International Journal of

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Neighborhoods within the hierarchy of urban structure are one of the smallest socio-physical building blocks of cities. Traditional neighborhoods of Iranian historic cities benefited from strong social relations which were flourished over the years and were manifested in the neighborhoods centers. In the modern era, the new master plans and the complementary local plans have disintegrated these neighborhoods both physically and socially. While old traditional neighborhoods were destroyed and new car oriented streets and highways have disrupted the traditional neighborhood life, the introduction of metro stations have provided a nucleus for neighborhoods around which urban space and social activity could emerge once more. In this respect, the attitudes of residents towards metro stations are very important. This study focuses on the social attitudes and the evaluation of traffic impacts of metro stations on adjacent neighborhoods. Therefore, the changes in traffic patterns as well as social characteristics and residential satisfaction levels in two neighborhoods adjacent to metro stations are studied through a questionnaire survey. The results show that despite the potentials provided, metro stations had adverse affects on both social integration and residential satisfaction levels. They also adversely affected neighborhoods in terms of traffic flow through increase in local traffic, demand for parking, and increase in noise pollution. Lack of attention to the new potentials turned them into threats and weakened the already damaged neighborhood structures.

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Living in satisfying urban environments is important for an individual’s well-being. In order to create such environments, planners, designers, and policy makers need to understand the structures that cause residents to feel satisfied with their environments. This paper focuses on the perceived quality of urban residential environments: dwellings and neighborhoods. First, literature review was conducted to extract a list of relevant attributes of environmental quality (EQ), which in turn became the theoretical basis for the rest of this work. Next, the general research methodology, the multi-attribute evaluation of perceived quality of urban residential environments, was presented. Hierarchical multiple regression was used for data analysis. Using written questionnaire, residents in two neighborhoods of Tehran, Zafaranieh and Khaniabad were asked to evaluate their present residential situation on the various residential attributes. Due to the presence of north-south dichotomy in Tehran, researcher tried to compare perceptions of the residents of these two neighborhoods. Regressing the general satisfaction evaluations on the specific evaluations revealed a model fit which appeared to be relatively high (49%). It was concluded that next to physical attributes, psycho-social attributes and attributes of built environments are relevant attributes, and EQ may best be seen as a hierarchical multi-attribute concept. Subjective evaluations varied across two neighborhoods and results showed that older people were somewhat more satisfied with their residential environments than younger people.

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Experts have found that natural environment could have positive impacts on patient’s treatment process. The impact of natural environment on mental state and lowering the stress level of the patients is undeniable. In this study, the impacts of natural environment on patient women in Tehran general hospitals were investigated. After conducting a topical study of the issue on hand, using field observation method, opinion of the patient women in a few of Tehran’s general hospitals was asked. Moreover, number of doctors and architects were asked to furnish the study with their opinion on this issue. After analysis of the answers, interesting conclusions on effect of open and green space on patient women were drawn. Based on these findings, designing open green spaces adjoined to the maternity ward could be in a way that encourages social behaviors, personal progress and convenient interaction with others and elevates mental and physical health of the patients.

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Abstract Environmental Justice (EJ) concept consists of multifaceted movements, community struggles, and discourses in contemporary societies that seek to reduce environmental risks, increase environmental protections, and generally reduce environmental inequalities suffered by minority and poor communities a term that incorporates ‘environmental racism’ and ‘environmental classism,’ captures the idea that different racial and socioeconomic groups experience differential access to environmental quality. This article explores environmental justice as an urban phenomenon in urban planning and applies it in peri-urban environment of a metropolis. Tehran peri-urban environments which are the result of meeting the city- village- nature systems or "city-village junction" have gradually faced effects such as accelerated environmental decline, changes without land-use plan, and severe service deficiencies. These problems are instances of environmental injustice which make the planners to adjust the problems and use and apply the appropriate strategies and policies by looking for solutions and resorting to theories, techniques and methods related to environmental justice. In order to access to this goal, try to define environmental justice through justice and determining environmental justice indices to analysis environmental injustice in case study. Then, make an effort to introduce some criteria to select case study in two micro and micro levels. Qiyamdasht town as the peri-urban environment of Tehran metropolis is chosen and examined to show the existence of environmental injustice by questionnaire analysis and SPSS software. Finally, use AIDA technique to design a strategic plan and reduce environmental injustice in case study by introducing the better scenario to be used in policy- and decision-making areas.

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Trust, along with transparency, is an important indicator of a satisfactory relationship between a government and the public. Considering transparency as the key to trust in government, the purpose of this paper is to postulate a link between transparency and trust taking into account satisfaction as a psychological factor. This paper tries to find the answer of these questions: “Is there any significant relationship between institutional transparency and citizen trust? And what is the role of citizen satisfaction in this context?” In order to investigate these questions, through survey method of research, this paper presents the results of an experiment (N=384) testing three hypotheses by statistical analysis which involve the relationship between institutional transparency, citizen trust and satisfaction. Tehran municipality is elected as a specific institution. This study found that transparency will significantly increase citizen trust, and satisfaction will play a significant role in the relationship between transparency and citizen trust. As well, trust will increase satisfaction. This study found that transparency and satisfaction play a substantial role in enhancing citizen trust. Furthermore, transparency and citizen trust play a significant role in enhancing citizen satisfaction. The results show that among background variables (gender, age, education, income and history of residence) the two variables, education and income have a week significant relationship with trust.

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In today’s mechanized world, the need for a patient-friendly attitude in the hospitals and its psychological effects on the recovery time of patients has been proven. Considering the special pre and post-partum conditions of a pregnant woman, together with the fact that the mother and child cannot be treated as a patient case, makes these psychological effects more critical in this research, the mental state of pregnant women in association with the social support they receive, and its role on their stay and recovery, was considered. In this research we investigated the role of maternity ward architectural design on the quality of mothers social interactions. To achieve this, a survey has been conducted on the affect of maternity ward architectural design on the mothers social interactions with visitors, medical board, and other patients in maternity units of Tehran’s General Hospitals.
It was found that the establishment of social communications with visitors, hospital staff, and other patients had significantly positive psychological effects on patients. Not only the mental health status of patients was improved, also their recovery time was reduced. This was concluded that the design of healthcare centers should provide maternity unit’s patients effective communication opportunities by providing an appropriate space for patients companies, family members, and visitors.

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Urban planning rules and considering land use regarding faults can change the consequences of natural hazard such as earthquake. Vulnerability risk is increasing in Region 1 because of existence of the north fault, steep slopes and continuous construction of high-rise buildings. It is clear that Region 1’s Master Plan shouldn’t be prepared without considering natural hazard such as earthquake. This study targets two main goals, first, to assess the degree of land use vulnerability to seismic risk and second, to classify areas based on their vulnerability degree. Nine indicators were extracted from previous studies to analyze the vulnerability of land use in Master Plan of Region 1, Tehran. According to different features of each indicator a score from 1 to 4 was allocated for each feature. The vulnerability degree of 181 areas were shown using Categorical Principle Component Analysis (CATPCA) in which areas were divided into four categories and the final result was visualized. The main results of this study showed that more about 50% of the areas were located in the highly-at-risk region. It was concluded that increase in the building density, number of floors, and distance from open spaces would be resulted in higher risk of earthquake damage. The major practical contribution of the present research was that it provided evidence to show that much focus required on reconsidering seismic risk in the future plans.

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Urban planning has received tremendous public attention in the last few years. Energy cost, environmental issues, traffic congestion and the feeling of lack of belonging in the cities are among the factors that have contributed to the development of pedestrian areas. These public spaces provide opportunities for shopping, entertainment, eating facilities and gatherings where people can experience urban life as pedestrians. Over decades, the concept of pedestrianisation has become part of social urban life in the developed countries. However, developing countries such as Iran have just recently paid attention to pedestrianisation and walking as a mode of transportation. The historic core of Tehran, the capital of Iran, embraces significant tangible and intangible values. For a long time, enhancing the mobility in the area has been the important concern of the urban developers; pedestrianisation is their recently solution to this issue in this site. To study and evaluate this project, a literature and field research have been performed through investigating the valid documentations and using questionnaires and interviews with the locals and visitors. Taking advantage of the Historic Urban Landscape approach, the results of the field and bibliographic research have been evaluated and recommendations have been made for improving the pedestrian-oriented areas in the historic context. The findings of this research show that converting a street to a pedestrian zone does not mean to simply ban the vehicles from entering the site. On the contrary, there are essential bases in the site such as multifunctional places, human-scale dimensions or activities during the whole day and night that should be taken into consideration to provide a suitable space for pedestrians including citizens and tourists. Pedestrian zones include different functions such as residential, social, cultural, tourists, physical, economic, etc. on various dimensions and scales which affect the whole city design and management. Moreover, these spaces should be supported by variety of facilities like parking lots, public transportation and equipment for people with disabilities. Assessing the impacts of pedestrianisation in Tehran Grand Bazaar can pave the way for future studies with the aim of conserving unique features of the historic sites within an urban development process.

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Historically, access to water resources had always been a key issue in the formation and perpetuation of ancient cities, more importantly in the arid and semi-arid regions like the central plateau of Iran. Based on the environmental situations, Persian civilization considered ecological realities and social interaction of conservation and proper distribution of the water to sustain its availability to all the users. Thereupon, they succeeded in achieving a lasting solution to the problem of the shortage of water. To overcome the inevitable climate condition, Iranians developed unique water structures such as qanats.
However, as a consequence of modernization in the 20^th century, the traditional water structures underwent considerable damage and were replaced by deep wells. These changes affected the groundwater supplies in turn and intensified the water crisis in Iran.
Focusing on its importance in the sustainable development, this paper aims to study the qanat system. Introducing Tehran University Qanat as a vivid example, the role of qanats in a sustainable urban development is elaborated. Based on the analysis, suggestions are brought forward for the rehabilitation of this qanat. The findings of this research are believed to raise the awareness about the role of qanats in the sustainable development.

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During 1950 to 1970, some of the first residential complexes in Tehran were developed to accommodate low and middle-income people.  Although they were among the first residential complexes designed and built in the country, various quantitative and qualitative measures had been considered in their design to satisfy the target residents’ needs and to meet the projects’ goals.  What could be the reason for satisfaction, despite they were among the early experiences of residential complexes design in country?  The main reason for the success of these complexes was due to perfect design considerations; i.e. correct selection of design patterns which are less frequent in recent housing complexes. Some of these design considerations include providing public, semi-public and private open spaces, paying attention to pedestrians, sustainability and respect for the surrounding urban and climatic environment. This paper reviews some examples of early housing complexes in Tehran, including Chaharsad-Dastgah, Narmak, Nazi-Abad, Shahr-Ara, Behjat-Abad, Farah, Kan and Chaharom-e-Aban, to help recognize past achievements and reapply them in designing new housing complexes.

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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.

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This research explores the correlation between ‘walkability’ and the ‘sense of place’ in Tehran’s streets, particularly streets leading to the Imam Khomeini square (Maidan-e Tup-khana) at the heart of historic downtown. The goal is to evaluate the walkability through a measurable method in order to prioritize strategies to enhance various aspects of the historic districts. After reviewing the extensive urban design literature, 23 measures were selected and categorized into three aspects of the place: physical, perceptual, and behavioral. Data for each aspect were then gathered through structured questionnaires administered to diverse groups of experts. An expert panel, including 30 professionals from seven fields including urban planning, urban design, urban renewal, urban sociology, transportation, architecture, and urban management, rated the streets based on their confirmed criteria. Moreover, people have been consulted on the results proposed for the future of the district. This study concludes that the sense of the place will increase by enhancing walkability. The place quality has been more balanced in pedestrianized Bab-e-Homayoun. The panel agreed that Lalehzar Street had the first priority for improving its walkability. Complete Street is a proposed model for this street confirmed by people. This research, however, recommends at least ‘complete street’ patterns mixed with the pedestrianization model for the studied area which might be expanded to the whole historic downtown from Maidan-e Tup-khana to Arg (citadel), then toward the first and second Tehran’s fortifications. Here, Jabakhaneh Street works as the X-axis and Sabz-e-Meydan represents the Zero number of Tehran City.

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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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Urban squares are pivotal in 21st-century cities, serving as communal hubs where individuals experience a genuine sense of belonging and community. However, recent redesigns of several squares in Iran have fallen short of expected quality standards. This inadequacy may stem from the prevalent reliance on design ideas shaped by casual observations and designers' personal experiences. While these observations and experiences hold significance, they lack the depth required to comprehend the intricacies of a successful urban square. A profound understanding of the relationship between a space's social and physical aspects and the activities therein necessitates tapping into the community's attitudes toward these spaces. Hence, the central aim of this study is an in-depth exploration of the multi-dimensionality inherent in people/space interaction, considering it as an attitude concept. To accomplish this, a meticulously chosen sample of five urban squares in Tehran serves as the focal point. Employing a 12-item scale, the study seeks to elucidate individuals' interactions with these urban squares and discern the features that resonate most strongly with them. Rigorous testing on a sample of 411 citizens who regularly utilize these Tehran urban squares ensures the scale's reliability and validity. The analysis of the data unveiled three discernible constructs governing individuals' interaction with urban squares, constituting their attitude concept: affective, cognitive, and conative. However, a nuanced hierarchy emerged, with the affective and cognitive constructs assuming higher importance compared to the moderately significant behavioral construct. Additionally, there were moderate correlations observed among these constructs. In the exploration of established psychological models on place, structural equation modeling (SEM) was instrumental. The Higher-Order model emerged as fitting, effectively capturing the intricate interplay between individuals and urban spaces. These findings bear significant implications for the design and management of urban squares. The key takeaway is the necessity of formulating tailored outreach policies and plans that prioritize elements resonating with users on an affective and cognitive level, shifting away from a sole reliance on instrumental responses tied to practical needs

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The significance of urban streets lies in their role as the fundamental structure and framework of a city. Streets acquire extraordinary power as they endure the passage of time, accumulating special meanings and memories. This inherent strength is so influential that proper organization and utilization of existing streets can render the construction of new ones unnecessary. Valiasr, spanning 18 kilometers, stands as the longest street in Tehran and the Middle East. Beginning at the railway square in the south of Tehran at an altitude of 1100 meters above sea level, it extends to Tajrish square in the north, reaching an altitude of 1600 meters above sea level. The street boasts wide sidewalks, a sizable pond, and a line of ancient plane trees, enhancing its aesthetic appeal. Originating during the Qajar era (1785-1925), various segments of Valiasr were constructed to link the capital with city gates. In the early Pahlavi period (1925-1979), it was further developed to connect summer palaces to the city. The street's design, implemented without strict adherence to existing buildings, aimed to establish a direct connection between the north and south of Tehran. During this era, significant government and public structures, royal residences, and palaces were constructed along both sides of Valiasr in adherence to established construction regulations from 1928. This period also witnessed the construction of cultural buildings, public parks, gardens, universities, and medical centers. Following the Islamic Revolution of Iran (1979), Valiasr Street evolved into one of Tehran's traditional shopping centers and promenades, reflecting the city's dynamic cultural shifts. Each historical period of Iran has profoundly impacted Valiasr Street, shaping it into a symbol of Tehran's historical and cultural evolution. To delve into the changing trends and meanings associated with Valiasr Street from 1925 to the present, a comprehensive approach was adopted. A total of 100 street users, encompassing residents, pedestrians, traders, and various stakeholders, were interviewed on-site within the study area. Subsequent to these interviews, a meticulous analysis of the gathered data was conducted, facilitating the synthesis and preparation of a comprehensive diagram. The findings reveal that a multitude of factors, including functional, economic, social, political, and cultural elements, have contributed to the evolving mental imagery associated with Valiasr Street across distinct epochs. In its early existence until 1925, the perceptual influence of the observer led to Valiasr Street being conceived as a narrow garden alley nestled among the Qajar city gardens. Transitioning into the period between 1925 and 1979, the passage of time transformed its role into a communication route connecting newly constructed palaces. Moreover, the increasing influence of temporal dynamics, coupled with cultural and social components, elevated Valiasr Street into the consciousness of the populace, turning it into a cherished urban space among the residents of Tehran. The period from 1979 until the present marks a notable phase in the urban life of Valiasr Street. Following a period of stagnation, the street has undergone a revitalization, and the impact of all four meaning-forming components, with a particular emphasis on the temporal aspect, has led to its designation as a cultural heritage site of the city of Tehran in 2011. This recognition culminated in its inclusion in the list of national heritage sites.

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Urban planning and morphology are one of the most important factors affecting land surface temperature (LST) and microclimate chrematistics. The production of anthropogenic heat, mainly for cooling systems and lighting, has resulted in significant impacts on the quality of the thermal environment. These impacts include poor air quality, increased temperatures, higher energy consumption, and the development of urban heat islands (UHIs). With the growing urban population and increased building height, especially in metropolitan areas, there have been significant changes in the urban geometry, rate of pollution, amount of heat released, and meteorological parameters. All these factors contribute to the heat island phenomenon and significantly alter the microclimate in urban areas. The goal of this article is measuring the effects of height changes in buildings around Tehran metropolitan squares in a detailed plan on microclimatic changes. As part of a research study, the Hafthoz Square in Tehran was chosen as a case study. The researchers used a combination of simulation techniques (Envi-met) and GIS to detect the spatial variation of Land Surface Temperature (LST) and determine its quantitative relationship with building height and density. This was achieved through simulation modeling for the Narmak neighborhood of Tehran. As Conclusion, the results indicate that comparison on the simulation between the existing conditions and proposed scenario area showed that in the proposed scenario, wind speed and relative humidity decrease and ground surface temperature (UHI) and PPD and PMV indices increase. Therefore, if the detailed plan of Tehran metropolis is realized and implemented in many squares, it will be accompanied by changes in micro-climatic parameters in order to reduce the thermal comfort of citizens.

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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.