Elucidating a Healthy- Smart Urban Design Model at the Scale of Public Urban Spaces: A Case Study of Municipality Square, Rasht

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Ph.D. Candidate in Urban Planning. Department of Architecture and Urban Planning, Faculty of Engineering, NT., C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.

2 Assistant Professor. Department of Architecture and Urban Planning, Faculty of Engineering,NT., C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.

3 Professor, Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism, Iran University of Science and Technology, Tehran, Iran

4 Assistant Professor, Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism, Iran University of Science and Technology, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

In recent decades, the rapid expansion of smart technologies, together with socio-spatial transformations in cities, has underscored the need to redefine the concepts of the “healthy city” and the “smart city” at the scale of urban public spaces. Although theoretical frameworks in this field have been widely developed, their translation into practical urban design and empirical validation remains limited. This study aims to conceptualize and empirically validate a healthy- smart urban design model at the urban space scale.
In the first stage, an initial conceptual framework was developed through a comprehensive literature review and refinement of indicators, resulting in 38 indicators operationalized in a field survey. Data were collected via a questionnaire from 129 respondents in Municipality Square, Rasht. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) yielded nine factors and 35 final indicators, explaining 63% of the total variance.
To further validate the model and examine the influence of extracted factors on the dependent variable, multiple linear regression analysis was conducted. The results indicate that the model has an acceptable fit (Adjusted R² = 0.419). Among the identified factors, land-use and activity diversity exerts the strongest effect (β = 0.472) on achieving a healthy- smart urban space.
The findings highlight that such spaces are shaped by the multidimensional interaction of factors including land-use and activity diversity, visual attractiveness, place quality, accessibility, and welfare services. Additionally, key determinants include social and ethnic diversity, access to seating and resting areas, access to green spaces, and acoustic comfort.
The proposed framework provides a practical basis for prioritizing urban design interventions and policy-making, while offering an operational model for integrating healthy- smart city principles at the scale of urban public spaces.

Highlights

  • Development of an integrated conceptual framework for healthy–smart urban design based on smart city principles in Rasht Municipality Square.
  • Empirical validation of the proposed model using exploratory factor analysis and multiple regression based on users’ perceptions in Rasht Municipality Square.
  • The healthy–smart urban design model in Municipality Square, Rasht, comprises land-use and activity diversity, visual attractiveness, place quality, accessibility, welfare and healthcare services, economic vitality, urban infrastructure, and urban sustainability.
  • The key indicators are social and land-use diversity, access to green and seating spaces, and acoustic comfort.

Keywords

References

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History

  • Receive Date: 22 March 2026
  • Revise Date: 02 May 2026
  • Accept Date: 15 May 2026
  • First Publish Date: 23 May 2026
  • Publish Date: 21 June 2026

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