A Home as Vast as the City: Redefining Family-Oriented Public Spaces in Urban Planning and Design; A Case Study of Tehran Metropolis

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Ph.D. Candidate in Urban Planning, Faculty of Art and Architecture, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.

2 Professor, Department of Urban Planning, Faculty of Art and Architecture, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.

3 Associate Professor, Department of Urban Planning, Faculty of Art and Architecture, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

Urban public spaces provide a fundamental setting for social interaction, collective experience, and intergenerational connections, playing a crucial role in the reproduction of family life and the strengthening of social relations. These spaces are not merely arenas for physical presence, but also sites where values, identities, and cultural structures are formed and negotiated. In this context, the concept of family-oriented public space as an approach linking home and city—has not yet been clearly articulated within Iran’s academic literature or urban policy frameworks, and has often been addressed only indirectly through notions such as “safe urban spaces” or “participatory public spaces.” This study seeks to redefine this concept and to elucidate its cultural, institutional, and spatial dimensions within the socio-urban context of Tehran. To this end, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 30 experts and key stakeholders in the fields of family studies, urban sociology, urban planning, architecture, and urban governance. The findings indicate that Tehran’s public spaces are currently shaped more by physical, traffic-oriented, and functional logics than by human-centered or family-based considerations. This condition has contributed to a weakening of the sense of belonging, reduced opportunities for intergenerational interaction, and a growing disconnection between everyday life and family-centered social practices. Experts emphasized the need to conceptualize public spaces as arenas for social interaction, psychological security, collective vitality, and the reinforcement of family identity. Accordingly, this study proposes a conceptual framework that integrates cultural–social, spatial–design, and institutional–policy dimensions in order to reimagine family-oriented public spaces. This framework offers a theoretical and practical foundation for advancing urban policies and planning strategies aimed at enhancing family well-being and redefining the relationship between family and city in contemporary Iran.

Highlights

  • Redefining public spaces through the role of family in shaping urban life.
  • Linking spatial form, social interaction, and family identity in urban contexts.
  • Examining how public spaces support social cohesion and family coexistence.
  • Identifying gaps in urban policies addressing family-centered needs.
  • Proposing a conceptual model for family-oriented public space design.

Keywords

References

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Iranian Urban Design Studies
Volume 2, Issue 2 - Serial Number 4
January 2026
Pages 229-256

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History

  • Receive Date: 21 July 2025
  • Revise Date: 07 September 2025
  • Accept Date: 24 September 2025
  • First Publish Date: 30 December 2025
  • Publish Date: 20 January 2026

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