Journal of Urban Studies on Space and Place

Abstract Introduction

Urban space is not merely a physical outcome of planning and design but is produced through intertwined institutional, discursive, and socio-political processes. Planning documents play a crucial role in this process by defining spatial problems, legitimizing particular forms of knowledge, and establishing frameworks through which urban space is interpreted and transformed. From a Foucauldian perspective, these processes are inseparable from relations of power and knowledge, through which certain interpretations of space become legitimate while others remain marginalized.

This issue is particularly significant in historically and symbolically contested urban spaces, where heritage, collective memory, development objectives, institutional interests, and everyday practices intersect. Atiq Square in Isfahan represents such a context. Despite the emphasis placed on revitalization, urban identity, and the recovery of urban life, the institutional and discursive rationalities embedded in the official documents governing its transformation require critical examination. Accordingly, this study aims to critically explore the institutional-discursive construction of space in official urban planning documents related to the revitalization of Atiq Square. It specifically seeks to identify the dominant spatial rationalities embedded in these documents and trace how they are translated from policy discourse into planning, design, and implementation practices.

Methodology

The study employs a qualitative and critical research approach based primarily on Fairclough’s Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), complemented by a Foucauldian interpretation of the power–knowledge–space relationship. The empirical material consists of mid-level and executive official documents associated with the revitalization and urban development of Atiq Square, selected to capture the institutional translation of spatial policies into planning and implementation practices.

The documents were systematically examined through open, axial, and theoretical coding using Atlas.ti. The analytical process followed Fairclough’s three-dimensional framework, encompassing text, discursive practice, and social practice. At the textual level, recurring concepts, problem framings, and normative statements were identified. At the level of discursive practice, attention was given to how spatial meanings and planning rationalities were produced and reproduced through institutional and technical representations. At the level of social practice, these discourses were interpreted in relation to broader structures of governance, power, managerial rationality, and spatial regulation.

Discussion and Results

The findings reveal a hierarchical process of discursive reproduction through which dominant rationalities are progressively translated across institutional levels. At the policy level, a development-oriented discourse centered on efficiency, order, revitalization, productivity, and spatial improvement constitutes the dominant framework for defining the project. Within this discourse, space is primarily constructed as an object to be optimized, reorganized, and regulated.

At the planning and design level, these rationalities are reproduced through technical representations, regulations, and spatial prescriptions. Managerial and technocratic forms of knowledge acquire a privileged position in defining the identity, function, and appropriate organization of the square. Consequently, the plurality of spatial meanings is selectively translated into categories that are more readily measurable, governable, and designable.

At the implementation level, mechanisms of surveillance, standardization, regulation, and control consolidate this discursive order through physical interventions and executive practices. Thus, the material transformation of Atiq Square appears not as an isolated physical intervention but as the final manifestation of a broader process in which space is first discursively defined, institutionally authorized, technically represented, and ultimately regulated.

The findings consequently reveal a vertical chain of discursive reproduction from policy to planning and design and from design to implementation. This chain demonstrates how power operates through the normalization of particular ways of seeing, classifying, and intervening in urban space. From a Foucauldian perspective, the official documents constitute a power–knowledge assemblage through which spatial decisions are rendered legitimate and particular interpretations of place are institutionalized.

The critical significance of this process lies in its implications for spatial alienation. When the authority to define and interpret space becomes concentrated within institutional and technocratic structures, alternative meanings rooted in everyday experience, collective memory, and citizen agency may be marginalized. Spatial alienation can therefore be understood not only as a physical or social condition but also as an institutionalized asymmetry in the production and interpretation of spatial meaning.

Conclusion

The study demonstrates that the transformation of Atiq Square cannot be understood solely as a physical redevelopment project. Rather, it represents an institutional-discursive process in which policy rationalities, technical knowledge, planning representations, and implementation mechanisms collectively produce and stabilize a particular spatial order.

The main theoretical implication is that official planning documents should be understood as active instruments of spatial production and discursive governance rather than neutral representations of planning decisions. The findings further suggest that overcoming institutionalized spatial alienation requires a shift from the dominance of disciplinary and managerial rationalities toward a more interpretive and plural understanding of space.

In this framework, spatial readability should not be reduced to a visual or morphological quality. It can instead be understood as a socio-spatial capacity grounded in citizen agency, interpretive plurality, lived experience, and the coexistence of multiple meanings. Re-reading urban space as a polyphonic text may therefore contribute to redistributing interpretive authority and opening institutional planning toward more dialogic forms of spatial production.

Abstract Mental health challenges have become increasingly prominent in contemporary urban environments, where rapid urbanization, population growth, environmental stressors, and socio-economic inequalities intensify psychological pressures. As cities continue to expand, the demand for spaces that promote psychological comfort, social interaction, and emotional well-being has grown substantially. While environmental psychology provides rich insights into how physical and social environments shape human behavior, stress, perception, and well-being, urban planning traditionally emphasizes infrastructure, spatial organization, and land use. Despite their shared concerns, these two fields have often developed independently, creating a conceptual and operational gap. Addressing this gap is essential for creating human-centered, health-supportive, and sustainable urban environments. This study responds to this need by systematically analyzing the intellectual landscape, conceptual patterns, and research gaps at the intersection of environmental psychology and urban planning over a 52-year period.
Theoretical Framework
The research is anchored in an interdisciplinary framework that conceptualizes cities as dynamic psychological environments. Environmental psychology theories—including person–environment fit, stress recovery theory, attention restoration theory, and place attachment—highlight that environmental attributes such as green spaces, architectural form, density, mobility networks, and sensory qualities influence cognition, emotional states, social behavior, and health outcomes. Urban planning theories, particularly those related to sustainable development, human-centered design, and socio-spatial justice, emphasize the need for equitable, inclusive, and resilient environments. By integrating these perspectives, the framework positions environmental psychology as a bridge that connects physical design with human needs. This integration helps explain why certain spatial configurations reduce stress, why natural elements enhance emotional well-being, how socio-economic factors shape environmental perceptions, and how built environments influence health disparities among age groups—including children, adults, and the elderly. The theoretical model underscores that psychological well-being is not merely an individual attribute but an outcome shaped by spatial, social, demographic, and environmental systems.
Methodology
The study employs a scientometric design to provide a systematic, quantitative, and visual analysis of research trends. A total of 462 English-language publications from the Scopus database (1973–2025) were retrieved based on carefully selected keywords related to environmental psychology and urban planning. Boolean combinations ensured that only publications addressing both domains were included. VOSviewer software was used to conduct:
• Co-occurrence analysis to identify conceptual linkages,
• Cluster analysis to categorize thematic domains,
• Overlay visualization to map temporal evolution of concepts,
• Density mapping to highlight areas of concentrated scholarly attention.
The time-span was categorized into four major evolutionary phases to reveal how each era contributed to the intellectual development of the field. This methodological approach allows for comprehensive identification of dominant themes, emerging research areas, and underexplored gaps.
Results and Discussion
The analyses revealed six major conceptual clusters that together form the intellectual core of the intersection between environmental psychology and urban planning:
1. Environmental Psychology and Urban Sustainability:
Emphasizing green spaces, environmental quality, restorative environments, and psychological well-being as core components of sustainable cities.
2. Demographic Psychology and Socio-economic Factors:
Highlighting how population growth, socio-economic status, gender, and social inequality affect environmental perception and behavior.
3. Psychology of Elderly Health:
Stressing the importance of supportive environments, accessibility, neighborhood characteristics, and social support for aging populations.
4. Psychology of Physical Activity and Built Environment:
Focusing on walkability, cycling infrastructure, parks, and public spaces that promote active lifestyles and mental health.
5. Psychological Stress and Environmental Risk Factors:
Addressing how noise, crowding, pollution, unsafe neighborhoods, and poor housing conditions induce stress and mental health burdens.
6. Traffic Safety Psychology and Driving Behavior:
Examining risk perception, driver behavior, pedestrian safety, and environmental features affecting traffic-related mental load.
The conceptual evolution indicates a clear progression:
• 1973–2005: Foundations of demographic and environmental behavior research.
• 2005–2010: Increased attention to social determinants of health and environmental inequalities.
• 2010–2015: Expansion toward climate change, urbanization impacts, and mobility behaviors.
• 2015–2025: Focus on mental health, sustainability, green infrastructure, COVID-19 repercussions, and AI-driven urban analytics.
The discussion highlights Environmental Psychology as an integrative lens that explains why and how urban forms influence stress, emotional resilience, social participation, and well-being. The study underscores that cities must be understood not only as physical infrastructures but also as psychological ecosystems that shape daily experiences.
Conclusion
This research concludes that environmental psychology and urban planning form a synergistic and interdependent relationship. Integrating psychological insights into planning processes enhances the creation of environments that support mental health, strengthen social cohesion, and enhance residents' quality of life. The findings demonstrate that:
• Environmental psychology acts as a bridge connecting human needs with spatial design.
• Urban sustainability requires psychological sustainability, including emotional safety, stress reduction, and supportive social environments.
• Human-centered design principles are essential for resilient and equitable urban development.
The study recommends embedding environmental psychology into urban policy-making, planning guidelines, and crisis-responsive strategies—especially in the context of climate change, pandemics, and rapid socio-environmental transitions. Future research should include cross-cultural comparisons, longitudinal psychological assessments of urban residents, and deeper investigation of emerging global challenges. Overall, the study contributes a comprehensive scientometric synthesis that clarifies conceptual structures, identifies research gaps, and highlights critical pathways for future interdisciplinary research.

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 In the present era, when urban life is fraught with numerous stressors, the quality of educational environments has become a vital issue. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of biophilic design components on stress reduction in university public spaces. The study was conducted as a case study at Jahad Daneshgahi Kermanshah using a quantitative survey method. The statistical population included 75 undergraduate and graduate architecture students who were selected through convenience sampling. The research tool was a researcher-made questionnaire consisting of 15 items in three functional-social, physical-environmental, and experiential-perceptual factors with acceptable reliability (Cronbach's alpha 0.89). The findings showed that there is an inverse, strong, and significant relationship between the total biophilic score and the stress level of users (r = -0.745). The strongest relationship was related to the physical-environmental factor (-0.701). Also, the assessment of the current state of the space indicated strengths (such as vegetation with a mean of 4.23) and critical weaknesses (such as multi-sensory stimulation with a mean of 2.70 and activity diversity with a mean of 2.78). As a result, redesigning university public spaces based on biophilic principles is not only an aesthetic ideal, but also an effective intervention with statistical support for promoting mental health and educational productivity. This study confirms the role of biophilicity as an essential strategy for creating resilient and health-oriented university environments.

This study, titled "Analyzing the Impact of Biophilic Design in Public Spaces on Stress Reduction," aimed to investigate the influence of biophilic design components on the perceived stress levels of users within a university public space, employing a case study methodology at the Jihad-e Daneshgahi (ACECR) of Kermanshah. The biophilic design approach, rooted in the concept of "biophilia" or humanity's innate affinity for nature, seeks to reintegrate natural elements, patterns, and processes into the built environment. It posits that fostering a tangible connection with nature—whether through direct incorporation (like plants, water, and natural light), indirect or symbolic representation (using natural materials, forms, and geometries), or through the spatial experience itself (prospect and refuge, mystery)—can have profound restorative effects on human psychology and physiology.

To empirically examine this proposition within a specific local context, the research adopted a mixed-methods (qualitative-quantitative) strategy. The target population consisted of 75 undergraduate and graduate architecture students from the center, selected through convenience sampling. The primary instrument for data collection was a researcher-developed questionnaire designed with a strong foundation in established biophilic design frameworks, such as those proposed by Kellert and Browning et al. This instrument comprised 15 items systematically categorized into three core factors: Functional-Social (addressing aspects like spatial choice between solitude and community, comfort, and activity diversity), Physical-Environmental (focusing on tangible natural elements like daylight, vegetation, natural views, materials, and dynamic elements like water), and Experiential-Perceptual (pertaining to the psychological experience, including feelings of relaxation, sensory stimulation, curiosity, and a balance between prospect and refuge). The questionnaire demonstrated high internal consistency, with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.89, confirming its reliability for measurement.

The quantitative findings provided robust statistical support for the central hypothesis. A Spearman's correlation analysis (chosen due to non-normal data distribution confirmed by Kolmogorov-Smirnov tests) revealed a strong, inverse, and statistically significant relationship (p < 0.01) between the overall biophilic quality score and users' self-reported stress levels, with a correlation coefficient of -0.745. This indicates that as the perceived presence of biophilic attributes increases, perceived stress decreases substantially. Among the three factors, the Physical-Environmental dimension showed the strongest individual correlation with stress reduction (r = -0.701), followed by the Functional-Social (r = -0.643) and Experiential-Perceptual (r = -0.589) factors. This hierarchy suggests that the direct, tangible presence of nature within the space—such as ample vegetation, access to natural light, and views of greenery—may be the most potent contributor to alleviating stress in this setting.

A detailed descriptive analysis of the current space, however, painted a nuanced picture of strengths and critical weaknesses. Users highly rated specific Physical-Environmental elements, such as "presence of live and diverse vegetation" (mean = 4.23) and "presence of dynamic natural elements" (mean = 3.99), indicating successful integration in these areas. Functionally, "creating a sense of security" and "availability of comfortable seating" also received favorable scores. Conversely, the space performed poorly on two fronts: "diversity of possible activities" (mean = 2.78) and "multi-sensory stimulation" (mean = 2.70), with over 56% of respondents rating the latter as "low" or "very low." This highlights a significant gap; while the space incorporates some visually natural elements, it fails to provide a rich, multi-functional, and sensorily engaging experience that fully leverages biophilic principles.

In conclusion, this study confirms that integrating biophilic design into public university spaces is not a mere aesthetic luxury but a statistically valid intervention for promoting mental health and reducing environmental stress. The findings move beyond a general affirmation to offer a prioritized roadmap for designers and facility managers. The strong correlation of the Physical-Environmental factor underscores the high impact of interventions like enhancing daylight penetration, introducing water features, and expanding plant diversity. Simultaneously, addressing the identified critical weaknesses—particularly the poverty of activity choices and sensory engagement—is paramount. This can be achieved by creating flexible, multi-purpose zones that support both individual study and social interaction, incorporating auditory elements (like nature sounds), tactile natural materials, and designs that evoke curiosity and exploration. Therefore, this research advocates for a transformative approach, reimagining university public spaces not as mere transitional or utilitarian areas but as intentional "restorative environments" that actively contribute to the cognitive resilience, social well-being, and overall productivity of the academic community.

Abstract Introduction
The rapid and often uncontrolled growth of urbanization has created numerous challenges, most notably the development of inefficient and deteriorating urban areas. These areas often lag behind the natural progression of urban development and become centers of infrastructural weakness and social vulnerability. In response to these conditions, urban regeneration has emerged as a strategic approach to revitalize declining neighborhoods and address their complex social and physical problems. Urban development projects around religious sites represent a particularly complex type of intervention. Such projects typically produce both positive and negative effects, most of which are concentrated in the surrounding neighborhoods of the project. Historically, areas around shrines have required ongoing expansion to accommodate the growing number of pilgrims. However, these physical transformations create a significant challenge: balancing the functional and logistical needs of pilgrims with the social sustainability and quality of life of the local residents. In recent decades, urban management has prioritized increasing the physical capacity of shrines, often overlooking the social and human dimensions of development. Consequently, limited attention has been paid to how residents perceive and experience these substantial neighborhood changes. This study seeks to address this gap by modeling and evaluating the perceived social impacts of the ongoing Zainabiyeh Shrine development plan in Isfahan from the perspective of local residents.
Theoretical Framework
The theoretical foundation of this study rests on the assumption that successful urban spaces, particularly those surrounding pilgrimage sites, must be shaped not only by physical and structural interventions but also by the perceptions and needs of the local residents. In this study, perceived social impacts are defined as residents’ assessments of how urban development initiatives affect their daily lives, social environment, and overall well-being, whether positively or negatively. Based on a review of domestic and international experiences, this study proposes a theoretical framework structured around seven main components and their related indicators. These dimensions include urban security, urban identity, accessibility, social participation, social justice, urban vitality, and economic dynamism.
Methodology
This study adopted an applied research approach and employed a descriptiveanalytical design. Data were collected using two complementary methods: a comprehensive review of the relevant literature and documents and a field survey conducted using a structured questionnaire. The statistical population consisted of 900 residential parcels located within the immediate impact area of the Zainabiyeh Shrine Development Plan. Using Cochran’s formula and systematic random sampling, a representative sample of 120 residential parcels was selected for the study. Questionnaires were distributed to the informed members of the selected households to ensure reliable responses.
To ensure methodological rigor, the content validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by university faculty. Its reliability was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha, which yielded a high coefficient of 0.947, indicating a strong internal consistency. The Kolmogorov–Smirnov test revealed that the data were not normally distributed; therefore, nonparametric statistical methods were employed. Quantitative data were analyzed primarily using the Sign Test and second-order confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) with SPSS and SmartPLS software.
Result and Discussion
Demographic data showed that 58.3% of respondents were male and 41.7% were female. The results suggest that local residents generally rate their current living conditions as moderate to low, especially in areas such as social participation and economic dynamism. Among the components evaluated, physical "accessibility" received the highest satisfaction score, with a mean of 3.380, indicating relatively positive improvements in the physical infrastructure.
In contrast, "economic dynamism" had the lowest mean score (2.136), indicating significant dissatisfaction among the local population. Additionally, "social participation" scored an alarmingly low 2.24. The second-order CFA results, which showed a strong model fit with a goodness of fit (GOF) value of 0.595, identified the most influential factors within each dimension. For example, within the social participation dimension, "attention to residents' concerns and questions" had the highest factor loading (0.257), while in the economic dimension, "innovation and creativity in jobs" (0.507) was the most critical factor.
Overall, while the project succeeded in improving accessibility and permeability, it faced substantial challenges in the socio-economic areas. The low score for social participation suggests a top-down planning approach that excludes local stakeholders from the decision-making process. Furthermore, residents did not experience the expected economic benefits, instead feeling the increased pressure of urban living costs.
Conclusion
The assessment of residents' perceptions of the social impacts of the Zainabiyeh Shrine development plan reveals a clear disconnect between top-down urban regeneration efforts and the socioeconomic realities of the affected population. The findings emphasize the urgent need for municipal authorities to revise their participatory planning policies and strengthen their social resilience. Relying on top-down development models erodes civic trust and weakens the attachment to places. To address these challenges, it is essential to conduct continuous field-based needs assessments throughout the implementation phase of the development plan. These assessments will help mitigate the negative impacts on local communities. Additionally, future research and planning should prioritize evaluating the social consequences of forced displacement due to urban acquisitions. It should also explore the dynamics of shrine development strategies across various urban centers to establish more equitable, inclusive, and sustainable frameworks for urban regeneration.

Abstract Introduction
The concept of "tension" refers to a psychophysiological state arising from environmental pressures. It is shaped by the dynamic interaction of the built environment's characteristics, individual traits, and the situational context. Despite extensive evidence on the positive impact of factors such as green spaces, human scale, and interactive design on mental health, a structural research gap has hindered the practical application of this knowledge: existing studies primarily focus either on objectively measuring the environment or on subjective responses, without clearly explaining the operational mechanisms of how objective spatial features (such as visual density, lighting, and structure) translate into the subjective experience of tension. This gap prevents evidence-based design from effectively and purposefully reducing tension in public spaces. Therefore, this study aims to conduct a bibliometric analysis and knowledge visualization of the field, mapping existing research, identifying thematic clusters and scientific collaborations, and ultimately revealing key theoretical gaps to guide future research.
Theoretical framework
The research background related to public spaces and the sense of tension can be categorized into five interconnected key domains: studies on the overall impact of public spaces on tension, the relationship between environmental qualities and tension, the identification of influential environmental factors, methods for measuring tension, and citizens' sensory perceptions. Foundational studies, particularly those drawing on Attention Restoration Theory (Kaplan and Kaplan, 1989) and Stress Recovery Theory (Ulrich, 1984), have emphasized the vital and moderating role of green spaces and nature. This finding has been expanded by recent research (e.g., Prastowo and Syarif, 2024), which demonstrates that the quality (cleanliness, design, maintenance) of these spaces is more decisive than their mere quantitative presence. Concurrently, research has identified environmental factors that induce tension (such as poor design, pollution, visual and urban density) as well as mitigating factors (including noise reduction, a sense of shelter, diverse vistas, and effective architecture) (Matos et al., 2024; Khalighimoghaddam, 2024). However, reviewing this body of literature reveals two major structural gaps: first, the predominant focus of research has been on describing or quantitatively measuring phenomena, without systematically explaining the operational mechanisms (mediating processes) through which objective environmental characteristics translate into the subjective experience of tension; second, there is a notable absence of a comprehensive and integrated measurement framework that simultaneously captures and measures both the objective dimensions of the environment and individual sensory-psychological perceptions. These gaps hinder the formation of a comprehensive map of the knowledge structure and impede evidence-based design that could purposefully reduce tension in public spaces.
Methodology
This study is a bibliometric and scientometric investigation conducted with the aim of identifying research issues and gaps in the field of perceived tension in urban public spaces. To obtain a comprehensive overview of the scholarly output in this domain, data from 967 unique articles were collected from the Scopus and Web of Science databases (after removing duplicates). The search was performed using a combined strategy of keywords related to urban design, tension/stress, environmental psychology, and measurement indicators, with no time restrictions and covering all types of English-language articles. Scientometric analyses were conducted using VOSviewer software across four main levels: co-occurrence analysis to identify thematic clusters and trends, co-authorship analysis to map collaboration networks among authors, organizations, and countries, co-citation analysis to reveal intellectual paradigms and influential works, and citation analysis to identify highly cited articles and journals. Unlike descriptive scientometric studies, the findings in this research were interpreted through a problem-finding lens; that is, by focusing on structural gaps, weak connections between thematic clusters, emerging concepts, and collaboration patterns, fundamental issues and future research priorities were extracted.
Result and discussion
The structure of existing knowledge can be identified in five main clusters: theoretical foundations and socio-cultural dimensions (rich in theory but challenging in operationalization), mental health and risk factors (dominated by correlational approaches and limited in causal inference), thermal comfort and climate (specialized and precise, yet isolated from psychosocial knowledge), environmental perception and novel measurement technologies (forward-looking but in early stages and weakly linked to theory), and green infrastructure, spatial justice, and spatial methods (focusing on inequality and possessing spatial analysis potential, yet requiring more applied research). Three simultaneous developments have made addressing this issue essential: an explosive quantitative growth in research after 2015, a conceptual and methodological shift toward novel technologies and nature-based solutions, and the transformation of the need for tension-reducing public spaces into a social priority following the COVID-19 pandemic. Using a problem-finding approach, this study provides a framework for guiding future research toward filling these gaps and creating integrated, operational knowledge.
Conclusion
This research emphasizes that despite theoretical, empirical, and methodological advancements in the study of "perceived tension in public spaces," an integrated operational framework for measuring and managing this phenomenon is lacking. This deficiency stems from four main structural gaps:
• The theory-practice gap: The inability to translate scientific findings into practical design solutions.
• The objective-subjective measurement gap: The lack of connection between the physical characteristics of space and people's psychological experiences.
• The methodological gap: The insufficient and unsystematic use of modern measurement methods for evaluating designs.
• The contextual gap: The focus of research on developed countries and the neglect of different cultural and climatic conditions.
In simpler terms, although the factors influencing tension and their causes are partially understood, how to convert this knowledge into actionable guidelines for urban designers—unlocking the "black box" between space and experience—remains unclear.

Abstract Pastures which cover around 25 and 55 percent of total area of the Earth and Iran, respectively, play a significant role in supplying livestock production, food security, protecting natural ecosystem, job creation, increasing the income of villagers and nomads, amplification of underground water reservoir, flood prevention and so on. These cause pastures to be referred as a key factor for sustainable development of countries. This present descriptive-analytical research is conducted with the aim of identifying the affective factors on pastures destruction and their protection approaches. The required information for studying 60 domestic and foreign articles as well as sites and relevant reports are gathered. The results reveal that several factors are involved in deterioration of pastures which can have different effects based on location and temporal conditions of various countries and regions. The most important factors are the increase of number of livestock and the absence of balance between livestock and pastures, premature grazing, transforming pastures to agricultural lands, continuous grazing, fire, bush cutting, military maneuvers, road construction and construction operations, weak management factors and the absence of effective dissuasive laws and regulations for pastures protections, drought, reduction of economic power and poverty of local communities, irregularities in and decrement of rainfalls, non-implementation of rangeland plans and insufficient attention to people’s cooperation in preparation of such plans, lack of local knowledge utilization in pastures protection and decomposition of traditional and native social structures of beneficiaries. Finally, based on the findings, some solutions for pastures protection are
proposed.

Abstract The relationship between what the city receives from the environment and what the environmental geography transforms into an urban environment in terms of its internal capacity (urban settlement) and its functional roles (urban habitation) leads to the formation of the desirable "spatial capacities" index. The purpose of this research is to identify and conceptually establish the factors that make up the urban headquarters from the point of view of the capacities of the urban place. Achieving this goal by using the analytical-adaptive method to compare the existing schools has been to develop a theory to recognize the concept of urban headquarters. The findings of this research show that the constituent components of urban headquarters can be identified in three categories: static, active, and functional, and in all stages of the urban life cycle, they lead to the definition of the environmental and geographical capacities of cities in the form of the concept of urban headquarters. Recognizing and expanding the idea of the constituent components of an urban center with an emphasis on its conceptual separation from other concepts similar to urban planning, as well as a focus on the coordination between different dimensions of the city location, are the most critical points of this research. Human interventions in the environmental capacities of cities cause a difference in the capacities of the existing urban headquarters, with available capacities, and change the components of the urban headquarters. Because urban capacities, more than any factor of urban and social geography, are related to existential capacities and environmental realities. As a result, for the spatial stability of cities, it is necessary to organize the components of the city center.

Abstract The rapid rate of development of cities has caused extensive changes in the land use pattern around cities, and these effects of city development and urbanization can be seen in developing countries as well as developed countries. In Iran, as a developing country, the growth rate has been very high, and following that, there have been extensive changes in the field of land changes. Change of users is inevitable but it can be managed. The process of land use changes and the recognition of the effective factors and its results can help to identify obstacles, problems, analyze and understand urban issues as best as possible and become a tool for managers and urban planners to predict the future growth and development of cities and be able to manage effectively and Look for opportunities for cities. One of the biggest and most challenging issues in recent years in Iran is the change of urban land use, which has many effects in cities, and if these changes are carried out in an uncontrolled and unsupervised manner, they will have irreparable effects. . The purpose of this research is to investigate the effects of land use change on land use planning. Due to the spread of these changes, urban design and urban planning, using error tests and investigations, should always seek to adapt to the conditions that have arisen and are ahead, and they need changes and modernity of opinions in the previous standards. Therefore, he must always adapt to new conditions. It is for this reason that the discussion of flexible planning has been brought up and paid attention to in order to achieve better results than in the past. The most change of land use in cities is related to the change of use of agricultural lands and their conversion to urban uses, which causes more instability in cities, which is caused by the added value of the change of use in urban spaces. By having control tools, municipalities play a very effective role in preserving and maintaining existing natural lands, and by using their control tools, they can prevent land trading and changes in the use of natural lands to other uses.

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 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 Introduction
Global transformations in the realms of architecture and urban planning, along with rapid urbanization and heightened public awareness of environmental and social challenges, have created a fertile ground for the present research. This study focuses on the critical shift from mere physical development to place-making within architecture and urban design. Such a transformation necessitates the application of innovative green project management methods, which, through capacity assessment and prioritization, enable the creation of nature-friendly spaces. The central question of this research examines how to enhance constructed environments into place-centered, nature-compatible spaces. To this end, the analysis of environmental, social, and economic dimensions forms the foundational core of the study.
Theoretical framework
This research aims to develop a theoretical and practical framework for designing sustainable interventions in architecture and urban planning. The primary question addresses how green project management methods can be effectively designed and implemented to simultaneously reduce negative environmental impacts and strengthen place attachment and environmental justice. Considering the increasing importance of reducing pollution, conserving natural resources, and improving urban life quality, addressing this subject is of paramount significance.
The necessity of this research can be analyzed from two perspectives. First, the need for standardized tools for sustainable environmental interventions amid the growing prevalence of algorithms, guidelines, and protocols in architectural and urban design practices. Second, the urgency of creating convergence between theories and practices related to green management and place-making to address environmental, social, and economic challenges effectively. Gaps in existing literature, such as the lack of interdisciplinary and operational frameworks, serve as motivating factors for this study.
Methodology
The methodology employed in this research is a qualitative meta-synthesis approach centered on theory development. Data were extracted from an analysis of 60 books and 50 articles, with the research process encompassing design, sampling, data collection, analysis, and theoretical development. The phases of this process emphasized identifying key factors and achieving theoretical saturation in the domains of green project management and place-making. Data analysis utilized techniques such as initial and descriptive coding, thematic network mapping, and discourse analysis. The development of analysis further involved inferential convergence and coherence among concepts.
Result and discussion
In the design phase, the problem was precisely defined, and its dimensions were thoroughly articulated. Subsequently, relevant data were collected from library sources based on the defined research samples and target population. Data coding employed elements derived from theoretical foundations, including core concepts, metaphors, expressions, and ideas. During data analysis, the network of intermediary variables was mapped to elucidate semantic alignment and conceptual consistency. Validation, clarity, and appropriateness analyses were conducted to align these variables with the environmental, social, and economic conditions of each region.
Findings indicate that nature-friendly place-making requires integrating green management practices with place-making principles. Twenty place-making and nine green management practices were identified and analyzed. Results revealed that the utilization of green technologies, ecological design, and attention to social and psychological dimensions significantly enhance life quality and environmental sustainability. Moreover, environmental justice and place attachment emerged as pivotal mediating concepts in the success of this process. Aligning these practices with spatial and locational characteristics facilitates context-sensitive decision-making and fosters improved human-nature relationships.
Through the examination of preconceptions and misconceptions in prior literature, this research identified conceptual, methodological, and thematic gaps and endeavored to address these through the proposal of a comprehensive theoretical framework. For instance, adapting green project management methods to local needs and socio-cultural attributes offers a strategy to enhance the effectiveness of architectural and urban interventions. In this regard, the typological analysis of 20 place-making practices and nine green management practices highlighted the potential of standardized tools to adapt these practices to local conditions.
Conclusion
The research also underscores the critical role of key analytical components. Concepts such as vocabulary, categories, and metaphors were instrumental in constructing semantic units related to place-making and green management. These elements provided a solid foundation for establishing a relational network among intermediary variables, including place attachment, environmental justice, and quality of life. Analyses of clarity and discursive translation contributed to a more precise and transparent understanding of these concepts, resulting in the synthesis and integration of data.
Ultimately, this research demonstrated that combining green management with place-making can simultaneously result in spaces that address environmental needs while enhancing social relations and place attachment. The findings serve as a foundation for location-based decision-making and the design of sustainable environmental interventions. Additionally, standardized tools offer a pathway for enhancing environmental quality in architectural and urban planning projects. This theoretical framework provides an opportunity to redefine green design principles and introduce an innovative approach to sustainable development, paving the way for future research in this domain.
By emphasizing the identification and typological analysis of place-making and green management practices, this research has effectively integrated various strategies. This integration has significantly contributed to practical and effective decision-making in the design of sustainable spaces, enabling the application of these findings in architectural and urban planning projects across diverse scales. Consequently, the present study is a pivotal contribution to green project management and sustainable place-making, promoting enhanced environmental quality, pollution reduction, and improved urban life quality.

Abstract Urban spaces have always been considered as a milestone of planning and thought to the city. The role of these spaces in the pandemic was doubled in importance. The experience of quarantine and observance of social distancing were among the issues that led to a rethinking of how urban spaces were formed in line with the new conditions that COVID-19 and its new strains imposed on citizens’ life. Therefore, the main purpose of this study was to provide a framework for creating resilient and flexible urban spaces in accordant period after COVID-19 pandemic. This scientific research is reviewed and based on the review of experiences and literature, three basic concepts of “urban spaces, resilience and flexibility as well as the effects and influences of two sides of urban spaces and covid-19 pandemic” have been developed. Therefore, based on the researchers conducted from the beginning of the pandemic, selected resources and studies were carried out. The findings show that increasing resilience in urban spaces is possible by explaining medium, medium and long-term approaches through combined attention to physical and non-physical factors such as social, behavioral, economic, etc. and suggestions are suggested to achieve this according to the underlying conditions of Iran.