Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

• nasrin mohammadi ¹
• Rouhollah Rahimi ¹
• Vahid Vaziri ²

¹ Department of Architecture ,Faculty of Arts & Architecture, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran.

² Department of Architecture, Faculty of Art & Architecture, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili , Iran.

Abstract

Highlights

Examines the role of urban behavioral settings in strengthening place attachment.
Employs a hybrid method combining Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP).
Case study: western façade of Imam Khomeini Street in Ardabil, Iran.
Identifies three key components of behavioral settings influencing citizens’ mental maps.
Provides a ranked set of strategies to reinforce place identity and urban legibility.

 
Extended Abstract

Introduction

In recent decades, the rapid transformation and uncontrolled expansion of cities have weakened citizens’ emotional bonds with urban spaces, particularly in historic contexts with strong cultural identities. Urban planning practices have often overlooked these affective connections. Imam Khomeini Street in Ardabil—one of the oldest and most vital urban axes—illustrates this challenge. This study seeks to identify and prioritize the components of behavioral settings that strengthen place attachment, using citizens’ mental maps as a key analytical tool.

Theoretical Framework

Place attachment refers to the emotional bonds people establish with specific environments. It is shaped by both cognitive and affective processes, closely linked to perceptions of safety, identity, and satisfaction.
Behavioral settings are urban spaces that accommodate spontaneous public interactions and reflect diverse user needs, thereby influencing behavior and collective memory.
Mental maps represent individuals’ cognitive and emotional perceptions of urban environments, typically consisting of nodes, landmarks, edges, and paths.
This study draws on phenomenological and environmental psychology perspectives to highlight the interconnectedness of urban form, human perception, and behavior.

Methodology

This applied-developmental research employs a mixed-method approach combining quantitative analysis and expert evaluations:

Survey: A sample of 384 Ardabil residents responded to a Likert-scale questionnaire, designed from existing literature, validated via CFA (Confirmatory Factor Analysis), and with strong reliability (Cronbach's alpha > 0.9).
Structural Equation Modeling (SEM): Used to examine relationships between urban facades, mental images, and place attachment. Indicators including RMSEA, CFI, and GFI confirmed model fit.
Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP): Based on SEM outcomes, AHP was employed to rank the identified factors. Fifteen urban planning experts conducted pairwise comparisons, with weights and consistency indices calculated using Expert Choice software.

Case study area: The western side of Imam Khomeini Street, from Shariati Junction to Imam Khomeini Crossroad, a historically and spatially significant axis in Ardabil.

Results and Discussion

SEM findings confirmed three hypotheses:

Urban facades significantly influence mental images (β = 0.611).
Urban facades significantly affect place attachment (β = 0.240).
Mental images mediate the relationship between urban form and place attachment (β = 0.536).

AHP results identified three ranked dimensions of behavioral settings:

B. Enhancing place attachment and spatial legibility through key land uses and iconic buildings (Weight: 0.453) – highest rank.
A. Preserving identity and highlighting site-specific characteristics (Weight: 0.366).
C. Strengthening mental images of urban facades (Weight: 0.181).

Among 11 sub-criteria, the most influential were:

Functionally unique urban spaces (0.270).
Incorporating citizens’ needs into design (0.188).
Visual distinctiveness (0.183).

The results demonstrate a layered relationship between built form, perception, and emotional bonds, mediated by visual cues, iconic nodes, and functional identity. These findings align with Lynch’s (1960) theory of legibility, Relph’s (1976) work on place identity, and more recent studies by Ramkissoon, Mouratidis, and Mehta.

Conclusion

This research developed and tested an operational framework to identify and prioritize components of place attachment in urban behavioral settings, focusing on Imam Khomeini Street in Ardabil. The integrated use of SEM and AHP provided both statistical validation and practical prioritization of factors influencing attachment.
Key findings emphasize that:

Spatial legibility and iconic landmarks are the strongest contributors to place attachment.
Functional responsiveness to citizens’ needs enhances both perception and satisfaction.
Visual distinctiveness reinforces mental imagery and strengthens symbolic value.

Importantly, the study underscores that place attachment is not reducible to physical form alone. Instead, it emerges from the dynamic interplay between tangible elements (facades, land uses, urban design), subjective perceptions (mental maps, imagery), and socio-cultural context (identity, tradition, community engagement).
From a planning perspective, these insights call for a holistic, multi-layered approach to urban regeneration—one that integrates physical coherence with cultural continuity and participatory engagement. The proposed framework is both theoretically innovative and practically adaptable, offering a transferable tool for other cities with historic and cultural significance.
Ultimately, by embedding citizens’ lived experiences and perceptual maps into the planning process, urban designers and policymakers can create spaces that are not only functional and aesthetically coherent but also emotionally resonant, culturally grounded, and socially inclusive. Such environments foster deeper bonds between people and place, ensuring urban resilience and sustainable identity in the face of rapid change.

Keywords

• Place attachment
• Behavioral settings
• Mental maps
• Urban space

Main Subjects

• environmental psychology