International Journal of

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This study explored one of the unique solutions to create climatic comfort in high-temperature and semi-humid dwellings. It also aimed to explain the role of different altitude layers of dwellings in Dezful throughout the year. This study is applied research with an analytical-descriptive method. This study carried out on 23 local houses in Dezful revealed six altitude layers, including the first layer (Shavadoon), second layer (Shabistan), third layer (courtyard), fourth layer (the platform, first-floor room, and veranda), fifth layer (the yard on the second-floor, second-floor room, and veranda), and sixth layer (the roof). The data were collected through interviews, available documents, and field observations. The results revealed that moving vertically through layers can yield thermal comfort. The fourth layer has the most use of space, and the second layer has the most minor use of space during the year.
 

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Nowadays, many urban parks are underutilized due to changes and developments of cities, parks location, inappropriate inner conditions of parks, and other factors. Besat Park in Tehran is located in an urban district where people have fewer recreational choices other than going to parks. So, the issue of underutilization in this park might lead to so many other problems. This research is aimed to identify and prioritize the effective factors which can improve the visitors’ number of Besat Park. Field observations and interviews with Besat Park users were used in this research. During the observation process, three main factors were scrutinized including activity, access, and legibility. Behavioral mapping was applied to observations in 18 parts of the park which occurred at 6 different times in various seasons. Behavior mapping recordings were based on people's age, gender, and activity. Also, a questionnaire was set up covering the three main factors investigated in behavioral mappings. The results show that activity as the main important factor had negatively affected the level of presence in Besat Park. Even on large scale, the incompatible land uses inhibited neighborhood resident’s interaction with the park edges. Inside the park, despite the lack of legibility and impermeability of some routes and districts, only the ones which had other issues in terms of activity, access, and other sub-factors were vulnerable to the mentioned problems. Generally, the factors affecting Besat Park use could be prioritized based on their level of influence respectively as activity, legibility, and access.