Journal of Urban Studies on Space and Place

Abstract This research is related to the evaluation of the components of the beauty of the environment on the quality of public spaces in the Azimieh area of Karaj city. Four components of the quality of public spaces and fourteen components of the beauty of the environment have been selected. In the next step, the relationship between these two categories of variables and their situation at the regional level has been evaluated. The research method is descriptive-survey. A checklist of components was prepared. SPSS software was used for data analysis and Vaycor ranking technique was used to rank neighborhoods. The determined indicators of the quality of urban public spaces using the KMO index have obtained a value higher than 0.7 and the components of visual aesthetics of the city have obtained a value higher than 0.8, and the reliability value of the items using Cronbach's alpha coefficient has been 0.702. The correlation test was used to analyze the relationship between the components of the quality of public spaces, and the Kruskal-Wallis test was used to analyze the hypothesis related to the existence of a significant difference between the components, due to the non-normality of the data. In the next step, using the Vicor ranking technique, the thirteen neighborhoods were ranked based on the quality variables of public spaces and visual aesthetics. In the GIS environment, the information layer related to the indicators should be formed and spatial distribution maps should be drawn. The results of the research showed that there is a significant difference between the components of the quality of public spaces and the beauty of the environment at the level of the studied area. Also, the ranking results show that in neighborhoods with low levels of beauty components (neighborhood: Moradab Hill, Izadpanah St., Hosseinabad), they have lower environmental quality as a result of urban landscape quality and visual well-being. In contrast, the neighborhoods of Mehran Street, Esbi Street and Resalat Street are in a good condition in terms of the quality of the environment and the beauty of the city view. 

Abstract The weakening of livelihood assets of local communities and poverty in the general sense is one of the fundamental challenges in the world, especially in developing societies. Due to the special economic and environmental conditions of the country, Iran is not exempt from this and many of its regions and settlements are facing livelihood challenges. Because the country of Iran has different conditions in its different regions due to the inclusion of a wide range of human and environmental conditions; The way of dealing with the factors affecting the livelihood of the households living in its areas is different from each other and it is necessary to take appropriate measures according to the specific conditions governing each one, which requires the identification of the main factors affecting the livelihood.
The current research method is of applied type and using the method of future research, interviews were conducted with key people in the settlements of Maneh township (118 settlements) in the form of inductive research and using the fundamental theory method, cross effects analysis, and Mic Mac software have been analyzed and evaluated in a combined way.
The research results indicate the unstable conditions of livelihood assets in the residential areas of Maneh. However, various factors are involved in the destabilization of the livelihood structure of the city. However, among these factors, those directly related to humans and their activities have had the most impact, and since most of these factors have high uncertainty, the way to deal with them should be appropriate to the changing conditions.

Abstract The historical context of Isfahan in the Shahshahan neighborhood, in the vicinity of Isfahan Jame Mosque, has valuable historical elements that provide the possibility of culture-led regeneration in this area. Also, various religious and ritual cultural events, numerous handicraft workshops, and artists' presence in this field have given a unique structure to this context. However, the lack of a culture-led regeneration approach and physical approach to the restoration of historical buildings without taking into account the construction pattern of the entire structure and activity changes and the injection of new uses, the lack of consideration of the cultural and artistic values ​​of this area and the neglect of the requirements of the tourism industry have caused this. Historical context cannot attract tourists to the extent of its capabilities. Therefore, this research seeks to apply strategic studies to provide a network of interconnected tourism axes along historical elements and ritual and cultural poles in the Shahshahan neighborhood to transform it into a creative handicraft neighborhood as a target area for tourism development. This research is descriptive and exploratory based on the type of applied research, and in terms of method, it is among the qualitative research based on the research strategy. The research process was carried out to prepare the theoretical framework of creative tourism and culture-led regeneration. In the next stage, the studies related to the project "Redefining the Role of Tourism Target Neighborhoods in the Direction of Tourism Development" of the Shahshahan neighborhood were reviewed and based on the theoretical framework of research, analysis, and The goal achievement matrix was presented based on the regeneration components with creative tourism approach. Finally, the action plans were presented as a network map of creative tourism routes and a list of proposed projects in restoration, functional, urban space, and beautification projects. The results show that this neighborhood, with its many historical elements and buildings with architectural value, the activities of handicraft workshops and artists, and a variety of religious and ritual activities, has unique capabilities to become a creative neighborhood of handicrafts and a tourist destination of the historical context of Isfahan city. As Isfahan is a part of the network of creative cities in the field of handicrafts, the design of the network of tourism routes is an excellent opportunity to create a suitable space for presenting capacities, abilities, workshops, and handicraft works as creative industries in the order of experience-oriented touristic routes with a particular theme in this area.

Abstract The attitude of the host community towards the development of tourism is a subject that has recently received attention. The host community consists of a set of official agents, such as officials and agents of the tourism field, and informal agents, such as the residents of the tourism area. Residents of the tourism area in cities are citizens who are affected by urban events. Therefore, they will interact with the tourists of their city and evaluate the common tourism process in the city. In the present research, it has been tried to describe and analyze the citizens' understanding of the consequences of the presence of tourists for the urban space of Isfahan. The data of this study is a combination of two research projects that were conducted in 2014 and 2016. Citizens aged 15 to 65 in the fifteen districts of Isfahan city were the studied community in these two studies. And the method of data collection in both researches is survey. The results of the research indicate that the citizens of Isfahan consider the consequences of tourism for the urban space of Isfahan, including ten main themes in two dimensions: positive consequences and negative consequences. These themes include "creating employment, improving the quality of life of citizens, increasing cultural interactions, increasing services and facilities in the city and increasing security and reducing crime" in the dimension of positive consequences and "increasing traffic in the city, increasing prices and costs of living, limiting visits Among the tourist attractions for citizens, restrictions on the use of urban facilities and services and the increase in environmental pollution in tourist places are negative consequences. Citizens' evaluation of these consequences shows that positive consequences prevail over negative consequence.

Abstract The use of fossil fuels as the main source of energy and the resulting environmental concerns are the most challenging issues of the 21st century. In the meantime, buildings consume about 40% of the total energy produced worldwide. In most cities of Iran, especially in desert areas with rich architecture, such as Qaenat city, unstable forms of newly built structures have caused serious damage to the stable appearance of these cities. In this research, the role of the factors affecting urban planning based on sustainable buildings in the Qaenat city has been investigated using the dynamic system method in order to identify the factors affecting sustainable urban development and the type of their impact on each of them. In this regard, after studying the background of the research and extracting some components of the model, from interviews with 17 active members of architecture companies and university professors in the fields of architecture and renewable energy production, to investigate the role of factors affecting urban planning. Then these identified factors were analyzed using a quantitative method and using a dynamic system. The modeling method used in this research includes four stages, which are: qualitative modeling, quantitative modeling, model testing, and testing. In this research, Vensim PLE 7.3.5 software is used to simulate the dynamic model. The findings indicate that urban planning factors in the city are divided into five categories, including transportation, social, cultural, economic and energy sustainability and urban environment. The results have shown that sustainable buildings have direct effects on the components of a sustainable city. These buildings are very effective in reducing pollution, producing clean energy and improving the urban landscape.

Abstract Introduction
 The focus is on defining resilient communities as local institutional and adaptive capacities, skills, energy and resources that empower local individuals and groups to take control of their communities to determine how to build strong, healthy and vibrant communities in which people are proud to live. Local communities, as the cells of urban life, are part of the spatial organization of the city that have the ability to be identified socio-culturally. Values such as social trust, social solidarity and social integration are seen as internal capacities and hidden wealth in urban local communities. Despite the efforts made, the lack of deep clarity in the conceptualization of local community resilience is one of the main reasons for the confusion about related concepts, so that it can be said that to date, a comprehensive model of local community resilience that includes the functioning of all physical and socio-economic components from the immediate impact to the recovery phase in the face of a crisis has not been available, or clarifying the concept and operationalizing the mechanisms that lead to increasing the capacity of the local community for resilience has been ignored, and until there is a correct and accurate understanding of the concept, it is not possible to move towards operationalizing it in the real city context. This research gap emphasizes the innovative aspect of the upcoming study. Therefore, the need to address this issue in order to make human settlements as sustainable as possible is felt more than ever. The aim of this article is to apply resilience thinking in the social space of urban neighborhoods and to present a resilient neighborhood model from a social perspective through a descriptive-analytical review of theoretical literature. In this regard, the main questions are posed as follows: What dimensions does a rigorous definition of a resilient local community cover? And what are the themes, categories, and levels of the resilient urban neighborhood model in its social space?
Theoretical framework
This research, which aims to apply resilience thinking in the social space of urban neighborhoods and present a resilient neighborhood model from a social perspective through a descriptive-analytical review of theoretical literature, seeks to answer the first question, namely, what dimensions does a rigorous definition of a resilient local community cover? After reviewing studies in this field, and considering that it seems that three general categories of definitions can be identified; Definitions regarding the process of resilience, definitions regarding the neutralization of adverse effects and the ability to maintain sustainable performance, and definitions that address the range of characteristics of resilient communities provide the following definition: "By understanding resilience as a process, local community resilience can be introduced as an integrated framework including interactions between enabling factors (citizens, institutions, public attention and government support) and capacities (such as coping, adaptation and providing solutions) that are current at different levels. In fact, local community resilience is defined as the ability of a community to resist crises or disruptions, which emphasizes variables related to leadership, collective efficacy, attachment to place, preparedness, learning and social trust. The local community as a whole must effectively cope with adversity and learn from it."
Methodology
In order to achieve the main objective of the research, the methodology is followed in two main steps; A systematic review of the studies conducted as the first step, for a descriptive analysis of the general characteristics of these studies, including the process of publication and temporal and geographical distribution and extraction of the main sources to conduct a qualitative content analysis as the second step. The PRISMA method was used for a systematic review of the studies conducted due to the clarity of the steps and a more detailed examination. In response to the main research question and within the framework of the interpretivist paradigm, a qualitative content analysis method guided by an inductive approach was used. This analysis was carried out in 4 stages including summarization, coding, classification and discovery of themes.
Result and Discussion
A descriptive analysis of all studies conducted in the field of local community resilience shows that after a steady trend from the beginning, resilience theories have been raised more seriously in 2015. This increasing trend continues at a very high speed until it reaches its peak between 2020 and 2022. This period coincides with the onset of the global pandemic, and the resurgence of ideas related to local soft governance and micro-planning in self-sufficient and autonomous neighborhoods and resilient communities. Also, in the two-phase search that was conducted (1993-2015 and 2016-2024), the graphs show that in addition to the multiplicity of links in the second period, in the latter period, the multiplicity of keywords used has grown significantly and has generally shifted from general and general areas such as individuals, adults, parents, infrastructure, green space and the like, towards more specialized micro-areas such as environmental psychology, spatial poverty, vulnerable groups, racial and minority issues and gender, local governance, environmental perception, mental disorders, well-being, coping behavior, environmental violence, etc.
Conclusion
In the presented model, 3 layers or levels can be identified, the first level includes the management-institutional system and includes the factors that empower local communities, and decision-making and regulation tasks occur in this layer. This level interacts closely with its lower level, the central layer, which oversees the capacities and potentials of communities and is responsible for providing public services with the aim of supporting and protecting against crises. The lower level also creates the physical-spatial context of the above levels and includes environmental elements and components and spatial patterns or the objective manifestation of the local community. The three themes of mobilization capacity, experience capacity, and role-taking capacity are established in all the aforementioned levels and are expressed through the 12 categories stated, in a round-trip cycle.
 

Abstract Introduction
 Public spaces have always been fundamental to the urban fabric, acting as physical venues for social interactions and enduring symbols of cultural and social identity. Across civilizations, such spaces have provided a sense of continuity, reflecting their societies' values, priorities, and aspirations. In Iranian architecture, public spaces such as squares, markets, mosques, and gardens hold particular importance. These spaces were thoughtfully designed over various historical periods to address a spectrum of needs, from facilitating trade and social gatherings to fostering spiritual and recreational experiences. Their defining features include a focus on human scale, climate-appropriate designs, and a deep respect for the social, cultural, and economic contexts in which they were embedded.
In contemporary times, the rapid pace of urbanization, changing lifestyles, and evolving societal values have transformed the role and expectations of public spaces. Once primarily centered on singular or localized functions, modern public spaces are expected to address a broader and more diverse array of needs. They must accommodate the demands of dense urban living, provide platforms for cultural expression and community engagement, and adapt to changing mobility and technology use patterns. Designing multifunctional spaces that cater to these diverse requirements has become a challenge and a necessity in urban planning and architecture.
Beyond merely fulfilling physical needs, contemporary public spaces must also foster a sense of connection among citizens and between individuals and their environment. They should provide opportunities for social interactions, encourage recreation, and strengthen the sense of belonging and identity within urban communities. These spaces can unite, bridging generational and cultural divides while promoting inclusivity and accessibility for all societal groups.
This research investigates the successful attributes of traditional public spaces in Iran, uncovering their enduring relevance in today's urban contexts. By analyzing principles such as human-centered design, multifunctionality, and integration with cultural and historical values, the study proposes guidelines for creating contemporary public spaces. While addressing the practical needs of modern society, these spaces must also serve as custodians of cultural heritage, ensuring that the identity and legacy of their communities endure amidst the dynamism of urban evolution.
 Methodology
This research employs a historical-evolutionary method combined with a qualitative approach. Historical documents and sources related to Iranian architecture and urban planning during the Ilkhanid, Timurid, Safavid, and Qajar periods were analyzed in the initial stage. These periods were selected for their profound influence on the development of public spaces. Content analysis of these historical sources focused on uncovering the spaces' architectural, social, and cultural characteristics.
In the second stage, field studies were conducted in Isfahan, examining locations such as Shahid Rajai Parks, Nazhvan, Mardavij, Khaju Bridge, Si-o-Se Pol Bridge, Shahrestan Bridge, and the Metropol Complex on Chaharbagh Street. Citizen interviews and direct observations of how these spaces are utilized provided insight into contemporary needs and expectations. Finally, the data were synthesized using comparative analysis to propose design solutions tailored to modern multifunctional spaces.
Conclusion
 This research analyzes successful historical collective space design principles and adapts them to contemporary needs, yielding valuable insights. Key findings include:
Contemporary Markets: Modern markets should integrate public and private spaces to facilitate social and commercial interactions.
Squares as Cultural Hubs: Public squares must be designed for cultural, educational, and recreational activities and serve as venues for community engagement.
Gardens as Educational Centers: Green spaces should incorporate educational and cultural elements alongside recreational uses.
Cultural Identity in Design: Emphasizing local cultural identity in public spaces can enhance community attachment and collective identity.
Overall, applying successful historical patterns to contemporary design can improve urban life quality and create spaces that address citizens' cultural, social, and psychological needs.

Abstract Extended Abstract
Introduction
The present research addresses the pivotal challenge of aligning architectural education with the inherent spatial capacities of indigenous environments. The core issue identified in this study is the lack of comprehensive frameworks within architectural curricula that integrate indigenous spatial knowledge with contemporary design mechanisms. Traditional architectural education often overlooks the nuanced interactions between local spatial capacities and human-environment relationships. This oversight results in architects who are less equipped to incorporate indigenous patterns into modern interventions, consequently diminishing the contextual integrity of architectural outputs. The research highlights the necessity to redefine the indigenous architecture course content by recognizing the environmental, cultural, and socio-spatial characteristics of various locales.
The primary objective of this study is to develop an educational framework that bridges the gap between indigenous spatial patterns and contemporary architectural practices. By doing so, the study aims to offer a pragmatic approach to reproducing indigenous architectural concepts within the context of modern design challenges. Through this endeavor, the research seeks to enhance students' capacity to perceive, analyze, and apply local spatial capacities in architectural solutions that are both sustainable and contextually responsive.
The necessity of this research stems from the increasing demand for sustainable and contextually grounded architectural practices. Environmental degradation, loss of cultural identity, and the homogenization of urban spaces have underscored the importance of place-based approaches in architectural education. Addressing these challenges requires a curriculum that fosters a deeper understanding of spatial capacities unique to each locale. The research asserts that embedding such knowledge within architectural education can significantly improve the quality of designed environments and promote cultural resilience in built forms.
Methodology
Methodologically, the study adopts a qualitative thematic analysis approach. This method is chosen due to its capability to identify and interpret patterns within qualitative data, particularly in complex and multi-dimensional subjects like architecture. The research process involves a systematic review of 60 books and 50 scholarly articles, selected from an initial pool of over 200 studies. The stages of research include data collection, coding, theme identification, and the development of a theoretical framework that connects indigenous spatial knowledge with contemporary architectural design.
The research progresses through several structured stages. The initial phase involves defining the research problem by identifying gaps in the current indigenous architecture curriculum. This is followed by sample selection from relevant literature to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the subject. Data collection is performed through a meticulous examination of textual sources, with an emphasis on identifying themes related to indigenous spatial patterns and their contemporary applications.
The next stage involves converting data into textual formats for coding and analysis. Familiarization with the collected data allows for the initial identification of key themes and concepts. The coding process is conducted based on theoretical principles, focusing on core elements relevant to the research's hypothesis. Descriptive coding further refines the data by categorizing it based on specific attributes linked to the themes of indigenous architecture.
Subsequently, the study searches for themes that encapsulate broader patterns observed in the data. These themes are reviewed and refined to ensure their relevance and coherence with the research objectives. Key thematic areas identified include spatial capacities, indigenous environmental interactions, and the cultural implications of architectural practices. The refinement process leads to the naming and defining of core themes that align with the educational goals of the indigenous architecture course.
Result and discussion
Achieving theoretical saturation is crucial to ensuring that all relevant dimensions of the research problem are comprehensively covered. The study revisits earlier phases to validate the robustness of the identified themes and their interconnections. Data analysis involves creating a thematic network that visually represents the relationships between themes and sub-themes. This network facilitates a holistic understanding of indigenous spatial knowledge and its pedagogical integration.
Further analysis involves synthesizing the thematic findings into a cohesive curriculum framework for the indigenous architecture course. This framework comprises 16 thematic combinations that align behavioral objectives with identified spatial capacities. The curriculum design includes detailed lesson plans, covering time allocations, lesson topics, key content, teaching methods, and contextual materials for each of the 16 sessions.
The study's key findings reveal that indigenous spatial patterns hold significant potential for enhancing architectural education. Themes such as environmental sustainability, cultural identity, and spatial adaptability emerge as central concepts that can enrich the indigenous architecture curriculum. The research demonstrates that incorporating indigenous knowledge into architectural education can foster more sustainable and culturally resonant design practices.
Conclusion
The final conclusion emphasizes the importance of integrating indigenous spatial knowledge into architectural curricula to address contemporary design challenges. The proposed curriculum framework can serve as a model for other architectural courses, promoting a holistic and context-sensitive approach to architectural education. By acknowledging and utilizing indigenous spatial capacities, the study advocates for a paradigm shift in architectural pedagogy, aligning theoretical knowledge with practical design applications.
The practical implications of this research extend beyond academic settings. By fostering a deeper understanding of local spatial capacities, future architects can create designs that are more attuned to environmental and cultural contexts. This approach not only enhances the sustainability of built environments but also strengthens the cultural continuity of architectural practices. The study underscores the need for continuous adaptation and evolution of architectural curricula to reflect the dynamic interplay between place, culture, and design.

Abstract Introduction
With the rapid expansion of urbanization and the increasing complexity of spatial and social dynamics in contemporary cities, urban design has emerged as a critical discipline in enhancing the quality of life. While visual and physical aspects have traditionally dominated design practices, the sensory dimension—particularly sound—has remained underrepresented. Human interaction with the environment, however, is inherently multisensory. The soundscape, as an integral part of spatial perception, has a profound effect on emotional well-being, place attachment, and social interaction. This research addresses the need to integrate acoustic considerations into urban design, focusing on how sound influences the sense of place in public urban spaces. Despite its fundamental role, sound is often perceived as a background phenomenon, treated either as an environmental nuisance or overlooked entirely in urban planning discourses. Yet emerging interdisciplinary perspectives reveal that auditory experiences can actively shape spatial legibility, behavioral patterns, and social inclusivity. The inclusion of sound as a design parameter not only enhances aesthetic and functional dimensions of space but also aligns with the broader goal of creating health-promoting, equitable, and emotionally resonant urban environments. Recognizing the soundscape as a spatial resource invites designers to engage with acoustic diversity and narrative, turning ordinary urban settings into immersive and meaningful places.
Theoretical Framework
sound functions as a cultural, ecological, and aesthetic dimension of space. Schafer’s foundational work in The Tuning of the World (1977) emphasized the idea that societies are shaped not only by what they see but also by what they hear, introducing key distinctions such as hi-fi (high-fidelity) and lo-fi (low-fidelity) environments—where clarity or masking of sound affects perception and experience. Later expanded by Truax (2001) through the lens of soundscape composition and real-time acoustic interaction, and further developed by Kang & Schulte-Fortkamp (2016) within the framework of soundscape standardization (e.g., ISO 12913), this theory underlies the emerging interdisciplinary field of acoustic ecology. This field brings together insights from environmental psychology, architecture, urban planning, and auditory science to evaluate how sound environments interact with human behavior and spatial meaning.Research has increasingly shown that the quality of acoustic environments in urban settings can significantly influence users’ comfort, safety, social engagement, and overall perception of space (Brown et al., 2011; Aletta et al., 2016). Environments enriched with natural sounds—such as water, wind, or birdsong—are frequently associated with positive affective states, reduced mental fatigue, and enhanced cognitive restoration (Kaplan & Kaplan, 1989; Pheasant et al., 2010). These sounds serve not only as pleasant background stimuli but also as indicators of ecological health and spatial tranquility. In contrast, urban noise pollution—characterized by continuous traffic, industrial activity, or densely packed human presence—often leads to increased physiological stress, reduced spatial legibility, and a decline in users’ willingness to remain or return (Gidlöf-Gunnarsson & Öhrström, 2007; Steele et al., 2019). The dichotomy between restorative and disruptive sounds underscores the need for a nuanced understanding of acoustic perception as both an individual and collective urban experience.
Methodology
This study adopts a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative analysis with quantitative evaluation. Initially, a comprehensive literature review was conducted to extract key urban design indicators that potentially affect acoustic quality. Concurrently, primary acoustic components—acoustic balance, functional quietness, sound diversity, perceptual clarity, acoustic sustainability, and sonic identity—were identified. A two-round Delphi method was implemented involving 20 experts in urban design and environmental acoustics to assess the impact level of each indicator. Subsequently, mean scores were calculated, and the Jenks natural breaks classification was applied to rank the indicators into high, medium, and low impact categories.
 
Results and Discussion
The findings indicate that urban design factors such as control of building density and height, spatial orientation, incorporation of local sonic identity, and increased green coverage have the greatest positive impact on soundscape quality. Components like acoustic-functional compatibility, sound sustainability, and user auditory perception demonstrated the highest sensitivity to urban design interventions. The developed conceptual model comprises three interrelated layers:

Physical-Spatial Layer: Involving the layout, form, and density of urban elements that influence sound propagation.
Environmental Layer: Including materials, vegetation, and water elements that shape the acoustic absorption and modulation.
Experiential-Perceptual Layer: Addressing human interpretations, auditory memory, and emotional responses to sound.

The study further illustrates that designing with sound in mind enhances psychological comfort, encourages lingering and interaction, and reinforces users’ cognitive mapping of space. Spaces enriched with coherent, identity-based soundscapes contribute to the creation of “auditory landmarks” that deepen the user’s sense of belonging.
 
Conclusion
This research presents a systematic framework linking urban design principles with acoustic ecosystem dynamics, emphasizing the need for deliberate integration of sound into design processes. The implications extend beyond aesthetics, suggesting that sound should be approached as an active design element rather than a residual consequence. Accordingly, the study advocates for:

Sound-conscious urban design practices and guidelines,
Integration of digital acoustic tools (e.g., simulations, sensors, sound maps),
Professional training for planners and designers,
Equitable sonic environments through the emerging lens of sound justice.

By shifting from a visually dominated to a multisensory design paradigm, urban designers can help craft environments that are not only seen and used but also heard, remembered, and emotionally experienced. The study ultimately contributes to reimagining cities as more inclusive, sensorially rich, and human-centered places.

Abstract Extended Abstract
Introduction
The integration of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, augmented/virtual reality (AR/VR), and the Internet of Things (IoT) into entrepreneurship has transformed industries worldwide, particularly tourism. In Iran, the creative tourism sector—encompassing cultural, heritage, and experiential tourism—holds significant potential for economic growth and job creation. Despite Iran's rich cultural heritage and diverse tourism assets, the sector remains underdeveloped due to limited adoption of advanced technologies, inadequate technological infrastructure, restricted access to financial resources, and insufficient entrepreneurial skills among stakeholders. According to the World Economic Forum's Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report (2019), Iran ranks low in information and communication technology (ICT) readiness and innovation capacity. The COVID-19 pandemic further highlighted the need for digital transformation, as Iran lagged in adopting virtual and hybrid tourism models, leading to significant economic losses (UNWTO, 2021). The creative tourism sector in Iran faces the challenge of preserving cultural authenticity while embracing innovation. Technologies like AI, AR/VR, and blockchain offer opportunities to enhance visitor experiences through immersive storytelling and personalized services, but risk commodifying cultural heritage if not managed carefully (Richards & Wilson, 2007). Key barriers include a weak digital infrastructure (Iran ranks 89/193 in ICT development, ITU, 2021), limited startup ecosystems, and insufficient stakeholder collaboration. Addressing these requires investment in digital infrastructure, fostering entrepreneurial ecosystems, and developing policies that balance innovation with cultural integrity. This study aims to develop a technology-driven model for cultural entrepreneurship in Iran's creative tourism sector to bridge theoretical and practical gaps, enhancing value creation and sustainability.
Methodology
The study employs an exploratory-applied design with a sequential mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative and quantitative phases. The qualitative phase used inductive content analysis and grounded theory, involving semi-structured interviews with 18 cultural tourism experts (academics, entrepreneurs, and policy specialists) selected via purposive sampling until theoretical saturation. Participants had at least five years of experience and verifiable contributions in entrepreneurship, cultural studies, or policy development. Interviews followed a "broadening-converging" pattern: eight for exploration, five for category development, and five for confirmation. Data saturation was assessed through code saturation ( 0.62, Cronbach's α > 0.7), analyzed with SPSS 26 and AMOS 24 to test a structural equation model. The mixed-methods approach ensured qualitative insights informed the quantitative instrument, providing a robust framework for model development and validation.
Findings: Qualitative analysis identified 34 categories across four dimensions:
1.         Entrepreneurial Dynamics: Cultural entrepreneurs exhibit traits like creative perseverance, cultural intelligence, and risk acceptance, with performance driven by financial satisfaction and self-actualization. Cultural action involves empathy and adaptation to cultural needs.
2.         Cultural Entrepreneurship Requirements: These include cultural awareness, intercultural competence, networking, and proficiency in technologies like AI, AR/VR, blockchain, and IoT, emphasizing the need for cultural sensitivity and technological skills.
3.         Cultural Entrepreneurship Challenges: Barriers include economic issues (e.g., financial instability), political constraints (e.g., sanctions), technological limitations (e.g., digital divide), socio-cultural risks (e.g., cultural commodification), and technical obstacles (e.g., bureaucracy).
4.         Cultural Entrepreneurship Outcomes: Outcomes include internationalization (e.g., cultural exports), sustainable development, creative tourism (e.g., innovative products), creative entrepreneurship (e.g., business clusters), and social capital (e.g., community trust).
Quantitative analysis validated the model (CFI = 0.93, RMSEA = 0.06), showing significant relationships between requirements (β = 0.18), challenges (β = 0.48), and outcomes (β = 0.86). Technology adoption was a key driver of success, with challenges significantly influencing the entrepreneurial process.
Discussion and Conclusion
The study provides a framework for advancing cultural entrepreneurship in Iran's creative tourism sector, aligning with global digital transformation trends (UNESCO, 2021). By integrating AI, AR/VR, blockchain, and IoT with cultural entrepreneurship principles, the model enhances value creation while addressing systemic barriers. Cultural entrepreneurs, characterized by creative perseverance and cultural intelligence (Hofstede, 2011), can leverage Iran's heritage for global competitiveness, transforming cultural assets into commercial value (Ratten, 2020) while tolerating ambiguity (Begley & Boyd, 1987). Digital platforms like AI-driven recommendation systems and social media are critical for navigating challenges (Gretzel et al., 2015), but cultural authenticity must be preserved to avoid commodification (Towse, 2010). Operational requirements (e.g., networking, intellectual property protection) align with global best practices (Porter, 1998), while cultural requirements like intercultural competence (Byram, 1997) support international engagement. Outcomes—internationalization, sustainable development, creative tourism, creative entrepreneurship, and social capital—offer economic and social benefits. Internationalization through cultural exports (Nye, 2004) creates opportunities, while sustainable development aligns with the triple bottom line (Elkington, 1997). Creative tourism fosters innovative products and creative cities (Richards & Raymond, 2000), and social capital strengthens community resilience (Putnam, 2000). Quantitative validation confirms the model's robustness (Hair et al., 2019), with technology adoption as a key predictor of success (Sigala, 2020). Practical implications include policy interventions for digital infrastructure and cultural-commercial training (Bridgstock, 2013). Limitations include the study's Iran-specific focus, limiting generalizability (Tsui, 2007), and the rapid evolution of technologies, requiring ongoing research (Buhalis, 2020). Future studies should explore blockchain for intellectual property protection (Kaminska & Borzemski, 2020), AR/VR's impact on cultural experiences (Guttentag, 2010), and platform economics (Srnicek, 2017). The framework bridges gaps in cultural entrepreneurship literature, justifying investments in technology-driven innovation for economic growth, cultural preservation, and social innovation in Iran's creative tourism sector.
 

Abstract  
Over the past few decades, the urban fabric surrounding the Holy Shrine of Imam Reza (AS) in Mashhad has undergone extensive redevelopment. These transformations have largely prioritised infrastructural capacity, accessibility, and crowd management in response to the growing scale of pilgrimage. While such measures have improved logistical performance and service provision, they have also contributed to a progressive weakening of the experiential and meaning-laden dimensions of pilgrimage. Large-scale demolition, functional zoning, traffic-oriented design, and commercially driven development have increasingly disrupted the relational continuity between human presence, spatial structure, and the sacred meanings historically embedded in the pilgrimage environment. As a result, many of the spaces surrounding the shrine now operate primarily as corridors of movement rather than as places of gradual approach, bodily attunement, and spiritual preparation.
Within culture-oriented, place-based approaches to urban regeneration, this research proposes a meaning-based framework for regenerating the spaces and places surrounding the shrine, grounded in the theoretical concept of the Field of Appresentation. Drawing on phenomenological traditions, appresentation is understood as the process through which absent meanings—such as memory, belief, and transcendence—are made experientially present through bodily perception, spatial cues, and cultural practices. From this perspective, sacred urban space is not a passive container of symbols, but an active field in which meaning is continuously constituted through the interplay of perception, action, memory, and belief. Accordingly, the erosion of pilgrimage experience cannot be addressed through formal or aesthetic interventions alone, but requires reconfiguring the appresentational conditions that allow sacred meaning to emerge and be sustained in lived experience.
Methodologically, the study adopts a mixed qualitative–quantitative design with a phenomenological and context-sensitive orientation. The objective is not statistical generalisation, but an in-depth, situated understanding of how meaning is appresented along pilgrimage routes leading to the shrine. Data were collected through document analysis, participant observation, semi-structured interviews, sensory–spatial mapping, and GIS-supported analysis. Twelve semi-structured interviews were conducted with pilgrims, shrine servants, long-term residents, and local shopkeepers, selected through purposive sampling to capture diverse experiential positions within the pilgrimage field. In parallel, nine key nodes along the main pilgrimage routes—primarily thresholds, pauses, and ritual movement junctions—were identified as focal points for detailed field investigation.
The analytical framework organises data around four interrelated experiential domains that structure the Field of Appresentation: environment, ritual, memory, and belief. The environmental domain addresses multi-sensory qualities such as light, sound, materiality, crowd density, and microclimate. The ritual domain examines embodied practices of movement, pause, prayer, and collective synchronisation. The memory domain explores personal and collective recollections, including perceptions of historical continuity, loss, and attachment to place. The belief domain focuses on subjective experiences of sacred presence, spiritual proximity, and moments of intensified or diminished transcendence. Through triangulation of interview narratives, observational records, video-based behavioural analysis, and spatial data, the study constructs a layered reading of how these four domains interact to present meaning within the pilgrimage environment.
The findings indicate that the contemporary crisis of the shrine’s surrounding spaces can be understood through four interrelated forms of rupture: sensory rupture, manifested in overstimulation, noise, and loss of atmospheric calm; performative rupture, reflected in the disruption of ritual rhythms by traffic flows and commercial pressures; temporal rupture, marked by the erasure of historical layers and weakening of continuity between past and present pilgrimage practices; and inner rupture, characterised by a reduced capacity for introspection, spiritual focus, and felt sacred presence. Crucially, the analysis demonstrates that interventions limited to physical form or infrastructural efficiency are insufficient to repair these ruptures, as they fail to engage the deeper appresentational mechanisms through which meaning is constituted.
In response, the Field of Appresentation model reframes the shrine’s surroundings as a multi-layered experiential field in which meaning emerges through reciprocal activation. Bodily perception appresents absent sacred referents; ritual practices synchronise individual and collective presence; memory anchors experience within a temporal continuum; and belief modulates the intensity and orientation of perception. Meaning-based urban regeneration, in this sense, is defined not as the restoration of a fixed historical image, but as the recalibration of appresentational conditions that enable these processes to operate coherently in contemporary contexts.
On this basis, the study translates the four experiential domains into a set of design-oriented principles applicable to urban regeneration and architectural intervention. These include reinforcing ritual continuity along pilgrimage routes, enhancing the legibility of collective memory through spatial and material cues, moderating sensory conditions within threshold spaces to support bodily and emotional attunement, and promoting forms of spatial justice that balance the needs of pilgrims, residents, and local economies. Rather than prescribing deterministic solutions, the framework functions as a flexible design logic that guides planners and architects in aligning spatial decisions with appresentational processes of meaning-making.
Ultimately, the research argues that regeneration in sacred urban contexts should be understood as a dynamic and adaptive process aimed at restoring meaningful presence rather than merely improving spatial performance. By foregrounding the Field of Appresentation as the core analytical and design framework, the study offers a systematic way to reconnect human experience, spatial structure, and sacred meaning in the spaces and places surrounding the Holy Shrine of Imam Reza (AS). Beyond the specific case of Mashhad, the proposed approach contributes to broader debates on sacred space, phenomenology, and meaning-based urban regeneration by demonstrating how experiential theory can be rigorously translated into spatial analysis and design practice.
 

Abstract Introduction
Public spaces are key venues for social gatherings, participation, and collective expression, playing a crucial role in fostering collective identity and enhancing social well-being (El-Bardisy, 2024: 3). They also provide a context for analyzing human behavior through interpersonal spacing, or proxemics, which classifies distances into four zones: intimate (0–0.45 m), personal (0.45–1.2 m), social (1.2–3.6 m), and public (>3.6 m) (Hall, 1966). Naqsh-e Jahan Square in Isfahan, Iran, is one of the most prominent historical public spaces in the country, hosting both locals and tourists and offering a unique setting for studying socio-spatial interactions. Previous studies have primarily focused on the historical, architectural, and physical aspects of the square, while micro-scale analyses of user interactions and interpersonal spacing patterns remain limited (Babazadeh Asbagh, 2024: 3–8; Radahmadi et al., 1399: 5–12). This study aims to address this gap by investigating two primary questions: 1) What are the spatial patterns and interpersonal distances in Naqsh-e Jahan Square according to Hall’s proxemics model? 2) How do these patterns vary across morning, afternoon, and night periods? Understanding these patterns is essential to inform user-centered design and management, improve social interactions, and support sustainable tourism in historical urban spaces.
Theoretical Framework
This study is grounded in Edward Hall’s proxemics theory, which highlights the role of interpersonal distances in regulating social behavior (Hall, 1966). The theory has been extended to urban public spaces, where environmental and physical conditions, alongside cultural norms, influence behavior. Complementary concepts such as territoriality—primary (fixed), secondary (temporary), and public (open)—explain how users create informal boundaries through spatial positioning and clustering. Fixed features such as pathways, fountains, and iwans structure movement and spatial organization, while semi-fixed elements like seating areas, furniture, and shading regulate density, proximity, and social interaction. In Naqsh-e Jahan Square, the convergence of local cultural norms and tourism-driven dynamics requires an adapted proxemics framework that considers lighting, shading, crowd density, and temporal fluctuations. This augmented approach demonstrates that interpersonal distances result from the interaction between social norms and environmental affordances, positioning public spaces as “living behavioral models” in which user feedback informs iterative spatial design and management.
Methodology
A mixed–methods approach was employed to examine interpersonal spacing and user behavior in Naqsh-e Jahan Square. The study population included tourists, local residents, families, couples, and solitary users. Data collection occurred in June 2025 over three distinct day types—a weekday, a near-holiday day, and a holiday—across three time slots each day (morning 9:00–12:00, afternoon 16:00–19:00, and night 20:00–23:00), producing nine observational sessions in total. Key observation points included the central pool edges, the area in front of Ali Qapu Palace, the northern, eastern, and western platforms, the mosque entrances, and the iwans. A systematic, non-intrusive observation method ensured the natural behavior of users. An observation checklist captured variables such as time, location, social composition, dominant activity (sitting, standing, wandering, eating, cycling, vending, etc.), interpersonal distance (coded per Hall’s four zones), interaction type, and environmental conditions, including crowd density. Distances were estimated using the square’s flooring units (~50 cm each). In total, 380 social groups and individuals were recorded. Behavioral maps were created for morning, afternoon, and night to integrate observations for qualitative analysis. Quantitative analysis employed descriptive statistics (mean distances, activity distributions), while qualitative analysis involved map interpretation and environmental notes. Reliability and validity were ensured through repeated observations and dual coding.
Results and Discussion
Findings indicate that interpersonal spacing patterns are strongly influenced by day type, time of day, and environmental and physical factors. On low-density weekdays, social and public distances dominate, with individual, transient behavior prevalent. In contrast, near-holiday and holiday periods show higher density, reduced distances, and more intimate interactions. Users actively create secondary territories, particularly along the central pool, peripheral platforms, and shaded zones, while open transitional areas remain primarily public. Fixed elements structure movement and clustering, whereas semi-fixed elements such as furniture, seating, and shade regulate density, distance, and interaction opportunities. Hall’s model alone is insufficient for fully explaining behavior in Iranian public spaces; environmental and spatial components must be integrated. Behavioral mapping revealed that shaded, furnished areas accommodate higher density and closer interactions, while open sunlit areas maintain larger interpersonal distances. The findings align with patterns observed in global public spaces but also reflect local socio-cultural and tourism-related dynamics, emphasizing the importance of context-specific adaptation in public space design.
Conclusion
Naqsh-e Jahan Square functions as a “living behavioral model,” where user behaviors interact with environmental affordances to shape social experiences. Integrating Hall’s proxemics model with spatial and environmental variables provides a practical framework for analyzing and designing user-centered historical public spaces. By adjusting furniture layouts, lighting, shading, zoning, and pathways based on observed behaviors, overcrowding can be reduced and social interactions enhanced. This study contributes to the localization of proxemics theory and offers practical guidance for sustainable, inclusive, and context-aware urban planning in Iran, ensuring that historical public spaces meet real user needs while supporting social vitality and cultural continuity.
 

Abstract Introduction:
The conservation of heritage spaces, particularly in historical urban contexts, is a central challenge for contemporary urban governance and cultural sustainability. Such spaces embody not only architectural and aesthetic values but also the collective memory and social identity of communities. The historic bazaar of Tabriz, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage Site, exemplifies a living cultural organism in which economic, social, and cultural functions are intricately intertwined. Within this dynamic environment, social interactions, networks of trust, and shared norms play a critical role in maintaining both the tangible and intangible dimensions of heritage continuity.
While the concept of social capital has been widely discussed in urban sociology and cultural heritage studies, its classical forms—defined by stable networks and long-term trust—do not fully account for the transient and flexible relations that characterize complex urban markets. In this regard, this research introduces the novel theoretical concept of Fluid Social Capital (FSC), which captures the adaptable, temporary, and situational social relations that emerge in dynamic heritage spaces. Unlike conventional social capital that relies on durable relationships, FSC operates through flexible alliances, short-term collaborations, and spontaneous interactions that respond to contextual shifts in urban life.
The study focuses on the historic bazaar of Tabriz as an ideal empirical case to examine how fluid social capital functions within heritage environments, shaping collective behaviors and supporting heritage conservation through evolving social networks. The central research question guiding this study is:
“To what extent can fluid social capital influence and enhance the conservation and revitalization of historic urban bazaars, particularly the Tabriz Bazaar?”
This research thus aims to conceptualize, operationalize, and empirically test the notion of fluid social capital in relation to heritage protection, providing a theoretical and practical framework for policymakers, cultural managers, and urban planners involved in heritage-led urban regeneration.
Theoretical Framework:
The foundation of this study lies in the reinterpretation of classical social capital theories within the context of heritage conservation. According to Bourdieu, social capital represents the aggregate of actual or potential resources linked to durable networks of mutual recognition and institutionalized relationships. Coleman emphasized its role as a facilitator of collective action through norms of reciprocity and trust, while Putnam highlighted its contribution to civic engagement and democratic governance.
However, in heritage spaces such as the Tabriz Bazaar—where actors continuously shift, interactions are fluid, and the balance between tradition and modernity is constantly negotiated—these classical definitions prove inadequate. Fluid social capital expands the conceptual boundaries by accounting for temporary, situational, and adaptive relationships that generate resilience and cooperation under conditions of uncertainty.
The bazaar functions as a complex socio-spatial system where trust, cooperation, and identity are not static but continuously reconstituted. Therefore, the study proposes that FSC operates through three main dimensions:
-Network Flexibility – the ability of social networks to reorganize and adapt to changing economic or cultural conditions;
-Temporary and Multi-Actor Interactions – short-term collaborations that bridge different stakeholders such as merchants, municipal actors, and heritage institutions;
-Cultural Reproduction and Social Cohesion – the ongoing reinforcement of
shared norms, values, and traditions that sustain collective identity.
These dimensions collectively contribute to the resilience of heritage spaces, enabling them to respond to economic pressures, social change, and modernization challenges without losing their historical essence. The theoretical framework thus integrates the idea of social fluidity into heritage governance, presenting FSC as both an analytical lens and a practical tool for adaptive management of urban heritage.
Methodology:
This study adopts an integrated mixed-method approach (qualitative–quantitative) to capture both the depth and breadth of social dynamics within the Tabriz Bazaar.
Qualitative Phase
The qualitative phase involved semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions with 10 key experts in architecture, urban planning, and cultural heritage management, as well as representatives of local communities and bazaar stakeholders. Data were coded and analyzed using MAXQDA software using a thematic analysis approach. The aim was to identify and categorize emergent themes related to the formation and operation of fluid social capital within heritage spaces.
The analysis revealed that “network flexibility” and “temporary cooperation” appeared most frequently in interview codes, indicating their central role in the dynamics of the bazaar’s social system. These findings provided the empirical basis for constructing the quantitative instrument.
Quantitative Phase
Based on the qualitative results, a structured questionnaire was designed using a five-point Likert scale to measure perceptions and experiences of FSC components among 150 participants, including merchants, cultural actors, and heritage managers in the bazaar. The questionnaire's reliability was assessed using Cronbach’s Alpha (α = 0.89), indicating high internal consistency. Data were analyzed through Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to examine the relationships between FSC components and heritage conservation outcomes.
The structural model included three independent latent variables (network flexibility, temporary interaction, and cultural reproduction) and one dependent latent variable (heritage conservation). The SEM results demonstrated a high level of model fit (CFI = 0.96, RMSEA = 0.045), indicating strong relationships among the constructs.
Results and Discussion:
Findings indicate that network flexibility is the most influential component, enabling adaptive collaborations and coordination. Temporary multi-stakeholder interactions support conflict resolution and joint decision-making, while cultural reproduction maintains social cohesion. SEM analysis confirmed the positive and significant impact of all components on heritage conservation (p < 0.05), illustrating how fluid social capital integrates traditional practices with modern urban demands to enhance resilience and sustainability. The results further reveal that stakeholders with higher participation in flexible networks demonstrated stronger commitment to heritage protection and collaborative management. This underscores the value of dynamic social relations in facilitating participatory governance and long-term heritage vitality.
Conclusion:
Fluid social capital offers a novel lens for heritage management, highlighting dynamic, adaptive networks that foster trust, collaboration, and resilience. In the Tabriz Historical Bazaar, this approach facilitates sustainable preservation while accommodating contemporary pressures, providing a practical model for heritage conservation in historic urban contexts globally. The study concludes that incorporating fluid social capital into urban policy frameworks can bridge the gap between institutional strategies and community-based practices, fostering inclusive governance and sustainable cultural continuity.
 

Abstract Rapid urbanization and the resulting spatial polarization have become defining features of contemporary metropolitan development, particularly in historic urban cores of developing countries, where the legacy of uneven growth has intensified spatial injustices. In this context, Tehran’s District 12—the city’s historical nucleus and a repository of cultural heritage—presents a critical case of spatial inequality, physical deterioration, and social vulnerability. While this district remains a vital economic and symbolic center of the capital, its neighborhoods exhibit severe disparities in livability, shaped by cumulative deficiencies in infrastructure, public services, and environmental quality. These inequalities challenge the sustainability and equity of urban development and call for analytical frameworks that capture the multidimensional nature of urban livability through the lens of spatial justice. Against this background, the present research seeks to assess and rank neighborhood livability in District 12 of Tehran using a justice-oriented framework that integrates objective and subjective dimensions of urban quality. The central question guiding the study is: to what extent do spatial disparities in livability reflect systemic inequalities in the distribution of opportunities, resources, and social capital across neighborhoods, and how can these disparities inform context-sensitive urban policy?
 
This study adopts a quantitative, positivist, and survey-based approach designed to operationalize the complex construct of livability into empirically measurable dimensions. Quantitative data were collected from 385 residents across 13 neighborhoods using a researcher-designed questionnaire with proven validity and reliability (Cronbach’s alpha > 0.7), complemented by secondary data from official documents and spatial analyses. The analytical framework consisted of two main stages: first, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and structural equation modeling (SEM) were employed to validate the measurement model, derive factor loadings, and determine the relative weights of the five key dimensions of livability—physical quality and infrastructure, economic capability and spatial equity, social and cultural capital, environmental sustainability, and safety and social welfare. Second, a multi-criteria decision-making method (TOPSIS) was applied to integrate the weighted indicators and produce a composite livability score for each neighborhood. The integration of SEM and TOPSIS yielded a robust, data-driven ranking that accounts for both the statistical significance of indicators and their spatial interrelations.
The results reveal a pronounced pattern of spatial heterogeneity and polarization across the district. The neighborhoods of Sangalaj (score: 0.281) and Iran (0.271) achieved the highest overall livability scores, while Shahid Herandi (-0.285) and Ghiyam (-0.202) were identified as critical zones of deprivation. SEM path coefficients indicate that physical quality (β = 0.762) and local social capital (β = 0.751) exert the strongest influence on overall livability, followed by safety and health (β = 0.683), economic capability (β = 0.648), and environmental sustainability (β = 0.617). These findings suggest that livability in Tehran’s historical core is driven less by economic affluence and more by the interplay of physical infrastructure and social cohesion. The spatial distribution pattern, characterized by central and northern neighborhoods outperforming southern and peripheral ones, substantiates the theoretical propositions of spatial justice (Harvey, 1973; Soja, 2010), which hold that the inequitable allocation of urban resources reproduces localized geographies of privilege and exclusion.
Beyond statistical confirmation, the study provides a nuanced spatial interpretation: neighborhoods exhibiting balanced development across all five dimensions (such as Iran and Sangalaj) serve as models of adaptive resilience, whereas those with fragmented profiles—high social cohesion but weak infrastructure (e.g., Ferdowsi), or strong physical assets but social deprivation (e.g., Baharestan)—underscore the multidimensional and context-dependent nature of urban livability. This differentiation underscores the need for localized, cluster-based policy responses rather than uniform citywide interventions. Accordingly, the research proposes a four-tier policy classification—leading, intermediate, deprived, and critical neighborhoods—to prioritize investment and guide integrated urban regeneration strategies. Immediate intervention is deemed essential in critical neighborhoods such as Shahid Herandi and Ghiyam, where cumulative deprivation across all dimensions threatens both social stability and urban identity.
From a theoretical standpoint, the findings advance the integration of spatial justice into empirical livability assessment by demonstrating how unequal spatial distributions of physical and social assets materialize as lived disparities in urban experience. The use of SEM-TOPSIS as a combined analytical framework bridges the gap between statistical rigor and spatial interpretation, offering a replicable model for other historical and socioeconomically diverse urban areas. In practical terms, the results highlight that enhancing neighborhood livability requires concurrent attention to both tangible and intangible assets: investment in public infrastructure and housing quality must be paralleled by efforts to strengthen local networks, civic participation, and trust. This aligns with global discourses emphasizing participatory governance and community-based urban planning as key instruments for equitable urban transformation.
Overall, the study concludes that achieving livability in contexts of entrenched spatial inequality is not merely a technical or infrastructural challenge but a normative and political endeavor grounded in the pursuit of spatial justice. Sustainable improvement in Tehran’s District 12 demands a shift from top-down, growth-oriented planning to neighborhood-centered governance models that acknowledge local identities, empower residents, and redistribute urban opportunities. Such an approach transforms livability from a static index of amenities into a dynamic expression of social equity, resilience, and collective well-being. The conceptual and methodological contributions of this research thus extend beyond the empirical case, offering a framework adaptable to other historic urban cores confronting similar tensions between heritage preservation, social equity, and spatial justice.
 

Abstract This article is part of a larger study that examines urbanization in non-English speaking countries. Due to the lack of sources in Farsi or English, the experiences of these countries (which in many cases have common issues with Iran) are less accessible to Iranian readers. In this regard, this article, focusing on the neighboring country of Turkey, has tried to identify the characteristics of urban planning in this country and introduce its shortcomings and problems. This article can provide a possibility for a comparative study in addition to the mentioned goal. To create the possibility of evaluation and adaptation, Friedman's quadruple framework is used to categorize urban planning methods. The review of sources is done in a narrative format and by the contemporary history of late Ottoman and Turkey. In the framework of this narrative, urban planning methods are expressed from specialized (and limited and scattered) sources in English and sometimes using evidence and media news and reviewing them, and at the end, they are analyzed using the introduced theoretical framework. Based on this, the important shortcomings of Turkey's urban planning and suggestions to solve them are discussed, the most important of which is the weakness in learning from the society and unilateral insistence on state-led reforms without paying enough attention to the background culture. 

Abstract Exploiting the capacities of historical cities and the axes formed by Slow movement and the nature of cities can strengthen tourism and prevent some of the problems of contemporary life such as air pollution and traffic density. Being in Coherent networks improves the performance and responds to the need for pedestrians in the city. Destroying the significant historical value  monuments and reduction of signs of historical value of Pathway, poor use of pedestrian green space, reduced compliance of new buildings with the history of the city architecture and Interference movement of pedestrians and Vehicle are some of the problems caused by automobile-oriented transit in the study area. The purpose of this study is to reinforce the relationship and coherence of historical axes by promoting tourism potential and walkable quality in the historical structure of the city. The type of research is applied with the descriptive method, content analysi, and library studies. Also, the views of the theorist’s theory and components and indicators of tourism-oriented tourism network are extracted and then by integrated analysis of SWOT and urban network analysis in Rhino software, indicators of Reach, Gravity and Straightness Index in the study area, It has been analyzed, and the strategic and comprehensive urban design process has been used in codification the design framework. The results of urban network analysis show the importance of land uses and reach to the street network in determining the potential of a place for design. Promoting the two concepts of pedestrianism and tourism in the historical structure of the city by strengthening the common dimensions and components of land use mixing, continuity, natural elements, reach and other components and indicators, strengthens the relationship between historical axes and relaxation at the intersection The old and new structure, strengthening the existing compatible functions, creating and strengthening the continuity of memorial paths, reviving the element of the castle according to historical research and the criteria of Iranian-Islamic facades strengthened the physical and historical value.

Abstract Urban health reflects the total social, physical, environmental, and infrastructure conditions that affect the well-being and quality of life of citizens living in a city. Therefore, in addition to health issues, the total social, economic, physical, and environmental aspects describe the state of urban health. Among the mentioned dimensions, social problems undeniably affect the choice opportunities of citizens in the city, their interpretation of the conditions, their interaction with others, and health-oriented behavioral orientations in the city. Considering the importance of social themes in the realization of urban health, the present study attempted to describe the social indicators of urban health and its contexts using a systematic review method while examining related studies. The findings show that the social indicators of urban health can be redefined as "population dynamics, social harms, inclusion, social capital, business, education, and lifestyle." Also, the descriptive social adverb for these indicators implies considering the characteristics of flexibility, relativity, attention to meanings, context, and process perception. Constructive indicators in fields such as population dynamics, education, and business can be explained using registration data, or because their counting and calculation methods are defined quantitatively and globally, they can follow the same pattern. However, other fields, such as social harm, inclusion, lifestyle, and, exceptionally, social capital, involve context-based studies. A study that, based on the distinctive characteristics of cities, will even lead to selecting and prioritizing a field and excluding other fields from description and investigation.

Abstract Strategic planning, a critique of comprehensive planning, was introduced into urban planning literature. It brought in elements like cyclicity, feedback, flexibility, partnership, and context sensitivity. However, the comprehensive planning model, which still dominates the strategic approach in Iran, was not significantly challenged. Institutional challenges are identified as a key factor hindering the implementation of strategic planning. This study, focusing on the strategic plan of Isfahan 1405, aims to develop a comprehensive conceptual framework to address the requirements and challenges within the management structure of Isfahan municipality. A qualitative analysis of the Isfahan 1405 strategic plan text was conducted based on the derived criteria from the framework. The findings reveal significant issues such as consideration of temporal and cultural contexts, as well as the lack of institutionalization of strategic plans in official documents, laws, and organizational bodies within the 1405 plan. vis-a-vis, the plan fails to address important structural aspects, such as the involvement of non-governmental organizations and the establishment of lateral and hierarchical networks.

Abstract Due to the high vulnerability of historical tissues during an earthquake and reviewing the experiences of previous earthquakes, identifying the factors affecting the empowerment of this type of tissue against earthquakes is one of the important topics in the crisis management process. Its realization based on the principles of pre-accident empowerment can prevent the occurrence or spread of secondary crises. In historical contexts, due to the long life of buildings and the lack of necessary measures for proper strengthening, the occurrence of earthquakes will cause significant damage and the rate of severe losses and widespread homelessness of their residents. To this end, it is necessary to focus more on these types of areas, Investigate the fact that it has a very important role in preparing the community and preventing disaster in various dimensions, as well as in the process of community rehabilitation and reconstruction of the affected area. The method of this qualitative research is based on description and test with AHP analysis. In this research, the historical context of Kashan as one of the important centers of earthquakes has been discussed. In several stages, step by step and interconnected, the what, why and how of the subject is examined in different sections.Then, in order to collect criteria from the interview method; To determine the target population and correct sampling, multi-criteria decision-making method and AHP hierarchical analysis process and finally an expert questionnaire for pairwise comparison were used. The results show that prior to the occurrence of earthquakes in historical contexts, according to the prevailing conditions in these areas, with proper planning, an appropriate response to the critical conditions can be predicted. In this regard, it is necessary to provide the principles and approaches of empowerment in the crisis management program in historical contexts by identifying, then analyzing and evaluating the effective factors in the physical, social and economic fields and finally providing an appropriate solution.

Abstract Introduction
In recent years, despite the rapid trend of women's presence in urban public spaces, these places are designed without considering the needs of women, and men have more facilities to use urban spaces (Azimi, 2015: 122). In other words, although public spaces are created for the use of the general public, regardless of gender, ethnicity, etc., women have more limited access to such spaces than men. Even in some cases they are completely excluded from spaces that are generally free for men and their presence. Limiting factors such as danger and fear are among the most important elements in women's experience in the urban space and make their use unsafe, as a result, women limit their access to public space due to the existence of such issues (Rush, 2012: 9).
The city of Shahrekord, as one of the middle cities and the center of Chaharmahal Bakhtiari province, like most cities in Iran, has a male-oriented structure in terms of public and physical spaces; Today, this has created problems for the presence of women in the public spaces of this city, which account for almost half of the population; Therefore, in this research, it has been tried to measure and evaluate the variables and criteria that have a role in the presence of women in the public spaces of Shahrekord. For this purpose and according to the material raised, the main question of the research is whether the urban spaces of Shahrekord are compatible with the needs of women and are responsive to their needs? What is the desirability of these spaces? And how effective are these spaces in the activity and presence of women?
Theoretical Framework
Urban space is an area that is formed through the performance of different human groups, their activities and behaviors, and social and cultural interactions of citizens take place in this space (Beebeejaun, 2017: 326). From the mid-twentieth century to the present, the concept of urban space, with reference to the ideas of Patrick Geddes, Lewis Mumford, Jane Jacobs, Kevin Lynch and other thinkers of the humanist and culturalist school, relies on the principle that urban space is part of the city structure, which has a continuous and harmonious whole and is physically enclosed. (Parsi, 2002: 44). Until the end of the 20th century, the concept of urban space was summarized in spatial and physical issues. But since 1990, other concepts such as economic, cultural and social concepts in connection with the urban space were taken into consideration (ibid.). Based on this; The urban space is a part of the construction of the city, and its concept is not only a physical identity, but also a functional space that provides opportunities for citizens to communicate and interact. Desirable urban spaces enable the presence of more citizens in the environment and have human and physical dimensions. The characteristics of urban spaces are strongly influenced by the activity and behavioral patterns of their users (Farhadian and Nafti, 2012: 2).
In these urban spaces, women, as half of the human society, need laws and regulations as well as supporting factors and components in order to perform their activities optimally and play their role; (Sadeghi and Pourgholami, 2019: 427). This is despite the fact that feminist thinkers agree that the city is man-made because women have contributed to its planning and construction, and they benefit from being surrounded by a man-made environment. The built environment is a reflection of men's activities, men's values and men's tendencies towards residential space (Gottdiener & Hutchison, 2011: 148).
Since the conditions governing urban spaces are different, the level of satisfaction with these spaces also varies. In order to check the desirability of urban spaces, there must be specific criteria and indicators. Therefore, in the current research, the basis of the study is the concept of women's use of urban spaces and indicators to meet the needs of women, which will lead to an increase in their presence and activity in urban spaces. These indicators and concepts include physical conditions, socio-cultural conditions, the issue of security and also the issue of access, which themselves have sub-criteria.
Methodology
This research is applied in terms of purpose and descriptive and analytical in terms of nature and method. In the first step, the current situation was identified through exploring various documents related to the subject. Also, the method of collecting information and the indicators required for developing the questionnaire were determined. In the next step, in order to check the validity of the research tool, the questionnaire prepared by several professors and experts related to the subject was studied, and with their approval, its validity was confirmed. The reliability of the tool was checked through pilot testing and Cronbach's alpha test. The value of Cronbach's alpha for different indicators varied between 0.752 and 0.840, and considering that it is above 0.70, its reliability was confirmed. The statistical population of the research is women and girls aged 15 to 55 years of Shahrekord city, and using Cochran's formula, 384 questionnaires were distributed among the sample people who were selected by multi-stage cluster sampling method. This questionnaire contains 42 questions with general and specialized questions, which are valued and designed as a Likert scale from completely disagree to completely agree. The results of the questionnaire have been analyzed and evaluated using SPSS software and single-sample T-tests and step-by-step regression.
Result and discussion
The study of descriptive statistics shows that among the people of the research sample, approximately 35% of the sample is in the age group of 25-35 years. Also, in terms of marital status, 57.5% are married. 37% of the respondents have bachelor's education and 38.3% of the women of the statistical population declared their occupation as housewives, which has the highest frequency in this statistical sample. The findings from the one-sample t-test indicate that, in relation to the general indicators of the study, none of the indicators of women's presence in urban spaces of Shahrekord have an average higher than the desirable level. Among the four main indicators studied, the socio-cultural activities have a higher score than the other indicators.
In order to examine the impact of urban space indicators (including physical conditions, security, accessibility, and socio-cultural activities) as independent research variables on the presence of women in urban spaces as the dependent variable, a multivariate stepwise regression method was used. The findings of the regression analysis show that the dimensions of security, access, and physical conditions were able to predict the presence of women in urban spaces in three stages. More precisely, in the first stage, only the security dimension with a standard beta coefficient of 0.446 explained 20 percent of the variance in women's presence. In the second stage, access conditions were added to the security dimension with a standard beta coefficient of 0.2, and the ability to explain women's activity and presence reached 23/0. In the third stage, physical dimensions with a standard beta coefficient of 0.134 were added to the security and accessibility dimensions, and the explanatory power of efficiency reached 25/0.
An examination of the results obtained from the sample T-Tech test shows that none of the indicators of women's presence in urban spaces of Shahrekord had an average higher than the desirable level. Also, among the four main indicators examined, the cultural-social activities index was far better than other indicators in the studied area. In general, according to the results of this section, it can be said that the urban spaces of Shahrekord do not meet the needs of women. The results of the study are in line with the research of Pourmohammadi et al. (2014). Cities are designed by men who have little or limited information about the needs of women. The specific physiology of women in many cases keeps them away from urban spaces. The inappropriateness of urban design, streets, sidewalks, etc. causes women to be deprived of access in many cases for reasons that they themselves are not exactly aware of.
Also, the results of the step-by-step regression analysis to investigate the effect of the quality of urban spaces on the activity and presence of women show that the "security" variable has the greatest effect on the criterion variable. The findings of the research are in line with the findings of Beizaei et al.'s research (2017), which showed that the security index is very important in relation to the presence of women in urban spaces. This means that the women of our society still face a sense of insecurity in urban spaces, and this factor is one of the main factors in deterring and limiting the use of urban spaces.
Conclusion
The analysis of the research results shows that women in the studied area have long realized the difficulties and issues they face in urban spaces. The urban life of women is full of experiencing situations and conditions that make them face different issues than men. Planners should put aside their old approaches to the development of the space and understand the existential nature of women and their practical methods of urban space. Misunderstanding of women's urban needs is the first reason for the inequality between men and women's urban space and ultimately results in less presence of women in urban spaces.

Abstract Introduction
Considering the importance of the indicators of a happy city in improving the quality of life of citizens and overall significant impact in achieving sustainable urban development, examining the status of a happy city and the factors affecting it can be an essential tool for improving the level of a happy town by city managers and those involved in the development of the metropolis. Isfahan. In this regard, the evaluation of each of the quality indicators of the urban environment in three physical, economic, and social dimensions has been done. This research was conducted to answer the question, What is the level of Isfahan metropolis in terms of happy city indicators? Which components have had the most significant influence on the city's indicators?
Methodology
The purpose of this research is applied-developmental research. In terms of its nature, it is a descriptive-analytical research, and the research method is correlational analysis. Two library and field methods have been used to collect the information needed for the research. The research area is the metropolis of Isfahan. The data analysis in this research was done in two stages. In the first stage, to measure the status of the happy city indicators in the study area, the study's sample size was estimated to be 315 households through Cochran's formula. In this research, a random sampling method was used, the sampling error level was 5% and the samples were selected with a confidence level of 95%; In the GIS environment, the samples were randomly selected using the Hawths Tools function; From the Sampling Tools menu, by selecting the Generate Random Points option, 315 samples were chosen as points. The validity of the questionnaire was also determined using the pre-test, and its reliability was assessed using Cronbach's alpha in the SPSS software environment, which indicates the high consistency and reliability of the data.
Research Findings
According to the factor loadings extracted in the standardized model in the LISREL software (Table 3) in Isfahan metropolis, it is stated in this way that out of 35 components, 27 components were selected as practical components (with different effect intensity), into nine indicators. Physically, nine components out of 13 social indicators, 10 components, and eight components out of 13 economic indicators were left as practical components, and eight components were omitted due to the coefficient being less than 0.3%. On the other hand, it should be noted that in the physical index, the quality of lighting at night with a factor load of 0.93 is the most relevant and influential; In the social dimension, the level of satisfaction with feelings and mental health with a factor load of 0.91, the level of satisfaction of the residents with the income of the head of the household, the job security of the head of the household, in the economic dimension of the household with 0.79% are the priority.
 
 
Conclusion
Today, cities have become fragmented and chaotic places, significantly affecting the residents' vitality. The rapid growth of urbanization in the metropolis of Isfahan has caused critical and spiritual problems, and the increase in social vitality and the factors affecting the happiness of citizens can effectively solve these problems. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate each of the indicators of the happy city and identify the influential factors in its promotion. Therefore, in line with the research hypotheses, the main goal of this research is to measure the indicators of a happy city by relying on the practical physical and social components. It is economic in the metropolis of Isfahan; The results of the research show that Isfahan metropolis, in terms of having happy city indicators, in order of priority, physical index with 0.511%, social index with 0.287% and finally economic index with 0.266% have the most role in the city indicators. have been happy in the studied area, which indicates the importance of the physical dimension compared to other dimensions.
Comparing the current research with other researches, Oraki et al. (2018) analyzed the spatial factors affecting the happy city from the perspective of the citizens, and the researcher's findings show that the most important influencing factor is the physical characteristics, including the quality of the landscape, which The present research is consistent. Gemini et al. (1400) evaluated and analyzed the state of the happy city and identified its determinants in small urban spaces. They concluded that physical-spatial structure has the most role in social vitality, and low participation has the least role. It is effective. Also, Samavati et al. (2017) identified factors affecting happiness in urban public spaces, and the results of multiple regression analysis showed that at the level of social characteristics, the sub-index of satisfaction with feeling and physical health has the most significant effect on the level of a happy city. It is consistent with the present study.

Abstract Introduction
 Informal settlements represent some of the most vulnerable urban areas, often characterized by weak infrastructure, limited access to public services, and heightened exposure to social insecurity. Women, as a particularly sensitive group, experience these vulnerabilities more intensely, making their perception of safety and sense of belonging especially critical. This study examines the sociological role of place attachment in enhancing social security among residents of the informal settlement of Khizr neighborhood in Hamedan, Iran, with a specific emphasis on women. The research aims to highlight how psychological and social ties to place can serve as effective tools in addressing security challenges in marginalized communities.
Theoretical Framework
 Place attachment is conceptualized as the emotional and cognitive bond individuals form with their living environment (Giuliani, 2003). Prior studies demonstrate its multidimensional role in shaping social cohesion, neighborhood stability, and collective efficacy (Sampson et al., 1997; Vidal et al., 2010). Hidalgo and Hernandez (2001) stress that attachment is not merely psychological but deeply embedded in social and cultural interactions, which can mitigate perceptions of insecurity. Within informal urban contexts, where structural deficiencies often amplify insecurity, place attachment may operate as a social mechanism to enhance collective trust and resilience.
For this study, place attachment was measured through four dimensions: emotional dependence, social participation, responsibility toward the neighborhood, and place identity. Social security was defined through perceptions of personal safety, family well-being, social order, and environmental safety. These constructs provide the theoretical basis for exploring how emotional and social investment in place can influence perceptions of security.
 Methodology
 This research employed an applied, survey-based design. The statistical population consisted of all residents of the Khizr informal settlement in Hamedan. Based on Cochran’s formula and proportional stratified random sampling, 392 valid questionnaires were collected.
The instrument was a researcher-designed questionnaire composed of three sections:

Demographics (age, marital status, education, length of residence).
Eight items on place attachment, covering emotional, participatory, responsible, and identity-related aspects.
Ten items on social security, addressing personal, familial, social, and environmental safety.

Content validity was confirmed by five experts, and reliability was supported by Cronbach’s alpha coefficients of 0.84 for place attachment and 0.88 for social security. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation, ANOVA, and multivariate regression in SPSS (v.26).
 Results and Discussion
 Descriptive findings indicated that the average levels of place attachment (M = 3.64) and social security (M = 3.42) were both above the midpoint of the scale, suggesting relatively positive attitudes among residents.
The correlation analysis revealed a strong, positive relationship between place attachment and social security (r = 0.65, p < 0.001). Among the sub-dimensions of place attachment, emotional dependence exhibited the strongest correlation (r = 0.68), underscoring the pivotal role of emotional ties in fostering security perceptions. Responsibility (r = 0.62), place identity (r = 0.59), and participation (r = 0.57) also showed significant but relatively weaker associations.
The ANOVA results indicated statistically significant differences in perceived security across groups with varying levels of place attachment (F = 14.67, p < 0.001). Residents with higher attachment consistently reported stronger feelings of security.
The regression model demonstrated that place attachment explained 45% of the variance in social security (R² = 0.45), with a beta coefficient of 0.673 (p < 0.001). This highlights place attachment as a powerful predictor of perceived security in informal settlements.
These findings align with prior studies (Hidalgo & Hernandez, 2001; Sampson et al., 1997) that emphasize the role of neighborhood cohesion in reducing insecurity and social disorder. Locally, the results resonate with Iranian studies (Bazargan et al., 2011; Farahani & Jalali, 2020) that identify women’s participation and community responsibility as key factors in urban safety.
From a practical standpoint, the study shows that security in informal settlements is not solely dependent on policing or physical interventions but can be significantly enhanced through social and emotional integration. Investments in public spaces, community participation programs, and opportunities for neighborhood dialogue can strengthen attachment, leading to more resilient and secure urban communities.
 Conclusion
This study demonstrates that place attachment is a crucial sociological factor influencing perceptions of social security in informal urban contexts, particularly for women. Emotional bonds, social responsibility, and neighborhood identity emerged as central drivers of security perception. With 45% of variance explained, place attachment functions as a strategic predictor of security outcomes.
Theoretically, the study extends urban sociology by framing attachment as a socio-cultural mechanism rather than merely a psychological construct. Practically, it suggests that urban planners and policymakers should prioritize soft, community-based strategies—such as enhancing public spaces, encouraging participation, and fostering collective responsibility—over purely physical or policing measures.
However, limitations include the focus on a single settlement and the use of cross-sectional data, which restrict generalizability and causal inference. Future research should employ longitudinal and mixed-method approaches, incorporating comparative studies across formal and informal neighborhoods.
Ultimately, the findings highlight that strengthening place attachment can serve as a low-cost and sustainable strategy for promoting social security and resilience in marginalized urban settings, particularly empowering women who are most vulnerable to insecurity.

Abstract Introduction
Since the final decades of the twentieth century, a growing critique of car-dominated transportation systems has led to an epistemological shift in the humanities and social sciences, widely referred to as the mobility turn. Also known as the new mobilities paradigm, this theoretical reorientation challenges the static, functionalist understandings that have traditionally shaped urban mobility research. Instead, it emphasizes the dynamic, relational, and meaning-laden dimensions of mobility. Urban mobility is understood not merely as the act of transporting people from one location to another, but as a socio-cultural, political, and affective meaningful practice deeply embedded in individuals' lived experiences.
Against this backdrop, the present study critically reviews the existing literature on urban cycling lived experiences from a phenomenological perspective. It aims to synthesize fragmented research, reveal conceptual gaps, and propose a unified research agenda for future inquiry. The central proposition is that urban cycling should not be examined solely through functionalist or positivist lenses—as is often the case in conventional transport studies—but as a complex, embodied, and socially situated phenomenon that can be better understood through phenomenological inquiry into lived experience.
Methodology
To establish a robust conceptual foundation, the paper introduces Van Manen’s lifeworld existentials—lived space, lived body, lived time, and lived human relations—as an integrated framework for understanding lived experiences of urban cycling. Drawing on a comprehensive literature review, the paper argues that current research lacks a coherent conceptual model capable of accounting for the multidimensional, situated nature of cycling practice as a lived experience. While various studies engage with aspects of cycling experiences, they tend to selectively draw on disparate sociological or anthropological theories without offering a unified framework that can be generalized across contexts.
Through this lifeworld-based conceptual lens, the study rearticulates key research questions that examine how cyclists experience and interpret space, navigate social interactions, embody mobility, and make sense of temporality as they move through urban landscapes. These questions are designed to uncover the nuanced interplay between urban form, bodily engagement, emotional responses, and socio-cultural norms that shape the experience of urban cycling. In doing so, the paper foregrounds a view of cyclists not merely as users of infrastructure but as active agents whose movements and perceptions are co-constituted by their embodied presence in place.
Methodologically, the paper emphasizes the importance of adopting qualitative, immersive research strategies that are attuned to the experiential, affective, and sensory dimensions of mobility. In particular, it advocates integrating methods such as ethnography, autoethnography, photo-elicitation, narrative inquiry, and mobile interviews, which enable researchers to explore how meaning is constructed through embodied practice. The paper also highlights the value of innovative and participatory approaches, such as video analysis, mapping exercises, and creative storytelling, in capturing the tacit, subjective, and multilayered realities of urban cycling.
Conclusion
The review is based on an analysis of studies selected from major academic databases, all of which focus on the lived experiences of urban cycling from a phenomenological standpoint. Each study analyzes the lifeworld dimensions, revealing patterns in how space, body, time, and social relations influence cyclists’ experiences. Findings suggest that different urban contexts and social backgrounds significantly shape how cyclists perceive and negotiate these dimensions.
In conclusion, this study underscores the need for a paradigm shift in urban mobility research. Rather than focusing on normative prescriptions or purely functional concerns, researchers must engage with the experiential realities of mobility and the situated meanings that arise through embodied practice. The lifeworld framework offers a promising pathway to explore the holistic, intersubjective, and embodied aspects of urban cycling. It allows for a richer, more empathetic understanding of how people move through and make sense of urban environments on two wheels.
The proposed research agenda outlines both theoretical and methodological imperatives for future studies in this field. This research calls for deeper engagement with interpretivist epistemologies, cross-contextual and comparative studies, and greater attention to the material, social, cultural, affective, and emotional intricacies of cycling practice as a way of urban life. By centering the lived experiences of cyclists, this approach has the potential to inform more responsive, inclusive, and human-centered policies and designs in urban planning and mobility policy, ultimately contributing to the creation of more sustainable and equitable urban mobility.

Abstract Extended Abstract
Introduction
Rapid urbanization necessitates sustainable urban development, particularly optimizing urban form due to land and environmental resource limitations. Modern urban growth often overlooks traditional solar access, resulting in energy imbalances and urban heat islands, as exemplified by the poor air quality in Baharestan and Isfahan in 2019. There's an urgent need for solutions to increase building density while ensuring direct sunlight, thermal comfort, and reduced energy consumption. Algorithmic processes, especially parametric design, offer a novel approach to optimizing urban morphology for multiple, often conflicting objectives, such as maximizing building footprint and courtyard area while ensuring solar access. This study addresses this gap by presenting an integrated model for urban form organization in Baharestan City using multi-criteria algorithms and a solar envelope approach. The main objective is to propose an urban form organization algorithm for Baharestan, analyzing solar light reception and resulting energy in outdoor spaces. Sub-objectives include creating vertical green space patterns, proposing optimal urban block design rules, and developing a climate-optimized multi-variable algorithm for urban development. Ultimately, this research aims to foster a more sustainable city by maximizing building volume using the solar envelope method.
Theoretical Framework
The study integrates "compact city" principles – optimizing land use, increasing density, and promoting mixed-use development – with the "low-carbon energy city" theory, which focuses on reducing greenhouse gas emissions through energy optimization and the use of renewable sources. Solar access is fundamental to both, enabling natural illumination and reducing heating and cooling demands. Multi-criteria algorithms are crucial here, as they balance conflicting sustainability objectives (e.g., maximizing area versus solar access). The solar envelope defines maximum building heights while preserving solar access. Evolutionary computations provide tools for exploring sustainable urban forms. Recent urban planning research has increasingly leveraged Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) algorithms, combined with advanced computational techniques such as machine learning and genetic algorithms, to achieve optimal urban design.
Methodology
This research is applied-developmental, providing a practical and generalizable algorithmic modeling approach for urban design that combines documentary, analytical, and modeling methods. Multi-criteria algorithms like Wallacei are chosen because urban design problems often involve conflicting objectives (e.g., maximizing footprint vs. solar access). These algorithms provide Pareto optimal solutions for complex decision-making.
In the modeling phase, 5000 simulations using the Wallacei multi-criteria algorithm selected the optimal urban layout for residential blocks, maximizing building footprint and courtyard area. Subsequent analyses included solar radiation energy, sky dome coverage, and solar access hours in outdoor urban spaces. Baharestan City, Isfahan (51E, 32N), was the case study, with Meteonorm climate data validated using data from the Isfahan Shahid Beheshti Airport station.
The parametric solar envelope calculation defines direct solar access conditions. Steps involved: 2D site modeling in Rhinoceros; importing EPW weather data into Ladybug plugin to set solar radiation and minimum temperature (20°C, 475 W/m² on December 21st); determining shading boundaries (1.5-2m above ground); setting modeling time (8:00 AM-4:00 PM on December 21st); and generating a 30m maximum height geometric polygon for the solar envelope. The 35-hectare Baharestan study area was divided into five blocks. Rhinoceros 6 SR30, Grasshopper v1, and DecodingSpaces 2020 were used for parametric modeling. After the initial division (Figure 1), 5,000 multi-criteria parametric models were run via Wallacei (Figures 2 and 3). Eight optimal options per area were selected, maximizing building potential and courtyard area (Figure 4). Solar envelope structures were determined for each building on December 21st (the lowest sun angle), considering shadow lines (1.5-2m) and the maximum buildable height (30m), which defined the permissible volumes. Final building volumes were obtained by placing solar envelope volumes in 3-meter voxels to ensure winter sunlight access (Figure 5).
Results and Discussion
Climate data indicated Baharestan's outdoor environment requires direct sun for comfort for six months and shade for four months (Figure 6). Buildable space categorization showed high density (Table 1). Over 95% of open spaces in all five blocks received more than 1000 kWh/m² of solar energy annually, suggesting potential for energy self-sufficiency (Figure 7). Sky dome access averaged over 70% in outdoor spaces and floor plans, aiding natural light utilization (Figure 8). Solar access hours in December (the shortest day) consistently showed over 35 hours of direct sunlight across most urban areas (Figure 9).
Conclusion
This research successfully developed a comprehensive framework for optimizing sustainable urban form in Baharestan using parametric design and multi-criteria algorithms. The Wallacei genetic algorithm facilitated the evaluation of 5,000 models, yielding optimal layouts. The findings align with previous studies on the impact of urban form on environmental sustainability, particularly in terms of solar access and thermal comfort. The study's innovation lies in its simultaneous optimization of conflicting objectives: maximizing building footprint, courtyard area, and solar access. The integrated, climate-optimized algorithm effectively handles complex urban design challenges in specific climates. Its high efficiency is evidenced by over 1,000 kWh/m² of solar radiant energy in 95% of areas, over 70% sky dome access, and over 35 hours of solar access in the shortest month. These results directly address the issues of energy consumption and air pollution in cities like Isfahan. The method facilitates urban green spaces on building levels and significantly meets daylight needs. This research enriches parametric design and multi-criteria algorithms, offering an efficient tool for urban planners to create more sustainable and resilient cities.

Abstract Introduction
Analysis of the Green City Knowledge Map using the VOSviewer tool identifies research gaps in this field. The results of these analyses show that while most studies address environmental and land-use issues, the social, cultural, and economic dimensions of the green city have not been adequately addressed. This gap underscores the need for more comprehensive research to establish the necessary balance among the different dimensions of sustainable development. VOSviewer also highlights that most studies in this field have been conducted in Western countries and in English, and studies in developing regions with different cultural and climatic conditions are not sufficiently available. This geographical imbalance in knowledge production can lead to incorrect generalizations and inappropriate policy design in regions with different conditions. Therefore, this is considered a major research gap in the field of green cities. Finally, the results of the green city knowledge maps using VOSviewer show that the connections between different knowledge areas (such as architecture, urban planning, environment, urban economics, etc.) are not yet well established. This points to the need for interdisciplinary, integrated research to address the complex challenges of today's cities with a comprehensive approach. Therefore, identifying these gaps can be a basis for guiding the future of green city research.
Theoretical framework
Green cities are defined as cities that strive to reduce their environmental impact by reducing waste, expanding recycling, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, increasing housing density while expanding open space, and encouraging the development of sustainable local businesses. A green city is one in which all forms of nature – living organisms, their ecosystems, and habitats – are vital components of its green infrastructure. In a green city, these forms of nature are preserved, maintained, and expanded for the benefit of the city’s residents. Urban nature is an ideal provider of services and a key concept for city development. Green cities have clean air and water, and pleasant streets and parks. Green cities are resilient in the face of natural disasters, and the risk of major infectious diseases spreading in such cities is low. Green cities also encourage green behaviors, such as using public transportation, and have a relatively low ecological impact.
Methodology
The present study is a mixed-methods study with an applied purpose and was conducted using a scientometric method based on the analysis of co-authorship and word co-occurrence. The study's statistical population comprises scientific, conference, and book publications by global authors in English on the green city paradigm published between 1979 and 2025. The sources of the statistical population of the present study are indexed in the Scopus scientific database. The reason for using the Scopus database is that it has more comprehensive resources than Web of Science and provides access to a larger number of resources. VOSviewer software was used to visualize the network of co-authorship and co-occurrence of words, as it was developed for the construction and visualization of bibliometric maps, and its graphical displays effectively depict the network. An advanced search for the term 'green city paradigm' in the Scopus database, without restrictions on title, abstract, or keywords, identified 1587 references between 1979 and 2025. The highest frequency of references is from 2024 (236 references). It is worth noting that the basis of the co-authorship network is 4. The basis of the co-occurrence network of terms is 5. In addition, the dimensions, components, and indicators of the green city were extracted through interviews with 15 experts.
Result and discussion
The Green City Paradigm co-authorship network comprises 121 co-authors and researchers, organized into 8 clusters. Based on the co-occurrence network, the most frequent green city words consist of China (248), sustainable development (225), urban planning (172), green space (166), urban area (161), sustainability (140), urban development (94), human (86), climate change (82), ecology (80), urbanization (74), smart city (72), urban growth (72), decision-making (66), green infrastructure (62), innovation (58), biodiversity (56), economic development (54), environmental protection (52), optimization (49), green economy (48), urban design (47), carbon (44), ecosystem services (43), land use (43), accounting Green (43), carbon emissions (42) and energy efficiency (41). The time course of the evolution of green city concepts and terms has been classified into five stages, including 2016-1979; 2016-2018; 2020-2018; 2022-2020; and 2025-2022. As a result, since 2025-2022, more attention has been paid to green attitude, green economy, green purchase intention, carbon emissions, efficiency, building information modeling, water, economic development, urban regeneration, green finance, green innovation, green logistics, green production, green technology, green technology innovation, sustainable development goals, consumption behavior, theory of planned behavior, social responsibility and overall green factor efficiency.
Conclusion
The results of the study indicate that research in this field has gradually moved from traditional urban management approaches to innovative, ecological, and participatory frameworks. The knowledge map drawn with VOSviewer identified commonalities and interactions across scientific disciplines such as geography, environment, urban planning, architecture, and the social sciences, and revealed numerous research networks centered on concepts such as "zero carbon," "resilient cities," and "public green spaces." Also, the analysis of keywords and scientific references showed that the green city paradigm is influenced by global trends, including climate change, sustainable development, and the Millennium Development Goals. In summary, the green city, as a new urban planning paradigm, is not only an innovative response to the environmental and social challenges of today's cities, but also paves the way for the realization of sustainable development at the local and national levels. Awareness of the existing knowledge base in this field can be a key to identifying research gaps, strengthening interdisciplinary collaborations, and informing urban planning policies. Therefore, continuing qualitative and quantitative studies in this field using knowledge extraction tools such as VOSviewer seems essential.