Journal of Urban Studies on Space and Place

Abstract Introduction
 Humans, as social beings, cannot live independently and without the need for society. A solitary human always feels incomplete. Loneliness is a form of social separation and a discomforting feeling arising from our unmet need for perceived social connection. Thus, it can be described as a type of social pain. In other words, it is a painful feeling of being cut off and separated from others, an unpleasant experience that emerges in response to quantitative and qualitative deficiencies in social relationships. Loneliness, described as the "hidden epidemic of the 21st century," has become a fundamental challenge in urban societies. Despite its multifaceted consequences, there is a research gap in the systematic analysis of the role of urban planning in exacerbating loneliness. 
Methodology
This study, with an interdisciplinary approach, comprehensively analyzes the effective indicators in this context. The study is applied in terms of its objective and descriptive-analytical with a mixed method approach in terms of its method. The statistical population of the research consists of experts in psychology, sociology, social sciences, architecture, urban planning, and social psychology. The sample size was determined to be 100 people using the G*Power software, and the questionnaire was distributed among the experts using the snowball sampling method. The validity of the tool was confirmed by expert judgment. Data collection was carried out in the literature review, background, and research indicators sections using the library method, and in the measurement and evaluation of indicators section using the field method and questionnaire. The data were analyzed using the Friedman test, one-sample t-test, and correlation in the SPSS software.
Result and discussion 
The Friedman test results indicated that inadequate access to green spaces (rank 1), social places (rank 2), and low social participation (rank 3) were the most important factors in creating and exacerbating urban loneliness. Additionally, factors such as limited access to recreational spaces, lack of natural elements in the urban environment, and frequent changes in the urban fabric that weaken place identity were recognized as other influencing indicators in exacerbating the loneliness crisis. The one-sample t-test results showed that access to public (2.27) and social (2.11) spaces had the most significant impact on the feeling of loneliness in urban environments. This finding highlights the importance of interactive spaces in reducing the feeling of loneliness. Furthermore, low social participation (2.02) and inadequate access to recreational spaces (1.56) were identified as other influential factors. A significant relationship between environmental-natural factors and loneliness was also observed; the lack of natural sounds (1.46), absence of nature views from windows (1.15), and shortage of green spaces (1.03) were associated with increased feelings of loneliness. Cultural-identity factors, such as the loss of memory due to continuous changes in the urban environment (1.28) and socio-economic classifications (1.06), also play a role in this phenomenon. In contrast, purely physical indicators like population density (0.03), facade quality (0.08), and building height proportion (0.05) had little impact on the feeling of loneliness. The comparison of Friedman and one-sample t-test results shows significant alignment. A strong positive correlation confirms that the results of both tests are closely related, with almost 91% of changes in the ranking of indicators in one test explainable by changes in the other. This strong correlation indicates that both statistical methods provide similar results in evaluating the relative importance of indicators. The findings of this study show that the indicators influencing the creation or exacerbation of loneliness in urban planning are divided into eight main clusters. These clusters include access to and quality of public and social spaces, social participation and interactions, human-nature connection, urban culture and identity, built environment quality and visual aspects, housing physical characteristics, residential environment features, and access to daily services and amenities. Each of these clusters plays a significant role in reducing or exacerbating the feeling of loneliness in urban spaces, and emphasizing the improvement of these factors can enhance urban life quality and reduce loneliness. Comparing this research's results with other studies shows that most studies have examined loneliness from individual and emotional aspects, while a comprehensive study on the impact of urban planning indicators on loneliness does not exist. The findings on nature indicators, access to services, and social places are aligned with studies like those by Lowell Sachs et al., Moore et al., and Ji Hee Lee and Tak Hon Tan. Loneliness in contemporary cities forms from the interaction of physical, social, cultural, and environmental factors. This phenomenon is influenced by three main layers: physical-spatial (including public spaces and housing quality), socio-cultural (citizen participation and collective activities), and environmental-ecological (connection with nature and natural elements). The combination of these factors can lead to an increase or decrease in the feeling of loneliness in citizens.
Conclusion 
Urban planning requires an integrated and multi-level approach that simultaneously considers physical, social, and environmental dimensions and is based on nature-oriented and human-oriented principles. This approach should include strategies such as creating an integrated network of public spaces, strengthening social infrastructure, integrating natural elements into urban design, and preserving cultural heritage.

Abstract Introduction
The historical fabric is an interconnected expanse of buildings, complexes, spaces, or urban facilities that contain valuable, irreplaceable remnants from the past, playing a significant role in raising community awareness of their history and cultural values. In our country, the historical fabric refers to that part of the urban structure formed before 1921 (1300 Hijri Shamsi). These areas, despite their significant identity value, generally suffer from physical decay, lack of safety standards, and inadequate urban services and infrastructure, leading to a lower status in terms of residence and location. Specifically, parts of Iranian cities formed up to the Qajar era can be considered historical fabric, representing a period before the transformative changes of the first Pahlavi era began.
Methodology
The research method is exploratory-applied. Data collection was conducted through library and survey methods. The sample for expert interviews (to analyze the driving forces) consisted of 30 individuals divided into two groups of 15, following the Delphi model. The Micmac method was employed to analyze and rank the key factors affecting the regeneration of the historical fabric. This method, rooted in foresight studies and strategic planning, aids in identifying and analyzing the drivers and dependencies related to overall decision-making.
Results and discussion
After screening the research variables, 38 variables were selected as initial influential factors for the regeneration of the historical fabric, categorized into five main factors (economic, social, physical, environmental, and managerial-institutional). These variables were analyzed using the Micmac software. According to the results, the distribution and dispersion of variables influencing regeneration in Kashan on the scatterplot indicated system instability. Thus, five categories of variables (influential variables, two-dimensional variables, regulatory variables, dependent variables, and independent variables) were identified and elaborated upon. The variables that had the most significant impact on regeneration development, as well as those two-dimensional variables (with both high influence and dependency on other factors), were identified as key factors. Therefore, the ten key and important factors for urban regeneration development in Kashan were determined to be: good urban governance, urban resilience, infrastructure facilities, timely budget and funding allocation, rapid and cost-effective construction technologies, ensuring residential security in the fabric, local organizations for participation, social capital, capacity to increase residents' income, and balancing and social justice.
Conclusion
The structural development of the city of Kashan for the current and future state requires considering key factors in planning. For structural planning of urban redevelopment in Kashan, all factors involved in urban redevelopment planning are regarded as an interconnected system with integrated elements, and their interrelationships are assessed to identify the superior factors with the most significant influence. These key factors are then employed in urban redevelopment planning to ensure that the redevelopment system in Kashan results in the most sustainable development for the city. To achieve this, all components of social, environmental, economic, physical, and managerial-institutional factors are incorporated as a system.
The factors that have had the greatest impact on redevelopment, as well as dual-impact factors (those that are both highly influenced by and have a significant impact on other factors), have been identified as key factors. Therefore, it can be stated that the redevelopment of historic urban fabrics is driven by a complex interaction of factors, including historical awareness, adaptive strategies, community participation, economic sustainability, and strong policy frameworks. Future research should continue to explore these drivers in various contexts to develop comprehensive models that address the unique challenges faced by cities undergoing redevelopment. By integrating these elements into planning processes, cities can create resilient environments that honor their past while embracing future scenarios.

Abstract Introduction
Future cities are based on maximum physical activity and mobility, social interaction, vitality and environmentally friendly modes of transportation. In this regard, it emphasizes safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable modes of transportation. In fact, they encourage a healthier and more active lifestyle that encourages aspects of social communication and reduces environmental issues. At the same time, they impose maximum restrictions on the expansion of cars, fossil fuel consumption and air pollution in cities. Future cities give the main priority to pedestrianization in the field of transportation and, in fact, have introduced pedestrianization as an alternative mode of transportation. In fact, the city of the future encourages walking or is a driver of walking. Hence, the model of walkable cities can respond well to these goals. Because this mode of transport helps to reduce the number of personal vehicles, it helps to reduce traffic congestion and reduces pollutant emissions, and consequently, promotes sustainability by reducing environmental degradation. Walking is the most democratic mode of urban transport, as it ensures access to basic services for pedestrians and a higher quality of use of these services. In addition, pedestrian-friendly public spaces promote physical activity, social interactions, and recreational activities. On this basis, the present study focuses on developing a conceptual framework for the feasibility of a walkable city as a model of the future city.
 
Theoretical framework
The term walkability refers to an urban space that is conducive to walking behavior. By this definition, a walkable place is a place where you can walk safely, comfortably, and pleasantly. Walkability measures the quality of walking conditions, including the presence of walking facilities and the degree of safety, comfort, and convenience of walking. Several factors influence the walkability of a street, neighborhood, or city, from the physical functionality of a place to the perception of the individual walking. In other words, the factors that define a space as walkable are not limited to the physical dimensions of a place, but also include perception. This requires a multidimensional approach to analyzing walkability.
Methodology
The present study is classified as a developmental research in terms of its purpose. In terms of its method, it is classified as a qualitative research based on the meta-synthesis method. The reason for using the meta-synthesis method in the present study is that there is no precise and clear explanation of the conceptual model of the feasibility of the walkable city. The statistical population includes all the resources published in the period from 2015 to 2024 regarding the walkable city. The research resources were selected using purposive sampling. The meta-synthesis method based on the seven-step method of Sandelowski and Barso (2007) was used to extract and analyze the research data. The statistical population consists of 210 sources related to the walkable city, which were screened based on purposive sampling. Initially, 210 sources on the topic of walkable cities were identified from reputable scientific databases, of which 86 were excluded in the initial evaluation and review. Therefore, in the next step, 124 sources were screened. After reviewing and evaluating them, 61 sources were excluded from the research process in terms of the relevance of the title to the research objective, accessibility, relevance of their abstract and content, and also evaluating their methodology. As a result, 63 sources were deemed eligible for the full-text study. Of these, 42 sources were ultimately selected for the final analysis of the research. The aforementioned sources were extracted from reputable scientific databases such as Sage, ResearchGate, Elsevier, MDPA, Emerald, and Taylor & Francis.
Result and discussion
The results of the study indicate that the walkable city has 6 selective codes and 34 core codes consisting of environmental, social, health conditions, macro, medium, micro scale, comfort components, security, connectivity and accessibility, simplicity, directness, traffic safety, attractiveness, aesthetics, transportation integration, physical environment, visibility, comfort, pleasantness, diversity; vehicle restrictions, shops and services, social activity, area, edges and facades, street beauty, green space; planning scale, street scale, detailed scale; health and recreation, energy and environment, economic development, social development. The extracted coefficient of the Kappa index is 0.86 with a significance coefficient of 0.000, confirming the reliability and quality control of the results of the present study. As a result, the conceptual framework for the realization of a walkable city consists of contextual conditions, scale, key components, walkable environment design, strategies, and consequences.
Conclusion
The concept of pedestrianization has developed in three distinct phases, consisting of the pre-industrial era, the era of the advent of automobiles and the subsequent subordination of the urban environment to mechanization and the neglect of pedestrians, and the era of correcting the disadvantages of mechanization in cities. Studies related to the walkable city are divided into two main groups: macroscale and microscale. Pedestrianization at the macroscale focuses on the physical environment at the city or neighborhood scale and its impact on pedestrian behavior. In this regard, concepts such as density, diversity, design, connected environment, pleasant, visible, comfort, convenient, coexistence, and committed are emphasized. Macroscale studies mainly focus on environmental factors, topography, residential density and land use diversity, street connectivity, and how these macroelements affect walking in cities. On the other hand, pedestrian studies at the microlevel have paid more attention to the microelements of the physical environment, such as the continuity and width of sidewalks, the presence of green elements, pedestrian crossings, etc. at the street scale. Micro-level studies include environmental and physical design features that sometimes require qualitative measurements. In addition, urban pedestrian studies have experienced three major developments: the first period focused on the physical conditions of walkable places, which aimed to define a walkable city and its main components. The second period focused on pedestrians’ perceptions and thoughts about their surroundings. The third period focused on the physical and perceptual dimensions of walkable cities.

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 Introduction
Due to the dangers of homogenization of urban spaces resulting from globalization processes during urban developments, the need to preserve local identities for urban spaces is increasingly felt, and the preservation of local identities is necessary. Koy-e Golestan as a settlement for the minority group of Romanians in the historical center of Sabzevar city, has unique architectural features specific to the indigenous residents of this area.
Also, urban studies show that building facades have a prominent role on physical identity of urban areas. The case study- Golestan neighborhood- is a settlement for Romani people in the center of the city of Sabzevar which due to its deterioration needs urgent spatial-physical interventions. While the aforementioned neighborhood is located in the historical center of the city and has several valuable historical monuments, studies show implementing spatial-physical interventions in areas like this without considering their local spatial identity will have adverse effects on reducing the identity of these areas, and provoking a sense of delocalization in the form of alienation from the place and so on.
So in these regards, this research to serve as a proper urban preservation policy for the future interventions, has tried to explore the identifying components of the building facades of the Golestan neighborhood. According to the studies, facades, as the most important part of the city's physical mass, is considered an important part of its identity. Also, in this study regarding previous research, the identity components of the building facades of Golestan has been explored on the basis of seven categories of its overall components: 1- overall shape of the facade, 2- main lines, 3- dividing lines, 4- openings and apertures, 5- details and extensions, 6- materials and textures, and 7- colors.
In general, in Golestan neighborhood, we see two types of building facades: old and renovated. While Most of the renovated building facades in the neighborhood are made of brick, and sometimes ceramic or stone, this is a characteristic of older buildings with brick or thatched roofs. Also, as what has been discussed in the research findings, in the neighborhood's native and old architecture, we see a variety of designs and architectural details such as railings, turned windows, brickwork, and shelters with brick knots. In the renovations carried out in new buildings, we see the use of new materials such as stone, ceramics, and metal doors and windows, along with a noticeable difference in the patterns of building facades with other areas of the city.
Research Methodology
Totally, this study in order to achieve the study goal, by reviewing the literature on physical identity, building facades and the facades constituent components on physical identity of buildings, has conducted a field study on the case study of Golestan. As mentioned above, in the field study phase, the research was conducted to collect and record data based on two parts of uncontrolled (free) observation, and controlled observations and recordings with the help of photography. In case of mentioned field study, a two-round Delphi technique has been carried out among 14 experts based on 80 selected images in 8 general categories of facade components which has been taken from the building of the neighborhood. At this stage, 15 experts in the field of architecture and urban planning working and living in Sabzevar, familiar with the historical architectural features of this neighborhood, and who also have a relative knowledge of Golestan and its residents were identified and selected that 14 people collaborated with this research.
Result and discussion
According to the findings, the identifying components of Koy-e Golestan building facades could be conceptualized in 17 initial and 7 main concepts. The initial concepts consists of natural and historical symbolism, using of floral and plant elements, using of images of the religious characters, using of religious symbols, ostentatiousness, colorfulness, luxurious, variety in lines, sharp geometry, unconventional geometric combinations, excessive use of arrays, richness in patterns, excessive attention to detail, imitation, variety in patterns, fineness, and repetition. Also The findings showed that the concepts of natural-historical symbolism, religious symbolism, the desire to show off, shape and form fashionism, heavy attention to details, eclecticism, and emphasis on creating a dense texture, are the recognizable aspects of the physical identity of the building facades of Koy-e Golestan.
Concolusion
According to this study, while building facades are deeply connected with the cultural and social contexts, the physical identity components identified in Golestan neighborhood are related to the cultural-identity characteristics of the ethnic community living in Golestan. Based on the results of this research, in general, religious orientation and devotion to the Ahl al-Bayt (PBUH), the desire to self-expression and to be seen, and the personalization of the lived environment are the ethnic community grounded context which is effective on the creation of specific architecture patterns of Koy-e Golestan. This study by exploring the identifying components of Golestan neighborhood building facades, points out to the distinctive and coherent dimensions of the physical identity components of Golestan, in which are necessary for urban design policies and guidelines in terms of urban tourism, regeneration, and housing in the future decision making and decision taking by the authorities about the area.

Abstract Introduction
The growing emphasis on sustainable development has highlighted the critical need to reduce resource consumption across various sectors, and the building industry is no exception. With buildings significantly contributing to energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, strategies that enhance energy efficiency are paramount. One vital aspect of sustainability in the built environment focuses on reducing energy consumption while simultaneously improving the thermal performance of buildings. Among the innovations in this domain, static heating techniques have emerged as effective solutions that leverage renewable energy sources, particularly solar thermal energy.
Static heating systems are ingenious in their design as they integrate seamlessly into building envelopes, offering an innovative means to utilize solar energy. These systems typically employ elements such as thermal mass or specially designed panels on building facades, exploiting the sun's energy for heating purposes. The primary advantage of incorporating such static elements is their ability to resonate with the energy dynamics of the natural environment, thereby improving overall energy efficiency and optimizing indoor thermal comfort.
Research Methodology
In pursuit of the goals set forth by sustainable development, this paper seeks to measure the efficiency and thermal performance of buildings utilizing two specific solar-based systems: greenhouse systems and solar window installations during the cold season. Office buildings, in particular, have gained attention due to their relatively high energy consumption patterns compared to other building types. As workplaces that are often occupied throughout the day, they demand significant energy for heating, cooling, and lighting. Consequently, even minor improvements in energy efficiency within office buildings can lead to substantial reductions in energy consumption and associated costs.
 
One specific case study was conducted on the Municipality Building of District 12 of Isfahan, selected for its representative nature among urban office buildings. This building provided an ideal context to examine the impact of static heating solutions under varying scenarios. The two systems studied—greenhouse systems and solar windows—were modeled and simulated using the Afraz Design Builder software, which enables detailed energy consumption predictions based on specific building configurations and local climate conditions.
Result and Discussion
To effectively assess the performance of each system, a comprehensive simulation of the building's energy consumption patterns was carried out, taking into account factors such as orientation, thermal insulation, window-to-wall ratio, and local weather conditions. The aim was to quantify the required heating load during the cold season for each static heating scenario compared to the baseline state of the building, which represented the conventional design without any enhancements aimed at energy efficiency.
 
The findings from this research have provided valuable insights into the effectiveness of each heating strategy. The first system investigated, the solar window, utilizes advanced glazing technology designed to enhance solar heat gain while minimizing heat loss. The results of the simulation revealed that the incorporation of a triple-glazed solar window dramatically improved thermal performance. Specifically, it was found that the solar window reduced annual heating energy demand by approximately 33.03% compared to the conventional building setup. This significant reduction underscores the potential of modern window technologies to harness solar energy effectively, thereby reducing reliance on conventional heating methods.
 
On the other hand, the second system, a 1-meter-deep greenhouse, also yielded promising results, albeit to a lesser extent. The greenhouse system functions by extending the thermal mass concept and creating an insulated buffer zone, which can store heat during the day and release it during colder nights. The simulation data indicated that this approach successfully reduced the building's heating energy requirements by 17.39% when compared to the standard design. While this percentage is lower than that achieved with the solar window, it still exemplifies the significant contributions that such passive solar design strategies can make towards enhancing energy efficiency in buildings.
Conclusion
In summary, the analysis concluded that the integration of these static heating systems not only enhances thermal comfort within office settings but also significantly mitigates energy consumption, aligning with the broader objectives of sustainable development. The results clearly demonstrate that the application of a triple-glazed solar window can nearly double the energy savings when compared to a traditional greenhouse system. These findings suggest that prioritizing technologies that significantly boost solar gain and thermal management can lead to transformative improvements in building energy performance.
Moreover, the implications of these results extend beyond individual buildings. When scaled to a larger context, widespread adoption of such sustainable technologies could lead to substantial reductions in energy demand at the urban level, thereby addressing broader challenges associated with climate change and resource depletion. The importance of implementing these strategies in urban planning and building design cannot be overstated, as cities continue to grow and face mounting pressure to reduce their ecological footprints.
Ultimately, the exploration of static heating techniques highlights a promising pathway towards achieving sustainable, energy-efficient buildings. The research presented in this paper contributes to a growing body of knowledge that seeks to optimize building design for energy performance, demonstrating that thoughtful integration of solar technologies can have profound benefits for both the environment and building occupants. Continued innovation, research, and collaboration among architects, engineers, and policymakers are essential to further advance the implementation of sustainable practices in the construction industry.