction effects, were examined. In addition, the mean stress reduction associated with each of the 20 acoustic–visual combinations was calculated to rank the environments from the most to the least restorative, thereby identifying desirable and undesirable combinations for restorative urban design. Results and Discussion The findings reveal several major patterns regarding the effects of acoustic and visual environments on perceived urban stress in Isfahan. The combination of natural landscapes and nature sounds, such as Shahid Rajaei Park accompanied by birdsong and flowing water, produced the greatest restorative effect. Urban environments characterized by built landscapes, such as Sepah Street, the Imam Ali Underpass, and the Keshvari Neighborhood, and by artificial sounds, including traffic noise and crowd murmurs, demonstrated considerably lower restorative potential and, in some cases, increased perceived stress. The adverse effects of traffic noise were not fully mitigated by the presence of natural visual environments. The synergy between natural auditory and visual stimuli enhanced parasympathetic nervous system activity and reduced both physiological and psychological stress responses. Urban spaces characterized by heavy traffic and crowd density generated the highest levels of perceived stress because they reduced the sense of control, disrupted environmental processing, and increased sympathetic nervous system activation. Although enclosure had a smaller influence on stress than traffic and crowding, it increased psychological pressure in critical situations by restricting visual openness and creating a sense of confinement. Conclusion The findings indicate that the effect of acoustic environments on reducing urban stress is 1.4 times greater than that of visual environments. Moreover, environments with natural characteristics, whether auditory or visual, provide greater restorative benefits than environments dominated by artificial features. Among all environmental combinations, natural landscapes accompanied by nature sounds produced the greatest reduction in perceived stress. These findings demonstrate that acoustic and visual environments influence perceived stress both independently and interactively. Their interaction plays a critical role in improving the psychological quality of urban spaces and shaping users’ restorative experiences. Consequently, paying attention to multisensory harmony in urban design can contribute significantly to promoting mental health and creating healthier, more restorative urban environments.

The evaluation of environmental quality factors on the Behavioral patterns in urban parks- Case study: Mardom park of Hamadan City

Volume 3, Issue 11 , August 2014, , Pages 3-18

Abstract

Nowadays, a faster pace of changes and transformations in different phenomena such people's lifestyles has meant changes in their thinking and needs also. Since people’s lifestyles are more oriented toward isolation, it is more important to reflect at their lives collectively. People's need for ... Read More Nowadays, a faster pace of changes and transformations in different phenomena such people's lifestyles has meant changes in their thinking and needs also. Since people’s lifestyles are more oriented toward isolation, it is more important to reflect at their lives collectively. People's need for places of social interaction and meeting psychological needs have become one of the requirements of urban life. Public spaces are the only spaces where all citizens of every class, age, race, and association have the right to use without any limitation. Environmental quality of urban public spaces is one of the focuses of recent urbanism research and attempting to create an urban public space that meets users desires behavior has always been considered as one of the main strategies of urban projects. Urban parks as a part of public spaces in cities have a fundamental role in resolving human needs. Most urban theorists believe that urban parks are one of the main components of an urban system because in addition to their functional role they increase socialization in urban spaces. Thus, in order to make these spaces more dynamic and to meet the needs of the people, the behaviors shaping the spaces should be noted and examined. Since most parks’ compliance with the needs of users and environmental qualities is, there is a need for a systematic program based on the behavior of users. Furthermore, issues such as neglect of social values, cultural - identity values, and the neglect of physical and structural values have lead to the formation of public spaces that do not meet people’s needs in urban areas. In addition, neglecting to improve the environmental quality of urban public spaces such as urban parks, not taking into account the effective qualities of urban transportation and connections, and the exclusive emphasis on the subjective perception by urban planners and designers has resulted in the formation of urban areas which does not have the capacity to be responsive and flexible in the accordance with people’s expectations and behaviours. For the purposes of this research, Mardom Park in the city of Hamadan was selected as a case study. This study aims to identify and assess the stimulants and patterns of user behavior in terms of their needs and the environmental quality of urban parks. This study was based on fieldwork with a cross-sectional approach and seeks to answer the following question: “what effects do behavioral patterns and domains have on improving the environmental quality of urban parks?” In this study, in order to provide a conceptual framework document-based research was carried out, theoretical issues explored in detail and then analyzed using existing approaches. For this purpose, in addition to the qualitative analysis of urban spaces and behaviors formed in space because of spatial characteristics, quantitative analysis of indicators using questionnaires was used. The quantitative indicators was analyzed by SPSS. The results show that the quality and amount of the influence of environmental quality factors on the quality of activities, which are primarily behaviors or behavioral patterns, are not the same. In addition, the analyses outcomes show direct influence of behavior on environmental quality and environmental quality on behavior. The results indicate on the one hand, human needs are the outcome of behaviorial influences on space and environment and the ability of underlying environment. On the other hand, enhancement of environmental quality and influence of environmental factors on areas and behaviorial patterns in urban parks are not only a quantitative and technical concepts.

Analysis of Factors Affecting the Improvement of Pedestrian Walkway Spatial Quality and Pedestrian-oriented Spaces, in order to Increase the Social Interactions Level of People (The case study: Tarbiat & Valiasr axis, Tabriz metropolitan)

Volume 1, Issue 4 , March 2012, , Pages 95-104

Abstract

With the onset of industry revolution, automobile invention and development of cities, the pedestrian and pedestrian-oriented spaces and urban spaces role priority gradually faded and the quality of urban public spaces, urban open spaces, and the pedestrian walkways decreased. Lack of pedestrian-oriented ... Read More With the onset of industry revolution, automobile invention and development of cities, the pedestrian and pedestrian-oriented spaces and urban spaces role priority gradually faded and the quality of urban public spaces, urban open spaces, and the pedestrian walkways decreased. Lack of pedestrian-oriented spaces and current low quality pedestrian spaces affect citizens' social interactions in contemporary metropolitans. Pedestrianism is a part of daily journey and activity of citizens in metropolitans, however, pedestrians' need and security is ignored in current cities. In doing so, majority of current urban spaces in our cities are defined as road way, where the presence of automobile is preferred on designs of high-quality and appropriate pedestrian-oriented spaces. Nevertheless, these spaces play an essential role in increasing contacts and citizens’ social interaction level. In this regard, ignoring human scale and the pedestrians' needs are the problems ahead. Lack of quality in pedestrian-oriented open spaces has led to poor citizens’ presence and social interactions. Hence, identifying factors affecting the quality of mentioned spaces for meeting citizens’ needs and increasing the presence and social interaction level is more important than before. Tabriz metropolitan is not an exception either. Having more roadway spaces compared with pedestrian-oriented way has made the life difficult for the citizens. By conducting rigorous literature review, the study derived influential factors forming theoretical framework of the research (including factors affecting urban pedestrian-oriented spatial quality: vitality, legibility, security, and permeability factors). Research utilized mixed-method approach, where aforementioned influential factors extracted from literature review, formed the qualitative part of the study. In the quantitative part used as the validity of the research, Tarbiat & Valiasr axes in Tabriz metropolitan were studied and evaluated. In other words, the study examined the verification of extracted theoretical framework from literature review, through conducting a survey in quantitative part. In this regard, a questionnaire was used to gather the data about pedestrian-oriented spatial quality and citizens’ satisfaction of the mentioned spaces. G*POWER software and Cochran sampling technique were used to calculate the sample size of the study. Ultimately, using SPSS software the data were analyzed through descriptive and inferential statistical methods. This study indicated that vitality, legibility, and permeability factors, the main factors of urban spaces qualities, play an important role in Tabrizian citizens’ satisfaction of pedestrian-oriented spaces. The finding of this research can be utilized for designing more sociable and friendly atmosphere pedestrian-oriented spaces, where citizens' social interactions are concentrated.

Physical–EnviromentalRehabilitaion Of The Central Core Of City Textures ,Toward Urban Sustainable Development (Case Study: Centeral Texture Of The Khorramabad City)

Volume 2, Issue 7 , July 2013, , Pages 73-88

Abstract

Abstract: The history of the old city centers , due to the geographical center , easy access , and feature historic center of economic gravity - the cultural potentials are high , despite the positive features of downtown , the texture of physical problems ( exhaustion ),environmental problems , in the ... Read More Abstract: The history of the old city centers , due to the geographical center , easy access , and feature historic center of economic gravity - the cultural potentials are high , despite the positive features of downtown , the texture of physical problems ( exhaustion ),environmental problems , in the context of complexity and poor infrastructure suffer. With such a central feature of the city center is the city of Khorramabad The core fabric of the city is mostly worn and in need of restructuring andRehabilitation. The main objective of this research is to broaden the scope of the problem in this context the following objectives of sustainable development is the development of these tissues . In this regard, research on how to achieve physical and environmental dimensions of sustainable development in the context of Rehabilitation core has Khorramabad. The purpose of this study applied descriptive - survey is to introduce the basic concepts and methods of data collection in the library and in the documentation gathered through field studies (questionnaires, interviews and observation's). Methods This study was a descriptive - survey and data collection documents two studies and field) Interview questionnaires and observation's (Population of residents part of the fabric core with a population of over 2797 people in Khorramabad are. According to consider the characteristics of the economical, social , physical and environmental scope of the case study and data analysis of the combined AHP-SWOT methods, the results of the final evaluation of SWOT within the AHP model shows that in the group of strengths , the existence of valuable historical element ( final weight ,./ 272) , existence of activity axis along the Imam Khomeini and Shohada streets ( final weight , ./176 ) and easy access to other parts of the city ( final weight , ./134) are the most important strengths and low quality buildings ( final weight ,./206 ) , microlithic parts ( final weight , ./161) and the narrow and impermeable streets ( final weight , ./135) are the most important weaknesses . However, the high potential of uncultivated area ( final weight ,./ 239) , the potential of constructing tourism spaces ( final weight , ./183 ) and the historical area and promoting an inclusive culture ( final weight , ./139 ) in series are the most important opportunities of the case study, also neglecting adapt to changing demands (final weight ,./266 ) , insecurity and impermeability passages ( final weight , ./194 ) and not defining public open space in quarters ( the final weight ,./143) are the most important threas to the desired range .The overall results indicate that most physical problems and After that, the environmental problems ,economic problems , management problems, social problems , most of it is devoted to . Well as the physical aspects of, poor quality buildings , including the most difficult passages microlithic parts and impermeable tissue study.are . According to final analysis,in this study pivotal offers in order to exploit these strengths, opportunities, reducing weaknesses and threats in the form of SWOT model key strategies for improving the old texture of the city of Khorramabad in the text has been stated in detail which the components of sustainable urban development have been applied.To achieve the goal of sustainable urban development in the sustainable urban development will be stable with a high quality of life for all residents. Thus, in order to improve the quality of life offered as a guide decisions on development strategies, planning and creating new instruments of communication between decision-making factors, decision making and enforcement of the emphasis is.

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

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

Abstract

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

Integrated Transportation Approach: Achieving Sustainable Transportationو Case study: Metropolitan Shiraz

Volume 2, Issue 5 , March 2013, , Pages 47-60

Abstract

In comparison with the past, the public awareness and public sensitivity have notably increased through sustainability. In this regard, different departments have discussed their problems via the approach of sustainability. Sustainable development considers economic, social and environmental dimensions ... Read More In comparison with the past, the public awareness and public sensitivity have notably increased through sustainability. In this regard, different departments have discussed their problems via the approach of sustainability. Sustainable development considers economic, social and environmental dimensions simultaneously. The same is true with sustainable transportation whose sustainable development policies in transportation area seek ways to provide all groups of society with appropriate access, to adjust economic costs and ,more importantly, to reduce the negative environmental impacts. However, almost all indicators show that the current experience of the transportation in our country and the consistent trend in the world are not only in the wrong direction but are also unstable in the longer term. One of the most efficient approaches to achieve sustainability is the strategy of integrating transportation system. "Integrated transportation strategy" is suggested to provide a more sustainable model of transportation to achieve sustainability and address major concerns. This research will study the case study of metropolitan Shiraz which is located in the southwest of Iran, with a population of almost 1.5 million. Facing numerous problems in the domain of urban transportation, Metropolitan Shiraz's current trend is not stable due to the city's struggling with some specific problems such as low share of public transport usage and dependency on car, high level of car ownership, growing population and density in central districts, high level of fuel usage, and increasing pollution. Several actions and plans including some action plans , special and technical programs and software have been carried out to address the aforementioned urban problems in the hope of reducing these problems , but they had not achieved enough efficiency. This study investigates the current situation of the transportation system in Shiraz using information collected via an expert opinion survey, questionnaires and interviewing some managers and experts in public or private organizations, companies, and consulting offices using special method called Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) was used to evaluate the system and define the priorities for future considerations. The results confirm that current set of policies undertaken by urban management and urban governance system in Shiraz almost fails to conform to the desirable criteria of Integrated Transport Approach. Although certain models have been recommended to achieve integration of transportation system, this article opted for a more comprehensive model by Potter and Skinner ( 2000 ). The finding of this research shows that, according to experts’ viewpoints, integration policies should be oriented to improving the public transport system. These policies include basic policies which will be presented as follows: the increase of the accessibility and efficiency of public bus system for potential demand areas; allocation of part of Municipality incomes to public transport sector; and establishment of separated bus lanes especially throughout the central district of the city.

Family Friendly City (FFC) A Systematic Review and Qualitative Analysis

Mojtaba Rafieian; Nafiseh Zahed

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 04 January 2026

https://doi.org/10.22034/urbs.2026.144462.5213

Abstract

Since the emergence of the concept of the “family-friendly city” in 1995, numerous countries have implemented plans and extensive studies to operationalize this approach; however, a precise and comprehensive definition of the concept and its attributes has not yet been developed. By conducting a ... Read More Since the emergence of the concept of the “family-friendly city” in 1995, numerous countries have implemented plans and extensive studies to operationalize this approach; however, a precise and comprehensive definition of the concept and its attributes has not yet been developed. By conducting a a systematic review of existing research from 1995 to 2025 in the Scopus and Web of Science databases, this study seeks to close this gap.Using bibliometric methods, including citation analysis and keyword co-occurrence analysis with VOSviewer, together with a qualitative review of the literature, it examines research trends, key concepts, indicators, gaps, and future directions. The inclusion criteria covered studies related to family-friendly urban planning, and after removing duplicates and conducting a thorough screening process, 57 articles were selected for final analysis. The findings indicate that research activity in this field has followed a fluctuating pattern, with a notable turning point in 2020. The United States, with 22 percent of the publications and 306 citations, leads research on the family-friendly city. The concept encompasses spatial dimensions (affordable housing, safe transportation), social dimensions (social capital, diversity), economic dimensions (employment opportunities), environmental dimensions (safety and sustainability), governance and participation (family involvement), and temporal dimensions (work–life balance). The results also indicate that the family-friendly city has undergone a conceptual shift from focusing on physical aspects toward sustainability and livability. A geographic concentration on North America and Europe, along with a scarcity of studies in the Global South, represents a key limitation of research on family-friendly cities. This study shows that the family-friendly city approach can serve as a strategic framework for creating sustainable, inclusive, and livable urban environments. It offers policymakers and urban planners a valuable resource for making more informed and effective decisions about the future of families in cities.

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Investigating and measuring security and safety in the urban environment - case study of Ardabil city

esmail Dalir; Morad Nasiri; Saman Abizadeh; Masoomeh Amoozadeh

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 09 February 2026

https://doi.org/10.22034/urbs.2026.144636.5217

Abstract

Security and safety of the urban environment is a multidimensional and key phenomenon in urban studies. A safe city is a city that, while reducing physical and psychological threats, provides the basis for promoting sustainable well-being and security for its citizens. In examining the relationship between ... Read More Security and safety of the urban environment is a multidimensional and key phenomenon in urban studies. A safe city is a city that, while reducing physical and psychological threats, provides the basis for promoting sustainable well-being and security for its citizens. In examining the relationship between safety and the urban environment, two basic dimensions are considered: the social dimension (behavioral and institutional), and the structural dimension (physical and physical) that is related to urban security. From this perspective, urban security requires the simultaneous analysis of physical, social, service and mental indicators. Also, safety assessment in urban environments is usually carried out based on two categories of criteria: objective criteria such as crime statistics, accident rates and infrastructure quality and subjective criteria including citizens' perception of safety, in which factors such as lighting, visibility and social cohesion play a role. In addition, indicators such as the quality of green space, air pollution, access to health services, job opportunities, and the level of preparedness against natural disasters are also effective in shaping urban safety. In general, the combination of these indicators and their comprehensive analysis provides a more accurate picture of the state of urban security and safetyUrban safety and security, as one of the main indicators of quality of life, play an important role in the social and physical sustainability of cities. The number of population and the complexity of the urban structure have made its management and analysis a major challenge for urban planners and managers. The present study was conducted with the aim of investigating and measuring the level of safety and security in the urban areas of Ardabil. This study was applied in terms of purpose and descriptive and analytical in terms of method. A number of 15 changes were set in the form of 30 questions with a five-option Likert design and were provided to 383 people from the statistical sample in the five regions of Ardabil city using the Cochrane method of random sample selection. The analytical model of Vazpas and TOPSIS was used for the analyses. The findings showed that from several cases of the study, the most socially focused and the use of the traffic management system played the least role, thus urban areas 3, 1, 2, 4 and 5 were among the lowest in terms of urban environment safety and security, and overall, Ardabil city was in a higher than average state with a Qi value of 0.5535. Based on these results, urban safety in Ardabil relies more on social, physical, and managerial factors than on security requirements.

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Lived Experience of the Shop Window in the Traditional Bazaar of Sanandaj: A Phenomenological–Hermeneutic Analysis

Monib Talebi; Nina Ghaslani; Atoosa Hassani; Mehrdad Yousefzamani

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 25 February 2026

https://doi.org/10.22034/urbs.2026.145046.5233

Abstract

Traditional bazaars in Iranian cities function not only as infrastructures for everyday commodity exchange but also as complex lifeworlds saturated with social relations, memory, and multisensory experience. In recent decades, the introduction of modern retail elements—particularly the glass storefront—has ... Read More Traditional bazaars in Iranian cities function not only as infrastructures for everyday commodity exchange but also as complex lifeworlds saturated with social relations, memory, and multisensory experience. In recent decades, the introduction of modern retail elements—particularly the glass storefront—has posed new challenges to these lifeworlds. Focusing on the traditional bazaar of Sanandaj, this study seeks to understand the lived experience of the shop window in this context and to interpret its relationship with the spatial–social logic of the bazaar. The research adopts a hermeneutic phenomenological approach inspired by Gadamer’s philosophical hermeneutics. Data were collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews with sixteen participants, complemented by field observations and systematic note-taking on spatial conditions and behavioral patterns in the bazaar. Data analysis followed a multi-stage process involving thematic articulation, the construction of meaning horizons, and the fusion of horizons between researcher and participants. Findings reveal that the shop window in the Sanandaj bazaar embodies a dual experience. On the one hand, it is perceived as a protective boundary that reduces dust penetration, minimizes the daily burden of arranging and clearing merchandise, enhances product security, and to some extent regulates the excessive spillover of stalls into pedestrian passageways. On the other hand, it transforms the fluid threshold between stall and passage into a rigid and formal façade, diminishes the bodily presence and natural surveillance of shopkeepers, reduces the multisensory richness of the bazaar to a predominantly visual display, conflicts with the occupational structures reliant on tactile and olfactory engagement, and resonates only weakly with the lifestyle and mental image of the bazaar’s primary user groups—particularly rural visitors, low-income shoppers, and older adults. The study underscores the need to avoid uniform, storefront-oriented renovation schemes in historic bazaars and highlights three key considerations: aligning modes of display with the nature of each occupation, preserving and reinterpreting the living threshold between stall and passage, and remaining attentive to the social composition and aesthetic expectations of the bazaar’s core users.

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An overview of the concept of urban digital twin and its role in urban crisis management

Ali Riahi Dehkordi; Amir Shakibamanesh

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 28 February 2026

https://doi.org/10.22034/urbs.2026.143266.5139

Abstract

Contemporary cities face a growing range of crises, making their smart management a vital priority. Following the rapid advancements in digital technologies, the Urban Digital Twin has emerged as a key innovation in the 21st century, considered a pivotal tool in crisis management. In this context, the ... Read More Contemporary cities face a growing range of crises, making their smart management a vital priority. Following the rapid advancements in digital technologies, the Urban Digital Twin has emerged as a key innovation in the 21st century, considered a pivotal tool in crisis management. In this context, the aim of this research is a comprehensive investigation into the conceptual and operational capacities of the Urban Digital Twin for effectively optimizing and enhancing the crisis management cycle. The study seeks to explain how this catalytic tool intervenes in each stage of crisis management (mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery) and advances smart decision-making to reduce financial and human casualties. Adopting a qualitative, interpretive approach and a deductive reasoning strategy, this research offers a deep understanding of the conceptual dimensions and complex structures of this technology within the urban context. The nature of the research is fundamental-developmental, and regarding the time dimension, it is considered a longitudinal study. The results indicate that Urban Digital Twins have profound effects in areas such as real-time data collection, predictability, strategy evaluation, and high-resolution modeling and simulation. Evidence clearly confirms that the Urban Digital Twin has evolved beyond being merely a technology to become an essential component in the smart crisis management ecosystem. This technology's capabilities in data integration, complex scenario simulation, and the provision of predictive analytics offer powerful support across all three phases of the crisis management cycle: in the preparedness phase by optimizing evacuation routes and strengthening infrastructure; at the moment of crisis by providing rapid damage assessment and an intelligent response; and in the post-crisis phase by serving as a comprehensive information platform to optimize the prevention system and increase future resilience, thereby improving the urban crisis management process.

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Explaining the Effects of Spatial Transformation on the Food Security of the Tehran Metropolitan Region

Hassan Mohammadian Mosammam; pouya Joodi Gollar

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 19 May 2026

https://doi.org/10.22034/urbs.2026.145332.5249

Abstract

Urban and regional planners in Iran have largely neglected one of citizens' most fundamental needs—food—which has historically served as a powerful catalyst for social change, cultural identity, and economic development. This oversight has led to an increasing socio-spatial disconnection between ... Read More Urban and regional planners in Iran have largely neglected one of citizens' most fundamental needs—food—which has historically served as a powerful catalyst for social change, cultural identity, and economic development. This oversight has led to an increasing socio-spatial disconnection between residents and food systems. Historically, the defense and secure control of food supply underpinned the emergence, evolution, and survival of Iranian cities, playing a central role in societal development and constituting an essential precondition for their sustainability and prosperity. In response, this study seeks to advance food security and the sustainability of the food system in the Tehran metropolitan region. Adopting a mediating ontological stance, a pragmatist epistemology, a mixed-methods approach, and a pragmatic framework, the research first conceptualizes core concepts: food security, urban food systems, spatial transformation, and the role of urban planners in food-related issues. To identify leverage points and priority intervention areas for urban and regional planners, the paper analyzes the spatial transformations in the Tehran metropolitan region and its impacts on the food system using variance-based structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). Findings indicate that the region has experienced significant spatial transformations. Overall, these changes have not resulted in a net negative impact on the food system. However, negative effects are apparent in underlying subsystems—particularly physical infrastructure, activity patterns, socio-demographic characteristics, and employment structures—posing risks to the long-term sustainability of the food system. Ultimately, by synthesizing theoretical insights with the issues arising from the interplay between spatial transformations and these subsystems in the Tehran metropolitan region, the study proposes targeted policies and practical strategies to enhance and strengthen the urban and regional food system.

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Cities as Diplomatic Actors: A Systematic Review of Urban Sister City Mechanisms

Hashem Dadashpoor; Mana Vahidbafandeh; Mohammad Mehdi Panahi; Maede Dadashpour

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 24 May 2026

https://doi.org/10.22034/urbs.2026.145423.5254

Abstract

In recent decades, the role of cities within the global governance system has undergone a significant transformation, with cities evolving from purely administrative units to active actors in transnational interactions. This transformation, referred to in the literature as “urban diplomacy,” enables ... Read More In recent decades, the role of cities within the global governance system has undergone a significant transformation, with cities evolving from purely administrative units to active actors in transnational interactions. This transformation, referred to in the literature as “urban diplomacy,” enables cities to act independently or semi-independently through intercity networks, thematic collaborations, and city-to-city relations. Among these, sister city relationships—one of the oldest yet most contested mechanisms of urban diplomacy—have oscillated between symbolic functions and practical collaborative capacities. Despite the expansion of research in this area, the existing literature remains largely fragmented, heterogeneous, and lacking a coherent analytical synthesis regarding the dimensions, functions, and real limitations of this mechanism. The aim of this study is to provide a systematic overview of the conceptual and functional developments in urban diplomacy, with a focus on sister city mechanisms, identifying dominant patterns, research gaps, and policy implications. To this end, a systematic review methodology was employed, and scientific articles published between 2000 and 2025 in reputable citation databases were searched, screened, and analyzed. Extracted data were coded and categorized using a thematic analysis approach, and dominant themes were identified. The findings indicate that contemporary urban diplomacy is transitioning from symbolic and ceremonial approaches toward problem-oriented, networked, and learning-based collaborations. Sister city relationships can be explained through five core components: multi-level governance and institutional legitimacy; decision-making rationality and collaboration leadership; institutionalized implementation and economic sustainability; networked and innovative empowerment; and learning, resilience, and data-driven evaluation. At the same time, results show that in the absence of clear institutional frameworks, the capacities of sister city relationships are often reduced to symbolic interactions, preventing the achievement of sustainable outcomes. Accordingly, this study emphasizes the necessity of redefining sister city relationships as a selective, problem-oriented, and institutionally capacity-based mechanism and provides an analytical foundation for more informed policy-making in urban diplomacy and the management of cities’ transnational interactions.

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Paradoxes of improving microclimates and urban comfort: Conflict between temperature, wind velocity, and pressure in determining optimal values

Rezvan Khalvandi; Mehrdad Karimimoshaver

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 10 June 2026

https://doi.org/10.22034/urbs.2026.145124.5236

Abstract

The multifaceted nature and interwoven structure of urban biophysical needs have caused solutions intended to improve microclimatic comfort—particularly in dense areas—to lead to unpredictable outcomes accompanied by a degree of uncertainty. In fact, environmental comfort in urban spaces is a complex ... Read More

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Citizens' Lived Experience of Urban Outdoor Advertising: A Go-Along Interview Study on Shams-Abadi Street, Isfahan

Esmat Paikan; Sajedeh Sedaghat

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 28 June 2026

https://doi.org/10.22034/urbs.2026.145703.5273

Abstract

In many Iranian cities, the quantitative growth of outdoor advertising has been accompanied by a decline in visual environmental quality; yet how citizens actually experience this condition — in real space and in real time — remains unstudied. Shams-Abadi Street in Isfahan, with its distinctive medical-commercial ... Read More In many Iranian cities, the quantitative growth of outdoor advertising has been accompanied by a decline in visual environmental quality; yet how citizens actually experience this condition — in real space and in real time — remains unstudied. Shams-Abadi Street in Isfahan, with its distinctive medical-commercial identity and location within the city's UNESCO-listed historic fabric, presents a case in which accumulated billboards, banners and murals stand in apparent conflict with the area's cultural-historical character. This paper investigates the lived experience of citizens encountering outdoor advertising on this street and asks: what layers of experience emerge in this encounter, and what factors shape the relationship between visual stimulus and citizen response? A qualitative, multi-method design was adopted. The primary data-collection instrument was the go-along interview (Kusenbach, 2003), which places the researcher alongside the participant in the real environment so that lived experience can be captured in situ. Twenty participants (11 male, 9 female; aged 20–60) were recruited through purposive sampling and accompanied along an 800-metre fixed route. Data were analysed through three complementary layers using methodological triangulation: reflexive thematic analysis of interview transcripts (Braun & Clarke, 2006), thematic analysis of 113 behavioural incidents recorded during walks, and systematic visual coding of 20 purposively selected advertising images across 16 variables. Three overarching themes emerged from the interview layer: a quantity-quality contradiction leading to perceptual saturation; a sharp gap between the street's historical-cultural identity and the content of its advertising; and the dominance of negative affect (70 codes) over positive (53 codes). The key finding from the incident layer was that 41.8% of all recorded reactions (208 instances) took the form of spontaneous unprompted discourse — not message processing. Visual analysis documented critically low design quality (mean 1.95/5) and historical contextual fit (mean 1.90/5). Based on triangulation across the three data layers, the Multi-Layer Lived Experience model (MLLE) is proposed, demonstrating that lived experience operates simultaneously across embodied, affective-cognitive, and semantic-identity levels. The study introduces cultural affordance as an extension of Gibson's theory in historically rich urban settings, and identifies 'advertising as urban discourse trigger' as a previously undocumented fourth function of outdoor advertising.

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Explaining the Criteria and Indicators for Integrated Management of Metropolitans Peri-Urban Areas: The Case Study of Region 13, Tehran

Mohammad Mehdi Azizi; Samane Soltani

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 10 July 2026

https://doi.org/10.22034/urbs.2026.145706.5274

Abstract

The management of metropolitan buffer zones (peri-urban areas) faces complex conflicts arising from spatial conservation imperatives, private property rights, and urban development pressures. Prevailing planning approaches and management instruments, which primarily focus on physical control and land-use ... Read More The management of metropolitan buffer zones (peri-urban areas) faces complex conflicts arising from spatial conservation imperatives, private property rights, and urban development pressures. Prevailing planning approaches and management instruments, which primarily focus on physical control and land-use regulation, often fail to account for or manage the social, institutional, and legal dynamics governing these spaces. While certain frameworks utilize tangible indicators such as population density, economic activity, and land use as analytical benchmarks, other studies emphasize qualitative dimensions, including community, identity, and structural interdependencies. This conceptual divergence highlights a significant gap in urban and regional planning knowledge regarding the management of peri-urban spaces. Consequently, the primary objective of this research is to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the formation of spatial and property conflicts in metropolitan buffer zones and to identify effective criteria and indicators for their integrated management. Adopting a qualitative approach based on Grounded Theory (the Corbin and Strauss model), this study focuses on the buffer zone of Tehran’s District 13 as a case study. Data were gathered through an analysis of laws and regulations pertaining to buffer zone management, a review of urban planning documents, and semi-structured interviews with landowners and key stakeholders. Data analysis followed a multi-layered strategy to explain the interplay between institutional structures, planning policies, and the experiences of local actors. The findings indicate that the institutional framework for buffer zone management is primarily rooted in a logic of physical control and lacks transparent mechanisms for resolving property rights, providing compensation, or ensuring stakeholder participation in decision-making. As a result, the gap between the objectives of development plans and the institutional capacity for their implementation has led to legal ambiguities and spatial conflicts. Data analysis led to the identification of “legal uncertainty of land status” as the core category. Accordingly, by proposing criteria and indicators for integrated management, this research emphasizes the necessity of transitioning from control-oriented approaches toward participatory, transparent, and rights-based governance models in the management of metropolitan buffer zones.

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Spatial Analysis of Physical Resilience Inequality and Urban Vulnerability Zoning Using GIS and Fuzzy Logic: A Case Study of District 19, Tehran

raza bahador; Zeinab Talebi; shirin toghyani; amirhosein shabani

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 11 July 2026

https://doi.org/10.22034/urbs.2026.145377.5253

Abstract

In the sphere of contemporary urban studies, the transition from the traditional paradigm of "vulnerability reduction" to the dynamic approach of "resilience" is recognized as a strategic necessity for managing the complexities and uncertainties of urban hazards. Physical resilience, ... Read More In the sphere of contemporary urban studies, the transition from the traditional paradigm of "vulnerability reduction" to the dynamic approach of "resilience" is recognized as a strategic necessity for managing the complexities and uncertainties of urban hazards. Physical resilience, as the tangible fabric of the city, plays a determining role in absorbing shocks, sustaining life, and accelerating recovery following a crisis. District 19 of Tehran, due to its composite and heterogeneous physical nature, the stressful coexistence of dilapidated residential settlements and industrial-workshop land uses, and its location on seismic zones, represents a prominent example of a "high-risk urban ecosystem" that requires a precise investigation of its resilience indicators. The present study was conducted with the aim of modeling and spatially assessing the components and indicators of physical resilience in this district. The research approach is descriptive-analytical and based on spatial analyses within the Geographic Information System (GIS) platform. In order to manage the inherent uncertainties of urban phenomena and avoid binary approaches, fuzzy logic was employed for standardizing and integrating information layers. The conceptual framework of the study was developed across five main dimensions: "structural and population vulnerability," "critical infrastructure and lifelines," "relief spaces and temporary settlement," "hazard intensifying centers," and "socio-economic supporting infrastructure." The analytical findings indicate the existence of profound spatial inequality and structural polarization across the district; such that the northern and central sectors (such as Khanabad Nov and Sharifi) enjoy a relatively favorable status due to resilient structures, optimal access to main arteries, and an appropriate density of vital services. In contrast, the southern and southwestern belt (including Ne’matabad and Ahmad Khomeini Town) are in a critical state and possess high vulnerability due to the synergy of factors such as severe physical deterioration, impermeability of passages, severe poverty in relief and medical infrastructure, and proximity to industrial hazard centers. The results demonstrate that enhancing resilience in District 19 necessitates a transition from general interventions to place-based strategies; such that in the north of the district, the focus is on density management and maintaining infrastructure efficiency, while in the southern half, priority is assigned to physical regeneration, fabric permeability, safety measures for incompatible land uses, and the equitable distribution of relief services.

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Analyzing the Urbanization Process Using the Morphospace Cube Model: A Case Study of Qajar‑Period Hamedan

hamed abbasi; Pejman Shaghaghi

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 15 July 2026

https://doi.org/10.22034/urbs.2026.145198.5241

Abstract

Urbanization in the historical context of Iran remains an understudied field within urban planning research. Understanding the internal mechanisms of this process can offer new perspectives for interpreting the sustainability and livability of contemporary cities. In this regard, the Morphospace Cube ... Read More

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Morphological Analysis of Urban Block Solar Potential in the Cold Climate of Hamadan Using the SSBI Index

Hojjat Ghiasvand

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 28 July 2026

https://doi.org/10.22034/urbs.2026.145690.5282

Abstract

Solar radiation is one of the most significant factors affecting energy performance in cold climates, and the spatial configuration indices of urban fabric play a direct role in determining the level of solar access to building surfaces. This study aims to analyze the relationship between these indices ... Read More Solar radiation is one of the most significant factors affecting energy performance in cold climates, and the spatial configuration indices of urban fabric play a direct role in determining the level of solar access to building surfaces. This study aims to analyze the relationship between these indices and solar radiation absorption in the cold climate of Hamadan, Iran. To achieve this, 20 urban fabric typologies were simulated using DesignBuilder software with the EnergyPlus engine, and annual as well as seasonal solar radiation absorption values were calculated. Statistical analyses, including correlation coefficient, analysis of variance (ANOVA), multiple regression, principal component analysis (PCA), and K-means clustering, were conducted in Python. The results indicated that geometric indices have a statistically significant effect on solar radiation absorption (p < 0.05), and the regression model explained a substantial proportion of the observed variations (R²Total = 0.90, R²Winter = 0.90, R²Annual = 0.90, and R²Summer = 0.79). Three indices—S/A, Ssun/A, and H/Wanua—showed the strongest influence. PCA revealed two principal components explaining 79.35% of the total variance: the first component represented solar exposure capacity/development of physical surface areas, while the second reflected shading intensity. Cluster analysis identified three morphological typologies (shaded, solar-exposed, and open morphology), which exhibited significant differences in winter solar absorption (F = 18.227, p < 0.001). The main innovation of this study is the introduction of the Seasonal Solar Balance Index (SSBI), which evaluates the balance between maximizing winter solar gain and controlling summer solar exposure, thereby providing a quantitative tool for design decision-making. SSBI showed significant differences among the identified typologies, with the “solar-exposed” typology achieving the highest value and the best overall seasonal performance balance. This typology, through an appropriate combination of envelope surface development and controlled shaded surfaces, enhances winter solar access while relatively limiting excessive summer radiation. These findings provide a quantitative framework for guiding urban design in cold climates. It is recommended that urban designers prioritize greater solar exposure and controlled shaded surface ratios within street networks and mass–space configurations, while policymakers integrate the proposed thresholds into local design guidelines to ensure seasonal balance in solar performance at the urban fabric scale.

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Exploring the Linkage between Social Resilience and Urban Governance: A Mixed-Methods Study in Borujerd, Iran

leila sahraei cheshmehsardeh

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 30 July 2026

https://doi.org/10.22034/urbs.2026.145296.5245

Abstract

Qualitative Analysis of the Mechanisms Shaping Social Resilience in Relation to Urban Governance in the Context of Borujerd Leila Sahraei Cheshmeh Sarde¹, Alireza Sheikh al-Islami²*, Ahmad Pourahmad³, Hassan Piriaei⁴ Extendedabstract Introduction In recent years, social resilience has emerged as ... Read More Qualitative Analysis of the Mechanisms Shaping Social Resilience in Relation to Urban Governance in the Context of Borujerd Leila Sahraei Cheshmeh Sarde¹, Alireza Sheikh al-Islami²*, Ahmad Pourahmad³, Hassan Piriaei⁴ Extendedabstract Introduction In recent years, social resilience has emerged as a critical component of sustainable urban development, particularly in cities facing increasing social, economic, and spatial pressures. Medium-sized cities in Iran, such as Borujerd, experience compounded challenges related to unequal access to urban services, weakened institutional trust, and limited citizen participation in decision-making processes. These challenges undermine the capacity of local communities to adapt to, recover from, and collectively respond to urban stresses and disruptions. Urban governance plays a decisive role in shaping social resilience through institutional arrangements, decision-making mechanisms, and the quality of interactions between citizens and public institutions. In particular, spatial justice and institutional trust have been identified as key determinants influencing citizens’ perceptions of fairness, legitimacy, and responsiveness of urban management. Despite growing scholarly attention to social resilience, the mechanisms through which urban governance contributes to resilience—especially in the Iranian urban context—remain insufficiently explored. This study addresses this gap by analyzing the causal mechanisms linking urban governance to social resilience, with a specific focus on spatial justice as a causal driver and institutional trust as a mediating variable in the city of Borujerd. Theoretical Framework The theoretical foundation of this study integrates concepts from social resilience, urban governance, and spatial justice. Social resilience is conceptualized as a multidimensional capacity rooted in social capital, trust, collective learning, and institutional embeddedness. From a governance perspective, “good urban governance” emphasizes participation, transparency, accountability, and equity in urban decision-making processes. Spatial justice serves as a critical causal mechanism through which governance quality becomes socially perceptible. Equitable distribution of urban services, infrastructure, and public spaces shapes citizens’ everyday experiences and directly influences their trust in urban institutions. Institutional trust, in turn, functions as a mediating mechanism that transforms governance practices into collective adaptive capacity. Accordingly, the study proposes a causal pathway in which urban governance influences social resilience primarily through spatial justice and institutional trust, rather than through direct effects alone. Methodology This research adopts a sequential exploratory mixed-methods design (qualitative → quantitative) with an applied research orientation. In the qualitative phase, in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 40 experts, including urban planners, municipal managers, sociologists, local activists, and community representatives in Borujerd. The qualitative data were analyzed using thematic content analysis, leading to the identification of key constructs and the development of a context-sensitive conceptual model. Based on the qualitative findings, a researcher-designed questionnaire was developed for the quantitative phase. Data were collected from 384 residents of Borujerd using multi-stage cluster sampling to ensure spatial representation across different urban zones. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was employed to test the proposed model using AMOS software. Measurement validity and reliability were confirmed through multiple indicators. Convergent validity was verified with a Content Validity Ratio (CVR = 0.81), and internal consistency reliability was confirmed with a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.92. Sampling adequacy was supported by a Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin (KMO) value of 0.89. Model fit indices demonstrated satisfactory fit (RMSEA = 0.053, GFI = 0.91, AGFI = 0.87). Results and Discussion The results indicate that urban governance has a positive and statistically significant effect on social resilience in Borujerd. However, this effect is substantially strengthened through indirect pathways. Spatial justice emerged as a strong causal mechanism linking governance quality to institutional trust, while institutional trust played a decisive mediating role in enhancing social resilience. The findings confirm that citizens’ perceptions of fair distribution of services and opportunities are foundational to building trust in urban institutions. Governance practices that fail to address spatial inequalities weaken institutional legitimacy and, consequently, reduce social resilience capacity. Conversely, governance that prioritizes equitable access, transparency, and accountability fosters trust, collective engagement, and adaptive capacity at the neighborhood level. These results highlight the importance of indirect governance mechanisms and suggest that resilience-oriented urban management must move beyond formal administrative efficiency toward socially embedded and distributive governance practices. Conclusion This study demonstrates that social resilience in Borujerd is not merely an outcome of economic or physical conditions but is fundamentally shaped by governance-related social mechanisms. Spatial justice functions as a causal driver, and institutional trust acts as a key mediating mechanism through which urban governance influences social resilience. The proposed model offers a context-specific framework for understanding resilience in medium-sized Iranian cities and underscores the need for participatory, transparent, and equity-oriented governance approaches to enhance urban resilience. Keywords Social Resilience; Institutional Trust; Spatial Justice; Neighborhood Networks; Borujerd

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Explaining the Effects of Massing and Spatial Enclosure on the Perception of Thermal Comfort in Urban Streets (Case Study: Noubahaar Street, Kermanshah)

Hassan sajadzadeh; Mohsen Taban; Maryam Jafari

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 30 July 2026

https://doi.org/10.22034/urbs.2026.145906.5288

Abstract

Climate change and accelerated urbanization have made the redefinition of public space design patterns with a climate-oriented approach inevitable. Despite numerous studies in hot climates emphasizing increased enclosure and shading, a significant knowledge gap exists in explaining optimal massing and ... Read More Climate change and accelerated urbanization have made the redefinition of public space design patterns with a climate-oriented approach inevitable. Despite numerous studies in hot climates emphasizing increased enclosure and shading, a significant knowledge gap exists in explaining optimal massing and spatial enclosure patterns for thermal comfort in cold and semi-arid climates. This research aims to fill this gap by quantitatively investigating the impact of physical indicators—including height-to-width ratio (H/W), shadow angle, and spatial openness—on pedestrians' perception of thermal comfort in Shahid Noubahaar Street, Kermanshah. The methodological approach of this study integrates three complementary strategies: first, field microclimatic measurements conducted on February 15, 2016, using instruments for temperature, humidity, wind speed, and radiation at 1.5 meters above ground level; second, microclimate simulation using ENVI-met software version 5.5 with 1-meter grid resolution, validated against field data; and third, shadow mask analysis using a protractor tool to calculate shadow angles of eastern and western building fronts at different times of day. Noubahaar Street was selected as the case study due to its enclosure diversity across four distinct sections (A, B, C, D), active land use with high pedestrian traffic, and suitable access for field measurements. Kermanshah, located at 34°19' north latitude and 1,322 meters above sea level, has a cold mountainous climate. The findings demonstrate that reduced enclosure (lower H/W ratio) during the cold season significantly increases the relationship between mean radiant temperature (Tmrt) and the Predicted Mean Vote (PMV) index. Linear regression analysis confirms a strong correlation (R² = 0.77) between these two variables, meaning that approximately 77% of the variation in pedestrians thermal perception on winter days is explained by received solar radiation. Conversely, high enclosure with stable shadows leads to reduced Tmrt and intensified cold sensation. Shadow angle analysis across the four street sections revealed that the western front (29° angle) and eastern front (23° angle) create significant thermal asymmetry in the existing condition. Based on these analyses, contextual and quantitative design strategies have been proposed. In Section A, reducing the western front's shadow angle from 29° to 20° through stepped setbacks (second-layer buildings up to 18 meters height followed by 9-meter deep setbacks) along with controlled increase of the eastern front's angle to 30° using strategic evergreen tree planting is recommended. In Section B, permitted height increase in future developments conditional on maintaining 26° shadow angles for both fronts is proposed. Section C, which has the most unbalanced conditions (eastern front 8°, western front 35°), would benefit from reducing the western angle to 32° and increasing the eastern angle to 15°, resulting in significant reduction of shadow coverage at street level by noon and shifting thermal conditions from "cold" to "neutral-comfortable." In Section D, creating spatial openings 7.2 meters deep within building masses, planting deciduous trees with horizontal canopies in the median strip, and installing a horizontal lattice canopy at 4 meters height are proposed. The discussion reveals that the findings are significantly aligned with existing theoretical and empirical literature while extending and localizing prior knowledge. Unlike hot climates where increased enclosure is the primary strategy, in Kermanshah's cold climate, reduced enclosure and increased spatial openness play a more determining role in winter thermal comfort. This finding fully aligns with Guo et al. (2024) in China's cold climate, confirming the necessity of redefining "optimal enclosure" independently for each climate. Furthermore, the strong correlation between Tmrt and PMV (R² = 0.77) emphasizes the vital role of solar radiation in outdoor thermal comfort, consistent with Ji et al. (2022) and the foundational theories of Höppe (1999) and Matzarakis (1999). The design strategies demonstrate a multi-seasonal and dynamic approach, not only optimizing winter radiation but also addressing the inherent contradiction of thermal needs across seasons through summer shading. This aligns with Taleghani et al. (2015), who identified semi-open forms as providing the best radiation-shade balance. The creation of spatial openings and small plazas (as proposed for Section D) extends beyond purely climatic solutions to create collective spaces and enhance social life, directly corresponding to Paale and Ginge (2025), who emphasize the link between urban form, thermal comfort, and public space dynamics, considering thermal comfort a necessary condition for civil life and citizen presence in the public realm. This research, by providing a quantitative and contextual model for intelligent enclosure management in urban streets within cold climates, not only contributes to the development of climate-responsive design knowledge but also provides operational tools for urban designers and planners to enhance environmental quality and public space vitality. The findings conclusively demonstrate that massing and spatial enclosure have direct and significant effects on pedestrians' thermal comfort perception. In cold climates, street design must ensure pedestrian comfort through maximum solar radiation absorption in winter and appropriate shading in summer. The use of deciduous trees, high thermal mass materials, and stepped building setbacks at higher elevations are among the effective strategies in this context. The research concludes that in north-south oriented streets within cold climates, the height of eastern building fronts affects morning radiation reception, while western front heights influence late-afternoon reception. Through physical modifications and passive solar design strategies—even modest increases in solar radiation—thermal comfort can be meaningfully enhanced. The innovation of this research lies in three levels: methodologically, integrating field measurements, microclimate simulation, and shadow mask analysis; analytically, separately analyzing eastern and western fronts to explain thermal asymmetry; and strategically, extracting quantitative, contextual setback patterns with specific angles (reducing western shadow angle from 29° to 20°, increasing eastern angle from 23° to 30°) that maximize winter radiation while maintaining building density.

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