Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

• hamed abbasi ¹
• Pejman Shaghaghi ²

¹ Department of Urbanism, Faculty of Art and Architecture, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan,Iran

² Department of Urban Planning, Faculty of Art and Architecture, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran

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 model—based on three indicators of built density, permeability, and information—provides an innovative tool for analyzing urban structures. This study applies and adapts the model to Qajar‑period Hamedan, seeking to determine the city’s position within the Morphospace Cube and its relationship to the drivers of urban formation. The research is motivated by two gaps: the absence of systematic quantitative studies on the morphology of Iran’s historic cities, and the need to align contemporary theoretical models with historical contexts where data are limited. The methodology relies on documentary analysis and the reconstruction of historical maps. Three primary data sources were used: a reconstructed 100×100‑meter grid map for calculating built density; the Russian Army map led by Colonel Cherikov for identifying key urban functions; and the Royal Geographical Society map for analyzing street networks and permeability. Findings indicate that built density is approximately 0.43, permeability 0.54, and spatial information 0.57. These values suggest that Qajar‑era Hamedan occupied or approached the equilibrium zone of the Morphospace Cube, with “commercialization,” accompanied by emerging occupational specialization, acting as the principal driver of urban development. Accordingly, this study not only proposes a methodological approach for analyzing historic cities with limited data but also contributes to the application of contemporary morphological models in the historiography of Iranian urbanism.

Keywords

• Qajar‑Period Hamedan
• Morphospace Cube
• Urban Morphology
• Density
• Permeability
• Information

Main Subjects

• Islamic- Iranian Cities