International Journal of

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The advent of modern planning in the early twentieth century and its failure in practice caused the emergence of planning crisis which theory-practice gap has been its central theme of debate. This gap begot various readings of urban planning theory to make theory and practice much closer. Radical planning, as one of these readings, deprives the power of central government in favour of empowering the citizens and considers the highest level of participation in decision-making processes for them. Nevertheless, it failed to address the planning crisis and theorists continued theory making to address the crisis. Hence, the current study aims to investigate radical planning with a critical perspective by using a deep-seated research method and referring to related topics. Results ended in finding reasons led to the failure of radical planning to address planning crisis. The uncertainty of radical planning process, the idealistic looks of theorists and radical planning mismatch with the current forms of state planning are three main reasons which hindered it from addressing planning crisis despite being the turning point of urban planning theories. 

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A city which is developing is a successful city and one which is not is considered to be an ailing, shrinking city. In the past, cities faced many demographic changes caused by wars, natural disasters and epidemics. Nowadays, cities experience huge demographic changes, too. In this regard, urban shrinkage is defined as long-term population loss which leads to decline in a city or a city center. Urban suburbs also have a significant effect on transitioning the population from cities to suburbs; this study aims to analyze the attractions of Abouzar town in Mashhad as a suburb and study its relationship with urban shrinkage. Methodology of this study is descriptive and analytical and data are gathered through scientific sources and using a questionnaire. The population of the study consists of the inhabitants of Abouzar town who had left Mashhad and taken residence in this town. Using PASS software package, a sample size of 350 was determined. The questionnaire data were analyzed suing SPSS22 software package and Smart PLS was used for modeling. Analysis of the attractions of Abouzar town revealed that social status, with 5 indices, has the most influence on the attraction of Abouzar town. Moreover, Spearman's test showed that a significant positive relationship exists between attractions of Abouzar town and leaving the city.

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An efficient road network remains among the topical issues in the international urban development forum. This is because roads link interrelated land uses, in addition to connecting them with the contiguous metropolitan areas, thus a key contributing factor for an accelerated socio-economic uplift. To sustain this, planning standards that delimit urban road reserves are usually prepared and enforced through development control to ensure that roads are maintained for their intended purpose. This study through a case study was, therefore, undertaken in Kisii Town, Kenya, to investigate if the unauthorized developments on road reserves are regulated. It correspondingly tests the hypothesis that there is no statistically significant difference between the planning standards used in regulating road reserves and observed compliance by developers. The study was steered by the public interest theory of regulation targeting residential developments which were proportionately and randomly drawn from the seven neighbourhoods. Data were collected using a high-resolution satellite image and a questionnaire. Data analysis relied on GIS, t-test, logistic regression, and linear regression. Research findings demonstrated a statistically significant difference between the approved planning standards and the extent of compliance by developers, signifying that the County Government of Kisii did not undertake adequate development control. Non-compliance was mostly heightened by the developers’ unawareness of the building plan approval process and inadequate inspection during construction. This study deepens the international debate on development control by spatially and statistically illuminating how the extent of compliance with the planning standards that regulate road reserves may be empirically analyzed.

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In recent years, several studies have focused on the perceived meanings of urban parks. However, few studies are to be found providing a comprehensive model of the meanings and associations of an urban park. This paper seeks to address the main following question: What are the meanings and associations of Fateh Garden for its users?
In this study, a grounded theory approach was conducted to identify meanings and associations as intangible cultural resources of Fateh Garden which is one of the largest and most popular parks in Karaj. In this regard, sixty-nine semi-structured interviews were conducted with Fateh Garden’s users. The results reveal that when users are asked about the park, they often come up with pleasant meanings and associations. Components, events, and activities as causal conditions create pleasant meanings and associations for the users of Fateh Garden. Moreover, ease of accessibility facilitates the use of this park. However, there are some issues, problems, and contradictions related to Fateh Garden that need to be addressed. In this regard, identifying problems and providing solutions can lead to promoting peace, safety, and hope for Fateh Garden’s users. This study identifies eight categories and sixteen subcategories. The substantive theory that emerged, was named promoting peace, safety, and hope through pleasant meanings and associations. This study provides a framework for urban parks managers and future researchers to assess intangible cultural resources of urban parks.

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Livability plays a vital role in the growth and development of cities and citizens' quality of life. Identifying and understanding the needs of citizens and making these settlements viable improves the quality of life in urban areas. The purpose of the present study is to evaluate residents' satisfaction with urban regeneration projects and its relationship with making these neighbourhoods viable. The goals formulated in the regeneration plan of the Kolapa neighbourhood of Hamadan have been extracted and used as criteria for evaluating the satisfaction of the project implementation. Livability criteria have also been divided according to the study of research background into four main classes: physical, environmental, socio-cultural, economic, and health criteria. This study has used descriptive-analytical methods and conducted a field survey through a questionnaire. Cronbach's alpha, with a coefficient of 0.863, confirmed the reliability of the questions. The statistical population is the whole population of the Kolapa neighbourhood, and the statistical sample size is 352, which is calculated by the Cochran formula, with a 5% error and 95% confidence level. We used stochastic sampling in this research. The compiled data were analyzed statistically using Correlation, Path analysis and Regression analysis in Spss and Amos24 environment. To what extent has the regeneration project brought the Kalpa neighborhood of Hamadan closer to the indicators of a livable city? According to the findings, among the satisfaction criteria for the project, sense of place, safety and security, participation and access to facilities and services have the highest level, respectively. According to the research findings, it is possible to benefit from people's participation in various stages of the implementation of the regeneration plan and turn neighborhoods into livable neighborhoods with better quality of life. The residents of the neighborhoods have gained a full understanding (such as strengths and weaknesses) of these types of places because they have lived in them for a long time. Therefore, the neighborhood can be regenerated based on the resident's knowledge and participation. Based on the results of path analysis it was found that regeneration projects mainly consider the physical dimension, and therefore other criteria (especially economic, health and socio-cultural criteria) are less considered.

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This study seeks to investigate the effect that environmental factors have on the use or non-use of bicycles according to gender in urban travels in Iran. To this aim, while conducting a questionnaire survey among 304 bicycle users (162 males and 141 females) within the dedicated bicycle network in Shiraz, "T" test and "Regression" statistical tests were conducted to investigate the preference differences between the two groups (male and female) and specifically, the effect of factors among women.
Based on the findings of the aforementioned statistical tests, both men and women faced barriers to using bicycles in urban travels, although a difference was observed between the two genders in the effective environment they preferred. This difference is especially significant regarding socio-cultural indicators considering the specific traditional-religious context in Iran. Therefore, in addition to indicators such as "sense of safety," "path security," "using dedicated bicycle lanes," "path greenness and attractiveness, " women's cycling is significantly affected by indicators such as "community custom and people's judgment" and also "religious norms."
Based on the analysis, education of women about the benefits of using bicycle and the creation of synergy between cultural and religious institutions of the society to remove social, cultural and normative barriers for women's cycling in Iran along with planning to increase urban bicycle transportation lanes with the necessary environmental qualities and standards can increase the per capita and eliminate the disparity in the number of men and women who cycle in developing countries such as Iran.

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Intraurban land-use change and factors affecting it are critical subjects in land-use planning. If unplanned, such changes can reduce the quality of life and spatial justice and ultimately lead to urban unsustainability. This paper aims to identify factors influencing unsustainable land-use change and analyze the intensity of such changes based on those factors. The artificial neural network analysis was employed to model the significant factors. The results indicated that the dynamics of the economy and the capital markets, a boom in the land and housing market, government interventions in the urban texture, gardens, and infill land have a dominant role in determining the rate of change in urban land use. According to the results, relevant indexes of the land and housing market and political and economic factors play a crucial role in Tehran's unsustainable land-use change.

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Transportation is one of the most important issues in today's cities. Urban trips and their spatial and temporal patterns influence and are influenced by other components and functions of the city. Information and communication technology have evolved rapidly over the last few decades and have influenced urban travel patterns in many ways. Numerous studies have attempted to study the effects of these technologies on transportation and urban travel and to explain the relationship between them. However, due to the lack of sufficient information and the complicated nature of the connection between ICT and travel, there is still speculation about how it will affect the urban travel patterns, and many researchers believe that we can not simply comment on these effects conclusively. Hence, understanding the interaction of ICT and urban transportation is necessary for the planning and management of urban transportation. This study tries to answer the question of what is the relationship between IC and urban travel through a systematic literature review of empirical studies? For this review, 77 empirical published articles were selected and after describing their important features, the main findings of the articles were extracted and categorized into 6 topics based on the effects that ICT can have on urban travels and the relationship between them. The findings showed that the relationship between ICT and urban travel can be in four different modes: a) substitution-reduction, b) synergy-complementary, c) modification, and d) neutrality. ICT can also influence the urban travel pattern and its quantity and quality by providing fragmentation of activities and optimizing the use of the existing transportation systems. The type and severity of effects can vary at different times and places and under the influence of socio-economic factors. The results also indicate that due to the significant increase in ICT use after the Covid-19 pandemic, the severity of its effects on the urban travel pattern has also increased and it is expected that even after returning to normal and in the post-Covid-19 period, the relationship between ICT and the travel patterns will become even more pronounced

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The hedonic valuation method has been considered in various fields by researchers in order to estimate the value of a commodity or the demand for exploitation of a commodity for many years. Besides, the hedonic method has been widely used to identify ‘value’ indicators in the housing market. The need for indicators as the key tool for housing planning is related to the need to prioritize planning. Indicators are also critical to understanding housing characteristics. This article tries to develop a "conceptual model" of value by meta-analyzing the existing theoretical literature regarding the valuing indicators in the hedonic model, which has been done by the
meta-analysis method, uses MAXQDA software and open and axial coding to analyze the texts in order to compile and classify the features that explain the value of housing. The research findings, which are taken from 335 highly cited articles between 2009 and 2019, show that despite the long period of application and theoretical development of the model, there is no theoretical consensus on the explanatory indicators of housing value. So, 7 main categories can be identified in the form of 350 concepts and 5883 codes (including frequency), which can show the range of housing value dimensions, in addition to summarizing the issue. Also, the share of basic structural-physical and peripheral categories, with 53.5 and 25.5 percent, respectively, has the most application in the hedonic housing valuation model. In the two-mentioned categories, the share of variables affecting the residential unit, the building of the property, and access to services and land uses with relative shares of 23.6, 19.2, and 16.5%, is more than other variables. The results show that while the concepts of many explanatory indicators of value are the same, a suitable range of explanatory indicators of housing value can be used in the hedonic model according to the goals and the target community, and this can lead to the formation of indigenous and specific values of a society.

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Land use characteristics affect social behavior and Social Capital (SC) among humans. Due to the different physical dimensions of the dense city neighborhoods, the type of ongoing social interactions in different locations will not be alike. In order to understand Kerman city’s historical quarters, we must analyze the transitions that occurred in the past few decades, and the formation and reshaping of various neighborhoods. The question we must ask is: What is the relationship between mixed land-use (MLU) and Social Capital (SC) in older and newer neighborhoods? In order to answer this question, we must apply the Structural Equations Modeling (SEM) to determine the relationship between the variables, and to measure the amount of MLU and SC, the criteria of "Diversity and Accessibility"; and "Collaboration and Interaction, Neighborhood ties, Trust, Sense of belonging, Participation, Awareness". Based on the findings, the amount of SC and MLU is different in old and new neighborhoods. In all sample neighborhoods, the level of SC is lower than the theoretical average, and the new neighborhood of Pansad-Dastgah is at a higher level than other neighborhoods. In general, there is a causal relationship between SC and MLU in the surveyed neighborhoods. This relationship is direct and incremental in some indicators of "diversity and accessibility" criteria and it is reversed and decreasing in other indices. Also, with increasing MLU, the amount of SC in neighborhoods is amplified. To determine the relationship between LMU and SC, the length of time residents live in a neighborhood and its social context, as well as the assessment of SC, have been considered. The model of old Iranian neighborhoods that have more SC and MLU, and theories of urban planning with MLU in their set of principles, can be a good basis for planning/re-planning in new and existing neighborhoods.
 

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The advent of modernity in Iran weakened many structures and practices, including social hangouts in cities; therefore, the public was cynical about this space. While hangouts, as a third-place and public space in a city, promote social capital, vibrant centers, and citizenship education, Tehran Daneshjoo Park, as a public space with an urban scale and physical and social features, can also be considered a hangout for various social groups. The present study seeks to identify hangouts and factors affecting their formation, continuity, or fading in this space. Accordingly, documentaries were investigated via a descriptive-survey method. Then, interviews with space users at different times and with observation instruments such as photography and behavioral mapping were employed. The results showed a hangout for artists and art lovers, vendors, and food vendors, students and young women, people with sexual identity disorders, addicts and drug dealers, and the elderly. Also, functional components such as geographical location, urban theater building, and its architectural type, platforms and stair space structure, water pool, urban furniture, enclosure in space, social components such as the presence of social observers, drug distribution, and street peddler are effective in creating and the continuation of these hangouts. Most of these hangouts are formed as part of open space with a trans-regional scale.
 

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The aging of the population in developed and developing countries calls for special attention to improve the quality of life for older people. Meanwhile, one of the key factors influencing the quality of life of older people is their mobility. Most of the previous studies have considered the mobility of younger people while considering the aging of the population, the mobility of older people needs special attention. This research aims to investigate the factors affecting older adults’ mobility in urban spaces. Thus, we examined Sage, Science Direct, Wiley, Taylor and Francis databases. Initially, 300 papers were gathered. In the following steps, after a more detailed review of the content of the papers and the removal of the unrelated ones, 28 papers remained which had the most relevance to the subject, and content analysis was done. The content analysis results show that the factors affecting elderly mobility are personal factors, lifestyle and attitudinal factors, and built environment factors. Finally, the model of the factors affecting elderly mobility is proposed. According to this model, the three factors proposed can affect the mobility of older adults directly and indirectly. Our findings add to the growing research on investigating older adults’ mobility factors. If urban planners get familiar with the factors affecting the mobility of older people in urban spaces, they can lead people to more sustainable modes of mobility and decrease car orientation in urban areas. Therefore, in future policies, the role of all the factors in the mobility of older people should be considered because the restriction of mobility can prevent the active participation of individuals in social activities and ultimately create feelings of depression and social isolation.
 

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The realization and sustenance of spatial justice within urban environments encounter substantial hurdles arising from the imbalanced expansion of cities and ensuing socioeconomic crises. According to available statistical data on Iranian cities, these crises and challenges have contributed to an escalation in the number of urban inhabitants perceiving a state of impoverishment. Many researchers believe that the indices measuring the development and welfare of a city serve as indicators of its overall quality of life. The objective of this investigation was to examine how the urban quality of life, as facilitated by access to urban services, influences the perception of poverty among urban residents. Considering that objective urban quality of life transforms into subjective urban quality of life through individual perception, and recognizing that the sense of poverty is also a subjective phenomenon, it becomes imperative to explore the interconnection between these two aspects. Initially, the study formulated its conceptual model. Subsequently, the historical district of Shiraz City was chosen as the sample for examination. A structured questionnaire was devised and disseminated among the residents of this specific district. The collected data were subjected to analysis utilizing SPSS 23. The findings revealed that within the residents of the historical district of Shiraz City, the perception of poverty is influenced by three key factors: "employment and economy," "housing," and "recreation and entertainment." Furthermore, the results indicated that proficient urban management, particularly in the provision of urban services, holds substantial potential for alleviating the sensation of urban poverty.
 

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This research assesses the determinants influencing the efficacy of a particular locale, specifically comparing a National Park endowed with historical significance, globally recognized, with another site, an Artificial Lake serving as a contemporary and burgeoning urban space, both situated in Gonbad-e Qabus, Golestan, Iran. The methodology employed involves a comparative study to gauge their respective levels of desirability. The primary objective of this investigation is to identify the factors contributing to the success of the Artificial Lake, despite its relatively limited historical attributes, in contrast to the National Garden, acknowledged as a world heritage site. Additionally, the identified challenges within these spaces are addressed, and solutions are proposed with active citizen participation. The research introduces novelty by concurrently investigating factors influencing the success of public spaces and comparing two categories - historical and contemporary. The sample size (n=383) was determined using Cochran’s formula, comprising 184 male cases (48%) and 199 female cases (52%). Internal consistency of the questionnaire was confirmed through Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Employing a descriptive-analytic approach, data analysis utilized SPSS software (one-sample t-test) and LISREL software (second-order confirmatory factor analysis). The findings reveal a total success score of 82.63 for the Lakeside and 72.47 for the National Garden. Notably, the "safety and security" component in both spaces received the lowest satisfaction and quality scores. Conclusively, 81.2% of citizens express a preference for the Lakeside over the National Garden for their recreational activities.

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This study endeavors to explore the predicament associated with spaces lacking distinctive character and identity, ultimately resulting in the estrangement of shrines from their peripheral surroundings. Focusing on Mashhad, renowned as the holiest city in Iran and a site of numerous interventions, this research employs it as a case study. The central inquiry revolves around establishing a coherent nexus between the notion of polarity and the intellectual foundations shaping the development of environs surrounding holy shrines. The core objective is to discern the alignment of contemporary advancements around these shrines with their initial conceptual underpinnings. Employing a qualitative approach, this research adopts a descriptive method rooted in the case study framework. The outcomes derived from statistical analysis and the application of space syntax techniques reveal that extensive interventions encircling the shrine of Imam Reza have significantly disrupted the city's connectivity with the shrine. This disruption has led to the displacement of residents, severed emotional ties with the surrounding fabric, and a perceptible attenuation of the sense of place, culminating in the erosion of the genius loci or spirit of place. Furthermore, an examination of the fabric of this separation underscores an anti-Shiite intellectual basis, demonstrating incongruence with the ideal of human communion with "the perfect man." In light of these findings, it is proposed that development initiatives in Islamic cities should prioritize considerations aligned with the intellectual foundations governing city construction. This emphasis is crucial for sustaining the inherent character and spirit of the place amidst developmental endeavors.

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In spite of the extensive body of research focusing on the concept of "public interest" within the realm of urban planning, there exists a notable dearth in the discourse surrounding the challenges and impediments encountered in actualizing public interest within the context of urban planning and management. The primary objective of this paper is to systematically identify and elucidate the obstacles impeding the realization of public interest within the urban development plans of Iran, offering a theoretical framework to explicate the interrelations among these hindrances. To achieve this goal, an investigation and analysis are conducted on three megamalls situated in Tehran City, serving as representative cases. The principal method employed for data collection is a semi-structured interview, with subsequent analysis carried out through the utilization of Constructivist Grounded Theory (CGT). The outcomes of this inquiry reveal a categorization of barriers into five overarching domains: deficiencies within the urban planning system, conflicts of interest, the legalization of transgressions, a passive civil society, and challenges pertaining to public interest. Each of these categories is expounded upon comprehensively, delving into the nuances of their respective implications. Furthermore, a comparative discussion is presented, drawing parallels between our identified categories and analogous research findings on public interest conducted in various other countries.

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The acceleration of decision-making processes within urban planning has instigated significant transformations across various facets of cities, encompassing economic, political, social, cultural, and environmental dimensions. Consequently, heightened emphasis has been directed towards the cultivation of urban entrepreneurial environments as instrumental mechanisms for enhancing societal decision-making capabilities. Recognizing the pivotal role of this approach in fostering sociocultural and entrepreneurial dynamics within urban settings, the imperative to organize vibrant locales, currently grappling with formidable challenges and deficient planning strategies, has become increasingly pronounced. Aligned with its defined objective, the present study employs the meta-synthesis method to articulate a conceptual model aimed at elucidating the interplay between the "urban regeneration" and "urban entrepreneurial ecosystem" paradigms in the formation of entrepreneurial locales. To ascertain the qualitative criteria and components, the Delphi technique was utilized to validate the criteria derived from the applied quantitative methodology, thereby achieving a more precise validation grounded in expert opinions. Through an in-depth exploration of the core tenets and principles underpinning these two pivotal approaches, the findings of this study culminated in the identification of six components encapsulating the attributes, interdependencies, intervention modalities, constituents, resources, recommendations, perspectives, policies, and conceptual frameworks germane to the synergistic interaction between the aforementioned approaches. Consequently, a comprehensive framework is delineated to facilitate the establishment of entrepreneurial locales through mechanisms such as sociocultural engagements, elevation of societal well-being, sustainable generation of financial resources and employment opportunities, integration of intelligent systems within the societal fabric, and the cultivation of knowledge dissemination and educational initiatives. Moreover, this research underscores fundamental pathways for prospective investigations in this domain, thereby laying the groundwork for future scholarly endeavors.

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Statement of problem: due to the weakened social life and residence function in historical fabrics, they have absorbed attention as the social and identity heart of the city. A part of each city's identity is composed of narratives concerning the roots, influential figures, as well as prominent processes and activities, most of which have occurred in historical centers. Preserving and reinforcing the historical fabric of Yazd requires a comprehensive multidimensional approach, requiring the recognition of the previous socio-economic structures of the fabric, and valuing it once more as a part of the solution. Therefore, the present study aimed to find an answer to the question of what lessons can be gained from the social relation narratives of economic activities and professions in historical fabrics of Yazd and how they can be used in the regeneration of the neighborhoods. The purpose of the study was to find lessons from the social relation narratives and economic activities and professions of the fabric and to show how these narratives can be used in the planning of different regeneration approaches of historical fabrics. The research was conducted using an interpretive paradigm with a qualitative approach, historical methodology, and narrative. According to the results, a feature that has distinguished Yazd city from other cities in Iran is that the people from different religions have peacefully lived together; followers of all religions have contributed to making valuable physical elements. Moreover, women from different religions have been involved in architectural activities. The neighborhoods were socially connected. The elders were the leading social figures in each neighborhood, who were volunteers in public affairs, including the creation of neighborhood facilities and services, as well as helping the poor and people in need, and played a prominent role in the economic, social, and management activities of the neighborhood. Today, any act to reconstruct the historical neighborhoods needs to be based on “reinforcing social life and the resident’s behavioral systems” and “the use of popular management, revival and improvement of the elders in the neighborhoods, and reviving the old professions to their modern versions and according to the needs of the time as a manifestation of economic and social empowerment of the historical fabrics”. At the end, the study presented how “narratives” can be used for “planning” in different approaches of regenerating the historical fabrics.
 

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Preserving the Natural Environmental Cultural Heritage (NECH) and improving the urban Quality of Life (QOL) are crucial urban planning issues that play critical roles in cities. The modernization and expansion of cities due to population growth, lifestyle changes, and improved quality of life are inevitable movements in developing and developed countries. Although the new progression has brought many opportunities concerning socio-economic aspects, it has also caused some challenges for urban planning, particularly in conserving cultural heritage. It reaches a point where it is possible to visualize the link between heritage conservation and sustainability, which will enhance the development of future cities. The present study investigates how the NECH and QOL have evolved to be implemented in urban strategic planning to upgrade the NECH and QOL values. The research time scope covers 1920, when the first use of “standard of living” (before QOL) was proposed, until 2023. By reviewing and analyzing texts and documents of historical transformation of the NECH and QOL, tracing and overlying common fields of the NECH and QOL concepts (historical-structural analysis and comparative analysis), and organizing sequential cause and effect relations between milestones and evidence of NECH and QOL historical transformations (timeline diagram), the authors explained the strategic planning approach to support the (NECH and QOL) using the adaptive analysis method and extracting both substantive and procedural components for urban spatial, strategic planning process. The research results presented an urban spatial strategic planning model according to the NECH and QOL components (substantial and procedural). Due to the nature of urban spatial strategic planning (focus on uncertainty in planning; probability of planning process; need to expand the scope of planning in the broader political, social, economic, and environmental fields; focus on paying attention to diverse shareholders; and ability to support urban planning models based on description, analysis, and prescription); a cyclical-continual steps (1) assessing the current situation, (2) problem finding, (3) cause and effect problem analysis, (4) producing a final statement of significant issues and goals, (5) presenting decision options and suggestions (problem-solving), and (6) sharing strategic planning related to cultural and natural heritage among key shareholders and residents, with special content in each step, configured. The achievement of this spatial strategic planning model is bridging between the quality of life and the natural environment cultural heritage concepts and applying its principles of substance and procedure adapted to local conditions in such a way that the capacities of the natural environment heritage of the cities are coextensive with upgrading the resident’s quality of life.