Journal of Urban Studies on Space and Place

Abstract Neighborhood-level unsustainability is a pervasive challenge in contemporary cities. Contemporary neighborhoods frequently lack the social, spatial, and institutional conditions necessary to function as resilient communities; where such conditions persist, they are often weakened by inappropriate spatial transformations. Indigenous knowledge in Iran contains conceptual resources for understanding and addressing these processes, but these resources have been partially neglected and require reinterpretation to align with modern urban contexts. This study develops a conceptual framework to clarify sustainability concepts and to define normative criteria and measurable indicators for assessing neighborhood sustainability in Isfahan. First, the study identifies core sustainability dimensions across social, economic, and environmental domains. Next, it operationalizes these dimensions by specifying indicators and metrics designed to move assessment toward a continuous, adaptive process. Employing a qualitative methodology grounded in analytical field ethnography and an interpretive approach, data were collected through participatory observation, non-intrusive photographic and video documentation, unstructured interviews, and field notes; data analysis followed systematic content-analysis procedures. Findings indicate that the extracted indicators exhibit substantial desirability within the Sangtarashha neighborhood center. Based on these results, the study proposes targeted interventions to enhance the neighborhood’s long-term sustainability. The proposed framework aims to be transferable to similar urban contexts and to inform policy and community-led initiatives.
Neighborhood instability constitutes a central and escalating problem in urban environments, yet scholarly and practical frameworks that integrate local knowledge with contemporary sustainability assessment tools remain limited—especially in the Iranian context. This research aims to fill that gap by developing a robust framework that synthesizes theoretical and empirical perspectives on sustainability and produces actionable norms and indicators for neighborhood-level assessment and intervention.
Keywords: Neighborhood sustainability; community formation; indigenous knowledge; Sangtarashha; Isfahan
Extended Abstract:
Background and Aim:
Neighborhood instability constitutes a central and escalating problem in urban environments, yet scholarly and practical frameworks that integrate local knowledge with contemporary sustainability assessment tools remain limited—especially in the Iranian context. This research aims to fill that gap by developing a robust framework that synthesizes theoretical and empirical perspectives on sustainability and produces actionable norms and indicators for neighborhood-level assessment and intervention.
Conceptual Framework:
The research adopts a tripartite conceptualization of sustainability—social, economic, and environmental—each operationalized through specific subdimensions. Social sustainability encompasses social cohesion, civic participation, place attachment, and cultural continuity. Economic sustainability includes local economic vitality, livelihood diversity, informal and formal economic opportunities, and resident economic resilience. Environmental sustainability covers the quality and accessibility of public space, ecological management, service provision, and adaptive infrastructural practices. The framework emphasizes iterative assessment: indicators are selected both for diagnostic clarity and for their capacity to inform ongoing, adaptive planning and community action.
Methodology:
A qualitative, analytical ethnographic approach was employed with an interpretive orientation. Primary data collection methods included:
• Participatory observation to capture everyday social interactions and spatial practices;
• Non-intrusive photographic and video documentation to record physical conditions and land-use patterns;
• Unstructured interviews with residents, local leaders, and stakeholders to elicit emic perspectives; and
• Detailed field notes for contextualization.
• Collected data were subjected to thematic content analysis, employing systematic coding procedures to identify patterns, strengths, vulnerabilities, and potential leverage points for intervention.
Findings:
Analysis revealed that the indicators derived from the framework corresponded strongly with residents’ perceptions and observable conditions in Sangtarashha. In particular, socio-cultural assets—such as localized networks of reciprocity, place-based identities, and informal institutions—emerged as prominent strengths that could be leveraged to support broader sustainability objectives. Economic indicators highlighted both opportunities (small-scale commerce, adaptive livelihoods) and constraints (limited access to formal employment and capital). Environmental indicators showed mixed outcomes: while some public spaces exhibited strong use-value and social importance, infrastructural and ecological deficits limited their full sustainability potential.
Conclusions and Recommendations:
The study concludes that combining indigenous knowledge with a structured, indicator-based framework provides a viable approach for diagnosing neighborhood sustainability and designing context-sensitive interventions. Recommendations include:
• Strengthening local institutions and community networks to harness social capital for collective action;
• Supporting microenterprises and local economic diversification through targeted financial and capacity-building programs;
• Implementing incremental, low-cost environmental interventions to improve public-space quality, water management, and service delivery; and
• Establishing participatory monitoring mechanisms that use the proposed indicators to guide iterative planning.
Implications and Future Research:
This framework contributes a practical tool for urban practitioners and planners seeking to integrate cultural-contextual knowledge into sustainability assessment. Future research should operationalize the indicators quantitatively, validate the framework across diverse neighborhoods, and pilot intervention packages with longitudinal evaluation to measure impacts over time.

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
Empowering women in the decision-making environment of the Isfahan metropolis is regarded as a socio-cultural necessity that plays a key role in enhancing transparency, justice, and efficiency in urban management. This process allows for more accurate attention to women's needs and challenges in urban policymaking. Women's active participation in urban decision-making processes not only increases the diversity of perspectives but also contributes to sustainable development and the fair distribution of urban resources and services, ultimately helping to reduce gender inequalities.
Theoretical Framework
‏The insufficient participation of women in urban decision-making structures may result in the neglect of crucial issues such as urban safety, access to public services, and work-life balance—all of which have a direct impact on citizens' quality of life. This study draws on theories of social justice, participatory governance, and gender equality to explore the consequences of empowering women, positioning this empowerment as a vital element in improving urban management outcomes.
Methodology
This study is qualitative, applied in its objective, and exploratory in its methodological approach. The statistical population includes the legal boundaries of the Isfahan metropolis in the year 2024 (1403 Hijri-Shamsi). Data collection tools include interviews and questionnaires. A one-sample t-test was used for data analysis. The sample size for the questionnaire includes 400 employed women in governmental, semi-governmental, and private organizations, selected randomly. Additionally, the interview sample consists of 20 experts chosen through purposive sampling.
Result and discussion
‏The research findings indicate that out of 84 basic themes related to the consequences of women's empowerment in the Isfahan metropolis, only 20 are above the average level. The overall average score for these themes is 2.7922, which reflects an undesirable situation. Among the themes, only "eliminating discrimination" and "life and health" scored above average. The negative values of the t-statistics for most themes further emphasize the overall weak and unsatisfactory state of women's empowerment outcomes in this context.
Conclusion
 ‏The results suggest that the consequences of women's empowerment in the decision-making environment of the Isfahan metropolis are generally at a weak and undesirable level. The low average scores and negative t-statistic values underscore the need for a comprehensive policy review and the implementation of proactive strategies to enhance women's participation in urban governance. Strengthening women's roles in decision-making structures is essential for achieving more equitable, effective, and accountable urban management.

Abstract Insecurity, potential threats, and lack of sense of security lead to dissatisfaction and lack of confidence among citizens, especially tourists. Therefore, by utilizing the international security standard ISO and its localization, it is possible to provide services and create sustainable security. The aim of this study is to localize security standards and make them compatible with international security standards in ecotourism. The approach of this research is a mixed (qualitative-quantitative) approach, and document exploration techniques and interviews (in the form of the Delphi method) were used to collect data. Also, exploratory factor analysis was used to screen items and select the main items. The results of this study show that “maintaining and strengthening security and safety” has the highest rank. Also, among the independent variables, the construct “potential security and safety risks in tourism” is the most important. Another finding of this study is that the construct of “feeling of security” has the greatest impact on the goal construct (security), meaning that security is meaningful when the tourist feels it. Finally, in the final neural network model, it was determined that the three constructs of “rules regarding security and safety”, “potential safety and security risks in tourism” and “tourism in a standard location” have an impact on the construct of “security”.

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 In recent years, social capital has become one of the most popular concepts in the field of social theories. Today, the role of social capital is much more important than physical and human capital in organizations and societies. Without social capital, it becomes difficult to follow development paths. Considering the importance of this issue and the contradictory reports of the social capital situation in Sabzeh Maidan neighborhood of Isfahan city, the present research was conducted with the aim of measuring the level of social capital in this neighborhood. The sample size in this research is 285 residents of Sabze Meidan of Isfahan city, who were selected by simple random sampling. The research method was descriptive and analytical, and the data collection tool was a researcher-made questionnaire. Data analysis was done using SPSS software. The findings of this research indicate that the level of social capital in the studied area is not in a desirable condition. Among the components of trust, cohesion, and participation, the component of participation was assessed to be in a relatively desirable condition.

Abstract Today, with the development of cities and the introduction of the principle of sustainable development, environmental issues and, green cities have been the focus of urban planners. The issues and problems that exist especially in the cities indicate the failure to achieve the characteristics of sustainability in them, while the spatial and ecological analysis of the environment has been one of the main characteristics of sustainability in the urban regions and districts, and it is trying to improve the urban environment. Provide suitable for the residents of the cities. The green city is one of the new approaches arising from the concepts of sustainable development, which can be used to improve the quality of the environment and sustainable urban development. The purpose of this research is to investigate the metropolis of Isfahan in terms of green city indicators to find out what is the state of this city in terms of the green city approach, and then with a look at Freiburg, Germany, which is a successful example of a green city in the world and adopted sister. Isfahan is known to implement strategies. Therefore, this research with  the  descriptive-analytical method and library and field method with the help of  a questionnaire firstly first collected the necessary information and then with the help of SPSS software it came to the conclusion concluded that according to the people, the energy index is the most important index for Reaching the green city is in Isfahan, while with the help of SWOT technique, urban professionals consider environmental governance to be the most important component to reach the green city.

Abstract The daylight level in interior spaces of office buildings highly affects productivity, job satisfaction and health condition of employees. Achieving optimal daylight level in office buildings helps reducing various harmful effects artificial lighting which may lead to the well-being of employees and can affect various aspects of the building. Maximizing daylight availability in the interior spaces of office buildings through the use of different glazings and shading systems is one of the most common and effective tools to achieve such goal. It is also important to consider buildings orientation as it is one of the fundamental factors which directly affects how a space receives daylight. By the use of climate-based daylight modeling and examining various shading systems and glazings, the presented study seeks to achieve optimal visual level through maximizing useful daylight illuminance (UDI) in a reference office model for cardinal orientations. To this end, weather data of Isfahan is used as this city represents the climate with high daylight availability. The results show the importance of using the reflective louver (in different configurations according to the orientation). Findings also reveal the very similar effects of clear double glazing and clear triple glazing.

Abstract In recent decades, the pedestrian bridge has been proposed and used as a serious option among the movement facilities in the transportation system of Iranian cities. This research aims to study the use status of pedestrian bridges from the point of view of the Isfahan 7th district citizens. This research is of applied type and in essence Based on the method is a descriptive-case and analytical method. For data collection, the field method in the form of a questionnaire and for data analysis, descriptive statistics and one-sample t-test, one right-tailed average and one left-tailed average test were used in the SPSS software. The findings of the research indicate that the Isfahan 7 district pedestrian bridges in terms of locating and location, design and urban landscape, geometry and function, aesthetics and a number of security indicators are in an unfavorable condition. In general, from the point of view of users, paying attention to human centeredness in the hardware and software dimensions of pedestrian bridges leads to the optimal use of this facility by pedestrians.

Abstract Modernism has played an important role in the development of human life in technological dimensions, but its aterialistic view has made cities and urban spaces face basic challenges in social, cultural, environmental and spiritual fields. Therefore, paying attention to the quality of spirituality in the construction and measurement of urban spaces is an important step in dealing with these challenges. Therefore, the aim of this research is to understand the dimensions of the quality of spirituality in urban spaces and evaluate it in some urban spaces of Isfahan. In the qualitative part, the literature of the subject has been explained by a systematic review. In the quantitative part, the votes of two groups of elites (51 people) and citizens (400 people) in order to rank the perception of spirituality from 22 selected spaces of Isfahan city based on the Likert scale were analyzed using a questionnaire and using Friedman’s test to rank the perception of spirituality. One-way analysis of variance has been used to compare the perception of the sense of spirituality in the respondent group. According to the scores of two groups of elites and citizens, regarding the level of spirituality in the urban spaces of Isfahan, Jame Mosque scored the highest and Bazarche Hassan Abad scored the lowest. Also, among the types of space, “Cemetery” has received the highest score in terms of spirituality. Therefore, the two important cemetery of Isfahan, Takht Foulad Cemetery (the public tomb and the tomb of religious and cultural celebrities) and Golestan Shohada were selected as case study to conduct in-depth interviews with citizens (21 people) and the interviews were analyzed by thematic analysis. The results indicate that silence, solitude, peace, Islamic architecture of buildings and monuments, the integration of nature and natural elements with the tomb, the visibility of the sky and the vastness of the area; Also, the mental dimensions of the space, including the sense of remembrance, the sense of separation from the world, the connection with divine saints and religious elders are among the most important factors in creating spirituality in these cemetery.

Abstract Today, for various reasons, new criteria are used for the division of neighborhoods, which are significantly different from the historical divisions of these neighborhoods. In the meantime, it seems necessary to know the factors and elements that distinguish and determine these urban boundaries. In order to achieve the desired urban neighborhoods, it is necessary to observe the quantitative points of urban planning, but it is also important to observe the opinion of the people regarding their neighborhood and the boundaries of that. Historical neighborhoods in the past had specific boundaries, but these boundaries were not defined by physical barriers and modern fences; rather, various natural factors or passages, alley have shown its local signs. On the other hand, the awareness of the residents and their belonging to the neighborhood along with other social and environmental factors, not only formed the identity of the neighborhood; rather, it also determined its scope. The purpose of writing this article is to know the indicators and criteria for the division of historical neighborhoods in the city of Isfahan and to determine the influencing factors on the division of neighborhoods using documents and the statements of local residents. The results of face-to-face interviews with nineteen knowledgeable residents present in the neighborhoods led to the formulation of two general categories of natural and artificial factors (which were separated into environmental and social types); which will be explained in this article by mentioning a case example for each factor.

Abstract Neighborhood planning with a participatory, democratic and people - oriented approach is based on the adaptation of programs and plans with the needs and wants of residents in the city, its realization depends on the participation of citizens in the neighborhood level, but in iran ‘s urban management and planning system, participation is faced with limitations. This research intends to study the factors which facilitate and limit the participation of citizens in the neighborhood planning in isfahan case study. Accordingly, the purpose of the study is practical and based on the nature of the method is descriptive - case and analytical in data collection by documentary and documentary method in form of questionnaire. Friedman test and one sample t - test and cluster analysis in spss software have been used to analyze the data. the findings of the research show that the factors limiting the participation of neighborhood in the structure of urban management, lack of attention of urban management to participation, lack of managers ‘ beliefs and urban authorities to participation, impact of urban management and provincial and provincial macro decisions are the most important factors in neighborhood planning. Creating a structure of urban management, making profit making, and applying the model of direct influence of participation in urban management is one of the factors facilitating participation in neighborhood planning.

Abstract Paying attention to the urban landscape is always one of the most important research and executive concerns of researchers and experts in the field of architecture and urban planning, considering that it includes the most visual communication of citizens with the city and transmits a lot of information from the surrounding environment to people. Today, due to the lack of coherent standards and accurate and correct supervision of its implementation in the field of urban facade design and implementation, we are facing a kind of visual turbulence and crisis in the landscape of urban facades. Therefore, by defining programs with the framework of managing and rearrangement ugly urban landscapes, by the urban management, it is tried to take steps to improve the visual quality of these views with different solutions. Thus, according to the amount of intervention in the facade components in order to apply reforms in the form of renovation, rearrangement and trimming out of urban facades, in some cities, with the intervention of the municipality, executive measures have been taken in this regard. Hence, in this research, an attempt has been made to review one of the most recent experiences in this field in the city of Isfahan (Askariyeh and Alam ol-Hoda streets) in the form of a scientific and executive process, and to present the lessons learned from this experience. In general, this study seeks to find an answer to this question that: “what measures can be taken to improve the urban landscape of the existing urban facades? And then by introducing 10 scientific and executive steps in the project which is entitled “preparation of executive documents of the trimming out, renovation, rearrangement and monitoring of implementation”, the strategies obtained in the framework of its plan are presented as urban trimming out measures.

Abstract Abstract
Public art has various roles in the urban space, which is divided into instruments such as sculpture, music, urban paintings and urban drawings, urban theaters, fountains, etc. Urban sculptures and elements are one of these that have been studied and have different designs and functions. Sculptures are functionally and designically divided into theatrical and functional expressions. The purpose of this study is to improve the perceptual quality of urban space by urban sculptures. The studied sculptures in the central part of Isfahan, including sculptures along the Zayandehrood River, important squares of the city such as Khajoo or Ghadir and main streets such as Chaharbagh Abbasi have been studied. Attempts have also been made to examine about 17 of the sculptures through interviews and studies on urban space, and to identify and extract their strengths and weaknesses. One of the strengths that can be mentioned is the importance of historical, cultural and aesthetic urban issues in the concepts of sculptures. Weaknesses that we see in some of these cases and sculptures, such as low lighting of some sculptures, improper location of the sculpture, (large or small) of the sculpture relative to the space used are also points that are perceived. And the importance of the statue must be taken into account.