farhad karimani; Kiana sharifi
Abstract
this research delves into the profound influence of aesthetics in articulating boundaries and transitional spaces within the fragmented micro-zones that lie along the edges of cities. It examines how these aesthetic qualities shape the personal experience of movement through such liminal environments. ...
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this research delves into the profound influence of aesthetics in articulating boundaries and transitional spaces within the fragmented micro-zones that lie along the edges of cities. It examines how these aesthetic qualities shape the personal experience of movement through such liminal environments. At the heart of the study lies a central question: in what ways, and through which spatial dimensions, do aesthetic elements inform an individual's perception and lived experience of navigating urban edges?The case study focuses on the urban edge developed within the grounds of the Rey Cement Factory in Tehran. By engaging in a thorough review of existing theories, scholarly works, and previous studies, the research constructs a conceptual model and theoretical framework for analyzing these complex spatial conditions.The findings reveal that visual element—such as lighting, color palettes, shifts in elevation, tactile materials, artistic forms, and spatial proportions—can serve as vital mediators among disjointed and ambiguous micro-spaces. These components contribute significantly to feelings of safety, serenity, and belonging, while also leaving a lasting imprint on the emotional and psychological states of individuals within these spaces.Ultimately, this study emphasizes the transformative power of aesthetic design in redefining marginal urban areas. It suggests that when thoughtfully applied, aesthetic strategies can convert neglected or undefined edges into cohesive, emotionally resonant environments that enrich the experience of urban movement and interaction. As such, the integration of sensory and aesthetic dimensions in urban design is not merely decorative but essential to creating humane, meaningful public realms.
Zahra Pourhosseini; parsa Pahlavan; Elnaz Behnam kia
Abstract
Historic buildings are vital embodiments of cultural heritage, reflecting the contextual identity, collective memory, and social cohesion of communities across time. Nevertheless, the deliberate demolition of such structures constitutes a profound threat to cultural heritage, frequently driven by contextual ...
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Historic buildings are vital embodiments of cultural heritage, reflecting the contextual identity, collective memory, and social cohesion of communities across time. Nevertheless, the deliberate demolition of such structures constitutes a profound threat to cultural heritage, frequently driven by contextual institutional shortcomings, economic pressures, and a lack of cultural awareness. This phenomenon leads not only to the irreversible loss of architectural assets but also to the disruption of historical continuity and the weakening of social and cultural fabrics. In the contextual reality of accelerating urbanization and profit-oriented development, there is an urgent need to develop effective policy strategies that prevent intentional demolition. This study addresses the central research question: What contextual policy measures can effectively deter the intentional destruction of historic buildings? By advocating a proactive and integrative preservation approach, this research aims to propose a contextual framework that balances private property rights with collective responsibilities for heritage conservation. The findings underscore the necessity to critically reassess and refine existing conservation policies to more effectively safeguard cultural heritage amid contextual contemporary challenges. Employing a qualitative approach, the research utilizes Thematic Content Analysis (TCA) via MAXQDA 2024 to assess contextual causes, consequences, and policy solutions. Data analysis distilled key themes, revealing that sustainable preservation requires a triadic framework: regulatory enforcement, economic incentives, and cultural awareness strategies. The study concludes that contextual policy responses must integrate legal, economic, and socio-cultural dimensions to effectively mitigate demolition risks. Future research should evaluate these strategies within diverse contextual governance and socio-economic settings.
Seyed Reza Hosseini; Akram Hosseini; Elahe Khademzade
Abstract
Background and purpose: The evaluation of the benefits of daylight has been the subject of extensive research. Other studies have investigated the role and consequences of using sunlight in medical care spaces. On the other hand, treatment spaces often do not have proper lighting. This research aimed ...
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Background and purpose: The evaluation of the benefits of daylight has been the subject of extensive research. Other studies have investigated the role and consequences of using sunlight in medical care spaces. On the other hand, treatment spaces often do not have proper lighting. This research aimed to identify the mechanisms by which daylight affects the health and performance of humans and the environment in healthcare centers.Materials and methods: Due to the wide dimensions of the subject, the research was carried out using the method of scientific mapping of previous studies in order to explain the relationship between the subjects and scientific terms of this field. In order to achieve this goal, the representation and visual presentation of the structure and dynamics of scientific knowledge related to the subject was done by studying 92 scientific documents prepared between 1900 and 2022 AD.Findings: Studies indicate the function of daylight in four areas of improving patient health (in 7 subgroups), improving staff performance (in three subgroups), environmental health (in 4 subgroups), and reducing electric lighting.Conclusion: The results showed that natural light improves the psychological and physical condition of patients, enhances employee productivity and satisfaction, and promotes environmental health. Additionally, the use of natural light can help reduce electrical energy consumption. This study provides documented evidence for the design of future hospitals and the improvement of existing hospital conditions, which can contribute to increased operational efficiency, improved health, and enhanced economic-environmental sustainability.
sara sadeghi; Mehdi Mahmoudi Kamel Abad
Abstract
Quantitative assessment of cultural criteria in the architecture of contemporary cultural-artistic complexes is essential for enhancing spatial quality, strengthening identity, and social acceptance. This study aimed to identify, prioritize, and quantify the impact of five cultural criteria—aesthetic ...
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Quantitative assessment of cultural criteria in the architecture of contemporary cultural-artistic complexes is essential for enhancing spatial quality, strengthening identity, and social acceptance. This study aimed to identify, prioritize, and quantify the impact of five cultural criteria—aesthetic quality, proportions, architectural style, social acceptability, and cultural meaning and identity—on ten case studies in Tehran. The criteria were first extracted through a systematic literature review and validated in three Delphi rounds with the participation of 27 architecture and structural design experts. Then, the scores (1–10) of each criterion for each sample were analyzed using the weighted hierarchical analysis method and the causal relationships of the criteria were analyzed with DEMATL. The results showed that aesthetic quality has the highest weight (0.47), followed by cultural meaning and identity (0.30) and social acceptability (0.20); architectural style (0.09) and proportions (0.05) are complementary but effective. DEMATL analysis showed that aesthetic and meaning criteria, as the main effective variables, have a strong effect on other indicators (CI > 0.60).Among the examples, the “City Theater” performed the best with an overall score of 9.05, indicating a successful balance between visual appeal, cultural connection, and social engagement. These findings confirm the necessity of integrating aesthetic and cultural identity criteria into design; a design that goes beyond structural function to also address social dynamics and the preservation of local heritage. The proposed data-driven and multi-criteria framework provides a practical model for architects and urban planners in culturally-sustainable design.
Seyed Mohammadreza Kishbafan; Maryam Roosta; Mahsa Sholeh; Atiyeh Qasemi
Abstract
This study, with the aim of identifying, weighting, and providing implementation strategies and policies for resilience indicators in post-pandemic urban street design, has selected Koohsangi Street in Mashhad as a case study. The main research questions are: “What are the most important resilience ...
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This study, with the aim of identifying, weighting, and providing implementation strategies and policies for resilience indicators in post-pandemic urban street design, has selected Koohsangi Street in Mashhad as a case study. The main research questions are: “What are the most important resilience indicators in urban street design to deal with pandemic crises?” and “How can these indicators be applied through strategies and policies in the design of an urban street?” This study was conducted with a mixed approach (qualitative-quantitative); data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 34 street users and coded using inductive content analysis. Shannon weighting and binary matrix analysis were used to weight the indicators. The results showed that the environmental component with a weight of 0.239 and indicators such as "dissatisfaction with the closure of green spaces" (with a frequency of 18.37%) and "decreased public presence" (with a relative weight of 0.102 in the functional component) are among the main priorities. Binary matrix analysis also highlighted the functional component with a weight of 0.316, which indicates the impact of traffic restrictions and reduced urban interactions. Based on these findings, strategies such as the development of small-scale parks, flexible furniture layouts, and policies such as organizing commercial uses to meet livelihood needs have been proposed. This framework, by providing practical guidance for urban planners, can help design streets that are resilient to future crises and strengthen the sustainability of urban spaces.
vahid fani; mohsen vafamehr
Abstract
Industrial architectural heritage, as part of the historical-cultural capital of nations, reflects the process of industrialization and socio-economic developments. Although criteria, charters, and guidelines have been developed internationally for valuing this heritage, little effort has been made to ...
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Industrial architectural heritage, as part of the historical-cultural capital of nations, reflects the process of industrialization and socio-economic developments. Although criteria, charters, and guidelines have been developed internationally for valuing this heritage, little effort has been made to adapt and evaluate these criteria in Iran’s local context. The main research question is: "How can a framework be designed for valuing the industrial architectural heritage of Khorasan Razavi based on international criteria? And how are these reflected in studied examples?" This research aims to develop an efficient framework for valuing the industrial architectural heritage of Khorasan Razavi based on international criteria; a framework designed by identifying and categorizing effective criteria and capable of being tested locally. The approach is interpretive and qualitative, using document content analysis to extract concepts. In the evaluation stage, field analysis based on a questionnaire was used. First, by analyzing scientific sources, charters, and international criteria, a set of components, indicators, and valuation criteria were extracted and integrated. Then, 14 key industrial buildings in Khorasan Razavi were selected and evaluated by experts using a questionnaire based on a five-point Likert scale. Results show most buildings have high economic value but are weak in social value. Findings can serve as a basis for developing assessment tools, conservation decisions, and revitalizing industrial architectural heritage regionally.
Ali Soltani; Ali Reza Sadeghi; Zahra Abbaspour; Aslan Peyrovedin
Abstract
Public transportation systems play a vital role in urban mobility and require comprehensive planning to improve performance and enhance safety. Safety is one of the most critical aspects of public transit, given the large number of daily users. While ensuring safety is essential for all members of society, ...
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Public transportation systems play a vital role in urban mobility and require comprehensive planning to improve performance and enhance safety. Safety is one of the most critical aspects of public transit, given the large number of daily users. While ensuring safety is essential for all members of society, women often face a higher risk of violence and thus require special attention. In Iran, limited research has addressed women’s safety in public transportation systems. Therefore, this study aims to investigate women’s safety in the public transit network of Shiraz, with a focus on the metro system, which has been operational since 2014. To assess safety along Line 1 of the Shiraz Metro, key factors influencing women’s perception of safety were identified through a review of previous studies and theoretical foundations. Based on these findings, a structured questionnaire was developed and distributed among 310 female passengers across nine metro stations: Ehsan, Mirza-ye Shirazi, Shahed, Shahid Avini, Namazi, Zandieh, Valiasr, Fazilat, and Shahid Dastgheib. The collected data were analyzed using linear regression with the stepwise method in SPSS. The results revealed four significant factors influencing women’s perceived safety: the external environment of the stations, the occurrence of crime, theft, and sexual harassment, the emptiness or low occupancy of stations, and the availability of women-only train cars.
AHMAD Danaeinia
Abstract
Place is interpreted as a meaningful space and has different scales. Belonging to place, in addition to individual and social identity characteristics, is a factor in creating or strengthening attachment to a place, and it is an issue that has been considered in the design structure of physical or urban ...
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Place is interpreted as a meaningful space and has different scales. Belonging to place, in addition to individual and social identity characteristics, is a factor in creating or strengthening attachment to a place, and it is an issue that has been considered in the design structure of physical or urban spaces. This research, with the aim of improving the status of place in architectural or urban space, seeks to answer the question: What factors are effective in creating a sense of belonging to a place and improving the quality of the environment? The research method is qualitative, and in the field of methodology, it's based on a qualitative-interpretive model with a content analysis and interpretation-oriented approach. The sense of belonging to place is an integrated approach, and many qualitative elements and components are effective in shaping and directing it. The satisfaction of an individual's needs is the result of the fulfillment of needs by the environment. In this way, his relationship with the environment becomes more effective and carries a positive inferential meaning. The sense of belonging encompasses two dimensions: physical and social, and emphasizes the superiority of social belonging over physical belonging. Accordingly, by creating a context through architectural space, such as separating private and public elements, stimuli such as form, shape, and geometry, spatial scale, and appropriate division of spaces, the duration of a person's presence, which is the magical essence of creating a place and increases the depth of belonging in the audience, can be enhanced.
Abdolhadi Daneshpour; somaye rezaei
Abstract
Urban squares are vital public spaces that foster social interactions and reflect the spatial structure of cities. Shohada Square in Mashhad, located near the holy shrine of Imam Reza, holds significant potential for sociability due to its cultural-religious context. However, past designs have often ...
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Urban squares are vital public spaces that foster social interactions and reflect the spatial structure of cities. Shohada Square in Mashhad, located near the holy shrine of Imam Reza, holds significant potential for sociability due to its cultural-religious context. However, past designs have often failed to enhance its physical and social qualities. This study investigates the role of public art types in improving the sociability of Shohada Square based on users’ perceptions, using a Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) approach. It examines the impact of public art on physical (accessibility, spatial quality, legibility, spatial continuity), social (social interactions, safety, sense of belonging, presence), and activity-related (functional diversity, eventfulness, vitality) components, while exploring the mediating roles of physical and activity-related dimensions.Employing a mixed-methods approach, data from 240 square users were analyzed using Partial Least Squares SEM (PLS-SEM). Results reveal that public art significantly influences physical (β=0.8994, p<0.0001, R²=0.809), social (β=0.9628, p<0.0001, R²=0.927), and activity-related (β=0.9107, p<0.0001, R²=0.829) components, with the strongest effect on the social dimension. Among public art types, visual art (β=1.0000 for social component, f²=0.130) and live art (f²=2.054) exhibit the greatest impact, particularly on legibility and vitality, while architectural and digital art show weaker effects (f²=0.085 and 0.029, respectively). Safety (f²=0.518) and social interactions (f²=0.626) are the most influenced sub-components. The physical (indirect effect=0.7353, p<0.0001) and activity-related (indirect effect=0.788, p<0.0001) components significantly mediate the effect of public art on social qualities. These findings suggest that strategic integration of public art, particularly visual and live art, can enhance the sociability of Shohada Square, offering insights for urban planners to optimize its cultural-religious potential.
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