https://iuds.shirazu.ac.ir/ Iranian Urban Design Studies en daily 1 Sun, 21 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0330 Sun, 21 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0330 https://iuds.shirazu.ac.ir/article_8528.html Night-time urban life, as a key component of urban quality of life—particularly within pedestrian-oriented public spaces—depends on factors that enhance citizens’ experience of presence at night. This study evaluates the role of walkability in improving night-time urban life along Bu-Ali Pedestrian Street in Hamedan. A descriptive–analytical mixed-methods design was adopted. Quantitative data were collected via a questionnaire (n = 400) and analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, factor analysis, and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). Qualitative data were obtained through 40 semi-structured interviews and targeted field observations during peak nighttime activity (19:00–24:00), and analyzed thematically. The quantitative results showed that walkability indicators explained a substantial share of variance in night-time urban life quality (R² = 0.64). “Safety and security” (β = 0.22), “lighting quality” (β = 0.20), and “comfort” (β = 0.18) had the strongest effects. Qualitative findings yielded three overarching themes—environmental, functional, and managerial factors—with “lighting and visibility” as the most frequent category. Inadequate lighting, limited surveillance, insufficient nighttime amenities, and poor cleanliness and waste management were identified as major challenges. Overall, night-time urban life in historic pedestrian corridors depends less on activity presence and more on the quality of nighttime conditions and service-related prerequisites. Thus, improving Bu-Ali Street requires an integrated approach combining enhanced lighting, strengthened surveillance, improved amenities, and systematic cultural–tourism programming, providing a basis for interventions in similar historic contexts. https://iuds.shirazu.ac.ir/article_8562.html The rapid growth of the elderly population in urban societies has increasingly highlighted the need to improve the quality of life for this group. In this context, the Aging in Place approach, which aims to enable older adults to continue living with an acceptable quality of life within their own neighborhoods, provides an appropriate framework for evaluating and improving urban environments. Despite its importance, the concept of Aging in Place has been addressed less directly and systematically in Iranian research.This study aims to promote Aging in Place through the application of urban design in the Zargandeh neighborhood of Tehran. To this end, a library-based review was conducted to develop a conceptual model, and a set of relevant criteria and indicators was extracted from international and national academic sources. These indicators were then transformed into spatial layers within a GIS environment and analyzed. By integrating and overlaying these layers, the neighborhood’s condition in terms of elderly quality of life, based on the Aging in Place approach, was assessed and suitable and unsuitable areas were identified.The results show that some parts of the neighborhood are challenging for older adults due to fine-grained urban fabric, steep slopes, proximity to highways, lack of accessible green spaces, and unequal access to urban services. These conditions require physical interventions to create a more supportive environment for the elderly. Accordingly, a set of design recommendations at both micro and neighborhood scales is proposed. The findings suggest that combining objective and perceptual analyses with spatial tools provides an effective framework for evaluating and enhancing Aging in Place at the neighborhood level. https://iuds.shirazu.ac.ir/article_8552.html The results indicate that financial risks have the greatest negative impact on the performance of public transport projects, and factors related to financial constraints, bidding costs, and inaccurate cost estimation are considered the main challenges. Technical risks also have a significant negative effect on project performance, but their intensity is lower than that of financial risks. The findings further showed that the performance of public transport projects has a positive and very strong effect on the quality of access to public spaces, with the performance of the urban bus network having the highest influence. Moreover, it was revealed that the three categories of risks cannot directly explain the quality of access, but through reducing project performance, they exert an indirect yet fully significant effect on it. These results indicate that the performance of public transport projects is a critical mediating link in the relationship between risks and access quality, and effective risk management can play a decisive role in improving citizens’ access to public spaces. https://iuds.shirazu.ac.ir/article_8584.html Traditional markets, as living and multisensory spaces, manifest part of their spatio-temporal organization through recurring and variable patterns of sound. Despite the expansion of soundscape studies, a systematic analysis of temporality and the rhythmic structure of sounds in relation to daily activity cycles in Iran’s historic markets remains largely overlooked. Drawing on Lefebvre’s rhythmanalysis within the soundscape framework, this study analyzes the auditory rhythms of the Grand Bazaar of Rasht across the daily cycle and demonstrates their structural differences in the morning, noon, and evening periods.The research adopts a descriptive–analytical approach and was conducted through soundwalks and field recordings along two main corridors of the bazaar. The data were comparatively analyzed using Sonic Visualiser software based on the complementary indicators of RMS (background texture) and Peaks (salient events).The findings indicate that in the morning the market exists in a state of “pre-density,” where salient peaks emerge at wider temporal intervals and with relative dispersion. At noon, with the intensification of activities, the sequence of salient peaks becomes more compressed, and the market’s rhythm shifts toward a dense linear pattern. In the evening, the rhythmic structure acquires spatial differentiation, as the density of salient events is not uniform across the two corridors.The principal contribution of this study is the formulation of a measurable framework for “auditory rhythms” as the temporal organization of sounds emerging from the interaction between cyclical and linear rhythms, extractable and comparable through the two indicators of RMS and Peaks. This framework provides an analytical tool for identifying focal points for reinforcing auditory rhythms and safeguarding the sonic identity of historic markets within urban planning processes. https://iuds.shirazu.ac.ir/article_8693.html Over the past two decades, urban cycling has become a prominent focus of research and urban policymaking worldwide, owing to its multiple environmental, social, cultural, and economic benefits, as well as its entanglement with broader theoretical developments in interdisciplinary urban studies. During this period, the international literature has increasingly moved beyond the traditional boundaries of traffic engineering and transport planning toward more interdisciplinary perspectives, a diversification of research domains, and the development of qualitative and interpretive methodologies. In contrast, studies on urban cycling in Iran remain limited, fragmented, and largely shaped by technical and mono-disciplinary frameworks, with only marginal engagement with these theoretical and methodological shifts.This paper presents a critical review of urban cycling research conducted in Iran, aiming to map the existing body of knowledge, examine dominant modes of problem framing, and identify key gaps and limitations in relation to the global literature. To this end, studies published between 2011 and 2025 were systematically identified, screened, and analysed. The selected studies were categorized and coded according to their research aims, substantive domains, and methodological approaches, and dominant thematic clusters were extracted and subjected to critical assessment.The findings indicate that, despite a noticeable quantitative increase in Iranian urban cycling studies in recent years, this growth has not been accompanied by comparable theoretical deepening, diversification of research topics, or methodological development. The dominant body of research is situated within a positivist paradigm and framed by the prevailing discourses of traffic engineering and transport planning, in which urban cycling is primarily conceptualized as a technical issue. Against this backdrop, the paper highlights key directions for future research, emphasizing the need for paradigmatic rethinking, the expansion of research domains, and the development of methodological toolkits—particularly through qualitative, interpretive, and interdisciplinary approaches—to advance urban cycling studies in the Iranian context. https://iuds.shirazu.ac.ir/article_8549.html Nightlife, as one of the important components of urban quality of life, cultural vitality, and the socio-economic function of cities, has attracted the attention of researchers in recent years. However, the realization of nightlife in public spaces, especially in historic contexts, faces multiple physical, managerial, and social challenges, and most existing studies lack a forward-looking approach. The present study was conducted with the aim of identifying and analyzing potential scenarios of nightlife in selected public spaces of Tehran’s historic fabric, employing a futures studies approach. The research method was qualitative–analytical and based on cross-impact analysis of indicators. In the first step, using the Delphi technique and the opinions of 15 experts, six key indicators were identified: noise control regulations, diversity of nighttime land uses, police presence and supervision, urban lighting and furnishings, organization of events, and nighttime public transport. Subsequently, the different states of each indicator were defined, and potential future combinations were examined using scenario development and cross-impact matrix analysis. The results indicate that nightlife is a multidimensional phenomenon, dependent on the simultaneous interaction of managerial, social, and physical components. Three potential scenarios were extracted: two scenarios with relatively high internal coherence and full consistency, and one unfavorable and unstable scenario. The relatively favorable scenario emphasizes effective regulation, diversity of land uses, active police presence, improvement of the physical environment, and full access to nighttime transport, creating conditions for enhanced safety and social vibrancy at night. In contrast, the unfavorable scenario shows a simultaneous decline in these components, leading to the deterioration of nightlife. The main finding of the study suggests that the sustainability of nightlife in Tehran’s historic fabric requires, more than mere expansion of activities, intelligent regulation, institutional coordination, and integrated, forward-looking planning. These results can serve as an analytical basis for policy-making and planning of nightlife in urban public spaces, especially in historic contexts. https://iuds.shirazu.ac.ir/article_8697.html Lost spaces, as one of the prominent phenomena in contemporary city, are areas that are separated from the functional and semantic structure of the city. despite the increasing importance of this issue, existing literature suffers from conceptual dispersion and lack of integrated framework. the aim of this study was to provide a comprehensive definition, systematic typology, and integrated conceptual model for regeneration of lost spaces with systematic review approach, following PRISMA 2020 protocol and systematic search in scientific databases. out of 178 initial studies, 23 key studies were selected based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. data analysis was performed by thematic analysis method, which resulted in the extraction of 85 initial codes and 16 themes in three layers corresponding to the objectives of the study.the results showed that lost spaces are multi-dimensional phenomenon formed at the intersection of five main dimensions: loss of city structure and lack of spatial definition, loss of function and economic stagnation, social exclusion, and loss of meaning and identity, loss of planning and abandonment of management and hidden opportunities for regeneration. five main frameworks for classification were identified: based on the formation, location in city structure, scale and type of problem, physical status, and analytical categories and finally six categories of regeneration strategy were extracted from theoretical foundations to operational performance.As a result of this study, by presenting an integrated definition, comprehensive typology and three-layer concept model, provides a scientific framework for understanding and confronting the lost spaces. findings emphasize that successful regeneration of these spaces requires a diagnostic approach, integrated intervention, and simultaneous attention to physical, social, economic, environmental and managerial dimensions. this framework can be used as a guide for urban policy makers in transforming urban spaces from passive elements to active stimuli to promote urban quality. https://iuds.shirazu.ac.ir/article_8570.html Old neighborhoods situated within historical contexts serve as manifestations of neighborhood social structures and their profound impacts on the behavioral, perceptual, and functional patterns of residents in neighborhood centers. Dissatisfaction with the urban environment stems from a mismatch between behavioral needs and the triple characteristics of space: physical, perceptual, and functional. This research aims to identify factors influencing the satisfaction of residents in the Sangtarashan neighborhood and to promote this vital element, so that the valuable assets present in historical fabrics can be linked, as enduring and authentic models, with the principled development of new cities. The main objectives of the study include identifying the triple criteria (physical, perceptual, and functional) in the Khajeh Abed Passage, discovering the causes of residents’ dissatisfaction based on current behavioral patterns, and proposing effective factors for enhancing resident satisfaction in this neighborhood center. The methodology of this study is qualitative, based on analytical-field ethnography with an interpretive approach. Data collection was conducted through field techniques, including participant observation, photography, non-intrusive videography, unstructured interviews, and note-taking, after which the data were evaluated through content analysis. The findings emphasize the necessity of attending to the broad and diverse dimensions of existing structures in historical cities, going beyond conventional approaches that are often limited to purely physical aspects. This research ultimately leads to asset-based strategies aimed at creating a platform for integrating the new urban development system with the assets present in historical contexts. These assets, in addition to physical aspects, also include perceptual and functional dimensions, which appear essential for preserving and enhancing the historical and cultural identity of cities. https://iuds.shirazu.ac.ir/article_8709.html Pedestrian streets are among the most important urban spaces that, during all or part of the day, are fully dedicated to pedestrian movement without vehicular traffic. In recent decades, due to the extensive use of motor vehicles in countries such as Iran, the role of pedestrian streets and pedestrians in urban spaces has decreased, leading to a reduction in urban vitality. Pedestrian streets are the manifestation of urban civic life and places for citizens’ social events and activities; therefore, their physical quality plays a decisive role in determining their level of vitality.The aim of this research is to identify and examine the physical criteria and indicators affecting the vitality of pedestrian streets and to evaluate the vitality of Hafez Pedestrian Street in Isfahan based on these indicators. In this research, field methods and Space Syntax analytical and descriptive software were used to assess the physical quality of Hafez Pedestrian Street. By applying the stated techniques, the physical indicators affecting the vitality of the pedestrian street were extracted and evaluated in four categories: diversity, safety, compatibility, flexibility, accessibility and permeability and each of these indicators was assigned a relative score based on its role and significance. The results indicate that the indicators of control and access to public transportation are favorable; the indicators of connectivity, integration, land-use mix, choice, and land-use compatibility are relatively favorable; and the indicators of night-active land uses, seating and resting spaces, lighting, and paving are unfavorable. https://iuds.shirazu.ac.ir/article_8601.html With the intensification of climate change and the growing thermal stress, analyzing the role of urban morphology in shaping microclimatic conditions and outdoor thermal comfort has become a fundamental challenge of urban planning and design. The aim of research is to elucidate the active and dynamic role of urban morphological characteristics in generating microclimatic patterns and to examine the causal and simultaneous relationships between three-dimensional morphological indices, microclimatic variables, and users’ thermal comfort at the neighborhood scale. The study adopts an interdisciplinary approach within a hierarchical conceptual–analytical framework. To this end, numerical microclimate simulations using ENVI-met software were combined with quantitative spatial analyses. Two urban fabrics with distinct morphologies in District 22 of Tehran (Dehkadeh Olympic and Zibadasht), which exhibit significant differences in geometric configuration, building density, and vegetation cover, were selected as case studies. The findings indicate that urban morphology plays a decisive role in shaping microclimatic conditions and users’ thermal experience through the simultaneous control of solar radiation, natural ventilation, and heat and moisture exchange. The low-density, low-rise fabric of Dehkadeh Olympic, due to a higher sky view factor, spatial continuity, and the presence of vegetation, provides a more uniform temperature distribution, more stable ventilation, and a balanced humidity regime. In contrast, the dense, high-rise fabric of Zibadasht, despite localized shading, is prone to thermal heterogeneity and the accumulation of heat and moisture due to airflow obstruction and spatial enclosure. The results emphasize that thermal comfort in urban open spaces is the outcome of a multi-level, non-linear causal chain rooted in the spatial and physical logic of the city. This underscores the necessity of establishing a dynamic balance among density, building height, street geometry, and strategic vegetation placement, and highlights microclimatic simulation as an effective tool for supporting urban design decisions in response to thermal stress. https://iuds.shirazu.ac.ir/article_8711.html Urban agriculture has emerged as one of the contemporary approaches in urban planning and design in response to challenges arising from population growth, climate change, and declining food security. Despite the expansion of this field, most existing studies have focused on its theoretical and managerial dimensions, while less attention has been paid to developing spatial design models in real contexts, particularly riverfront lands. This study was conducted with the aim of proposing an urban agriculture-based design model for the lands surrounding the Delambar River in Karaj City. The research employed a mixed-methods (qualitative–quantitative) approach. In the qualitative phase, data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 12 experts in urban planning, architecture, environmental sciences, and agriculture, and the validity of the interview questions was confirmed by specialists. The data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis through open, axial, and selective coding, resulting in the development of a multidimensional framework comprising economic, social, environmental, and spatial–physical dimensions. In the quantitative phase, SWOT analysis and the QSPM matrix were used to evaluate the internal and external factors of the study area and to identify and prioritize intervention strategies. The integration of the qualitative and quantitative approaches provided the basis for formulating design requirements. Accordingly, and based on the extracted analyses, the design requirements including participatory agricultural gardens, educational and skill-development workshops, light accommodation spaces, local marketplaces, farm-based cafés and restaurants, event and recreational spaces, and experience-oriented pedestrian pathways were organized within a strategic plan. The findings indicate that this model can contribute to the regeneration of abandoned lands, the enhancement of urban quality of life, and the promotion of sustainable tourism. https://iuds.shirazu.ac.ir/article_8656.html Urban design, as a complex and multidimensional field, requires the application of advanced cognitive and analytical approaches to address contemporary social, spatial, and institutional challenges. The systematic application of critical thinking theories within urban design methodology faces challenges such as the gap between theory and practice, as well as institutional and professional constraints. Within the literature review, the role of critical thinking in explaining and mitigating theoretical and practical challenges has been less developed as an integrated and coherent framework.This study aims to elucidate the role of critical thinking in urban design methodology and to analyze its capacity to address theoretical and practical challenges. The research methodology adopts a qualitative approach grounded in an interpretive paradigm. Through conceptual analysis and a systematic review of the literature, data were collected via documentary analysis and examined using thematic and comparative analysis to identify key components and themes.The findings reveal three principal themes- “reconsideration of design assumptions,” “strengthening analytical logical reasoning and decision-making transparency,” and “management of institutional and social complexity”- as central to the application of critical thinking in urban design. The results suggest that the systematic integration of critical thinking into methodological processes can strengthen the connection between theory and practice and improve the quality of design decisions.This study positions critical thinking as the cognitive foundation of urban design methodology, offering an effective framework for analyzing complex issues and enhancing decision-making processes. From an applied perspective, strengthening critical thinking education skills and institutionalizing analytical approaches within urban management organizations are proposed as strategies to increase the effectiveness of urban interventions. Future research may employ empirical methods and case studies to evaluate the practical impacts of applying critical thinking models in urban design implementation and to develop more precise operational frameworks. https://iuds.shirazu.ac.ir/article_8779.html Dog walking in urban public spaces, as an emerging manifestation of contemporary urban lifestyles, has in recent years become a multidimensional issue within the fields of urban law and public space management. Beyond being an individual practice, this phenomenon lies at the intersection of citizens’ rights, public order, public health, and the regulation of the use of public spaces. This study aims to provide a legal analysis of dog walking and examine its implications for public order, public health, the right to the city, and spatial justice in the city of Shiraz. The research is fundamental–applied in purpose and qualitative in nature, employing a spatial–legal analytical approach. Research data were collected through an analysis of existing laws and regulations, urban legal documents, and relevant theoretical literature, as well as field observations and semi-structured interviews conducted in the Eram Street area of Shiraz. The collected data were analyzed within the conceptual frameworks of public order, public health, the right to the city and spatial justice.The findings indicate that the Iranian legal system lacks a clear and integrated framework for regulating dog walking in urban public spaces. Existing regulations, due to their fragmentation and ambiguity, are insufficient to effectively manage the social, health-related, and spatial consequences of this phenomenon. Furthermore, the case study of Eram Street in Shiraz reveals that the absence of local regulations and appropriate spatial planning has contributed to conflicts among different groups of public space users, diminished feelings of safety and comfort among certain citizens, and restricted equal access to and enjoyment of public spaces. Accordingly, the study argues that the management of dog walking requires the integration of legal regulation with spatial planning and design. The formulation of clear local regulations, the provision of designated spaces for dog walking, and the development of educational https://iuds.shirazu.ac.ir/article_8634.html Movement in the city is not merely a functional activity aimed at traveling from point A to point B, as conceived within transportation engineering. Rather, it is a fluid, multidimensional, and entangled practice that acquires meaning through its embeddedness in environmental, cultural, social, economic, and political contexts within the fabric of everyday life and through individuals’ lived mobile experiences.In urban studies and urban design, research exploring individuals’ lived experiences of mobility in the city is an emerging field situated at the intersection of urbanism, anthropology, phenomenology, and mobility studies. From this perspective, inquiries into the lived experience of urban cycling address a fundamental question: how do individuals experience cycling in different urban contexts and spaces?Within this framework, the present study seeks to understand and describe the role of the body in the lived experience of urban cycling in a specific urban context, continuing a line of inquiry in the phenomenology of movement and the phenomenology of the body. Using mobile autoethnography, the study examines the first author’s embodied experience of cycling in Amsterdam, a bicycle-friendly city, across different temporal and spatial conditions.The findings reveal seven interrelated themes that, through autoethnographic description and analysis, illuminate the entanglement of the body, the bicycle, and the urban environment in lived experience. These themes demonstrate that the body, as the medium of experience, plays an active and constitutive role in shaping one’s interaction with space, self, and others. Such relations are mediated by environmental and climatic characteristics, mobility systems and planning policies, cultural dimensions, and both formal and informal norms, producing diverse lived experiences of urban cycling across different urban contexts. In the final section, this research provides recommendations for future Iranian urban design studies. https://iuds.shirazu.ac.ir/article_8798.html . The primary objective of this paper is to present a conceptual model and operational framework for “heritage‑sensitive urban design” across three scales: building, urban space, and urban fabric. The main research questions are: “What is the position and importance of heritage‑sensitive urban design in contemporary urban planning?” and “What are the components, criteria, and indicators of heritage‑sensitive urban design in urban interventions, disaggregated by the scale of intervention?”. The present research is applied in nature and based on a predominantly qualitative approach using a combined review‑analytical method. The methodology was designed in three phases: Phase one, a systematic literature review and qualitative content analysis; Phase two, model refinement using the Delphi technique over three rounds with the participation of a panel of 25 experts; and Phase three, development of the final model and determination of appropriate assessment methods for each indicator. The findings indicate that heritage‑sensitive urban design requires the distinction of three separate scales. The final model comprises 41 indicators across three scales (building, urban space, urban fabric), and for each indicator, a suitable assessment method was determined. At the building scale, indicators such as “morphological continuity” and “material authenticity” are of higher importance; at the urban space scale, “visual permeability” and “human scale”; and at the urban fabric scale, “morphological structure” and “continuity of cultural landscape”.Consequently, the proposed framework can serve as a reference tool for urban designers, planners, conservators, and heritage managers to assess and enhance the sensitivity of interventions in historical contexts, enabling effective and informed action when intervening in valuable settings. https://iuds.shirazu.ac.ir/article_8527.html  In recent years, the degradation of urban aquatic ecosystems like Tehran's Darakeh River has become a critical issue, driven by rapid urbanization, pollution, and inadequate environmental oversight. This has resulted in the loss of native vegetation, removal of old trees, and significant disruption to the natural habitat in the Evin neighborhood. Responding to this urgency, this study proposes a nature-based and eco-friendly design approach for the ecological rehabilitation of the Darakeh riverfront. The research adopts an applied, multi-step methodology. It begins with a comprehensive literature review to identify general landscape design indicators for riverfronts. These are integrated with specific ecological and eco-friendly design principles relevant to the Iranian context. The synthesis forms a site-specific, ecologically-oriented design framework organized into four key dimensions: socio-economic, functional, form and visual character, and environmental. To objectively prioritize the proposed indicators within this framework, the study employs the SWARA (Step-wise Weight Assessment Ratio Analysis) method, a recognized multi-criteria decision-making tool.The resulting design model establishes several interconnected strategic goals. Ecologically, it focuses on restoring integrity by reviving native plant species and natural habitats. Functionally, it aims to enhance responsible accessibility and transportation infrastructure around the river. Culturally, it seeks to strengthen local identity by incorporating vernacular materials and design elements. Socially, the model promotes community interaction through carefully planned public spaces. Economically, it supports sustainable tourism development to revitalize the local economy through environmentally conscious planning. Ultimately, by merging ecological restoration with cultural and social revitalization, this study provides a replicable framework for urban riverfront rehabilitation. It highlights the necessity of interdisciplinary strategies to address complex urban environmental challenges and demonstrates the potential of nature-based solutions to create resilient, inclusive, and sustainable landscapes that harmonize ecological health with human well-being and economic vitality. https://iuds.shirazu.ac.ir/article_8799.html The present study aims to conduct a comparative evaluation of urban management policies and actions in the regeneration of the distressed fabric of the Abyverdi Neighborhood in Shiraz from the perspectives of citizens and experts. The research method is applied in terms of purpose and descriptive-analytical in nature, using a mixed-method(quantitative-qualitative) approach. Data were collected through both field and library methods. The data collection tools included a researcher-made questionnaire based on a five-point Likert scale (with confirmed validity and a reliability of 0.79) and semi-structured interviews. The statistical population consisted of residents of the Abyverdi Neighborhood and urban planning experts. The sample size, determined using Cochran’s formula, was 381 households and 50 experts, selected through simple random sampling method. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with SPSS software, while qualitative data were analyzed through content analysis. The findings show that citizens’ mean evaluations of all regeneration components (Municipal Programs, Infrastructure, Integrated Urban Management, Public Participation, and Incentive Facilities) ranged from 2.72 to 2.85, which is below the average level. In contrast, experts evaluated four components between 3.37 and 3.46, which is above the average. The ANOVA test confirmed a significant difference among the components in both groups. Qualitative analysis identified distrust in the municipality, weak information dissemination, lack of participatory mechanisms, and absence of transparency as the most important barriers to regeneration. In conclusion, urban management policies and actions in the regeneration of the Abyverdi Neighborhood have been effective only to a limited and below-average extent. The success of regeneration requires a shift from purely physical interventions toward participatory and Neighborhood-based approaches and a serious attention to the gap between experts’ perspectives and the lived experience of residents. https://iuds.shirazu.ac.ir/article_8674.html 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. https://iuds.shirazu.ac.ir/article_8803.html Today, commercial quasi-public spaces, shaped by the logic of urban marketization and the neoliberalization of space, have generated fundamental transformations in citizens’ lived experiences. This study aimed to phenomenologically explore citizens’ lived experiences of the transformation of spatial experience within the Diplomat Center shopping complex in Borujerd. The study employed a qualitative design based on a descriptive phenomenological approach. Participants consisted of 15 citizens of Borujerd, selected through criterion-based purposive sampling. The inclusion criteria were visiting the complex at least twice a month and being able to articulate one’s lived experience. Sampling continued until theoretical/meaning saturation was achieved. Data were collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis in MAXQDA software. The analytical process resulted in the extraction of five main themes and ten subthemes. The main themes were: (1) “Space as a showcase of urban renewal” (subthemes: the simulacrum of modernity and contrast with the traditional urban fabric); (2) “Lived class differentiation” (subthemes: status display and symbolic exclusion); (3) “Commercialized consumption-oriented leisure” (subthemes: shopping-oriented strolling and the commodification of pleasure); (4) “Behavioral coding of space” (subthemes: subtle normative surveillance and bodily self-discipline); and (5) “The transition from social interaction to quasi-social interaction.” Phenomenological analysis indicated that actors’ lived experience in this neoliberalized quasi-public space has been redefined from “unmediated social interaction” toward a “consumer-oriented, self-disciplined presence.” Accordingly, citizens’ sense of belonging and freedom of action, constrained by the space’s quasi-private and surveillance-based norms, has gradually been replaced by experiences of exclusion and normative self-control. https://iuds.shirazu.ac.ir/article_8753.html Color is a fundamental component of the visual identity of historic urban landscapes and plays a critical role in urban readability, aesthetic coherence, and heritage continuity. Despite its importance, systematic quantitative analysis of urban color systems remains limited in many historic cities. This study aims to analyze the colorscape of the Zandieh historic complex in Shiraz, Iran, with particular emphasis on its contribution to visual cohesion within the framework of the Historic Urban Landscape (HUL) approach.The research adopts a descriptive–analytical methodology based on field sampling of authentic façade colors. Approximately 600 images of historic urban facades were collected, from which 100 representative samples of brick and tile surfaces were selected after filtering altered or non-original elements. Color values were extracted from the images and processed in MATLAB. The data were converted from RGB to the perceptually uniform CIELAB color space and analyzed using the K-Means clustering algorithm to identify dominant color groups. The optimal number of clusters was determined using the Elbow method.The findings reveal that the color structure of the Zandieh complex is characterized by a dominant palette of warm earthy tones derived primarily from brick materials. These colors exhibit moderate lightness and limited chromatic variation, forming a cohesive visual background across urban facades. In contrast, tile decorations present a broader chromatic range with higher perceptual differences, functioning as visual accents within the overall composition. Distance analysis using ΔE values demonstrates that brick colors maintain relatively small perceptual differences, reinforcing visual continuity, whereas tile colors introduce controlled contrast and spatial emphasis.The study concludes that the visual cohesion of the Zandieh historic landscape emerges from a structured relationship between homogeneous background tones and selective color contrasts. The extracted palette provides a scientific basis for developing color guidelines for restoration and urban design interventions in historic areas. The proposed approach demonstrates how quantitative color analysis can support heritage conservation strategies within the HUL framework. https://iuds.shirazu.ac.ir/article_8819.html Contemporary cities need spaces that are the basis for people to be present and events to take place at various scales. Spaces that go beyond the mere function of traffic, provide the possibility of face-to-face communication and active participation of citizens. In metropolises like Tehran, the lack of these spaces causes events and gatherings to take place on traffic routes. This situation leads to disruption of the main function of the space and creates a negative attitude towards urban events.Danish architect and theorist Jan Gehl, emphasizing the use of the capacity of micro-spaces, has presented “Life Between Buildings”, an operational framework for analyzing public spaces. He believes that a successful event location has four distinct edges: the first edge (direct participants), the second edge (observers with privacy), the third edge (traffic route), and the fourth edge (seating space adjacent to buildings). Although this model has been tested in European cities, its application in Iranian cities with high density and different cultural patterns requires examination and localization.This study aimed to analyze Jan Gehl's view on "event place" and its adaptation to objective examples in Tehran. The research method was qualitative and based on field visits, in-depth observation, semi-structured interviews, and direct participation of space users along with systematic recording of behaviors. Field data were recorded in the form of notes, maps, tables, and text and compared with Gehl's conceptual model.A study of 36 case studies in Tehran showed that the greatest similarity with Jan Gehl's proposed structure is found in local parks (with 0.85 similarity), mini-parks (0.80), and urban plazas (0.75), respectively. Finally, two general patterns of event places in Tehran were extracted, and it was determined that Gehl's view does not fully correspond to some spatial types of this city. https://iuds.shirazu.ac.ir/article_8610.html Over the past 25 years, the field of soundscape studies has undergone a fundamental transformation, evolving from a collection of fragmented research efforts into a structured interdisciplinary domain. Despite the remarkable growth in scientific publications, the existing literature continues to face three major gaps: (1) the lack of a comprehensive understanding of the conceptual and methodological evolution of soundscape research; (2) the predominance of Western-centric perspectives in previous review studies; and (3) a significant disconnect between research findings and practical applications. The aim of this study is to conduct a systematic review in order to (1) map the evolutionary trajectory of soundscape research across theoretical, methodological, and applied dimensions; (2) analyze the geographical distribution and cultural diversity of studies; (3) examine the influence of the ISO 12913 standards on the convergence or divergence of research methods; and (4) develop a theoretical model to explain patterns of evolution and existing gaps. Following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, a comprehensive search was conducted across six databases. From an initial set of 265 records, 50 studies were selected for final analysis. The findings identify five evolutionary phases and a four-layer model of soundscape evolution, revealing that while the theoretical and methodological layers have reached relative maturity, the contextual–cultural and applied layers remain underdeveloped—a phenomenon referred to in this study as the “paradox of uneven maturity. https://iuds.shirazu.ac.ir/article_8820.html Historic streets in metropolitan centers accumulate layers of meaning that are continually rearranged with each wave of physical and functional transformation. The 30 Tir and Mirza Kuchak Khan street corridor in Tehran, is an illustrative example of this condition. Once characterized by places of worship belonging to religious minorities, embassies, and cultural institutions, the corridor is now remembered above all for its pedestrianized, stone-paved stretch of eateries. Study asks how the mental image formed of such a corridor has been constituted in the minds of its observers and users, and how this image relates to the corridor’s multifaceted past. To answer, the Gestalt principle of figure and ground is employed as an analytical framework and articulated in conjunction with Lynch’s concepts of legibility and imageability, Cullen’s serial vision, Gibson’s concept of affordances, and the phenomenological tradition of place. The theoretical argument of the article holds that the identity of a street corridor is not a fixed and physical attribute, but rather a perceptual and situated construct resulting from the intersection of three factors - the physical characteristics of the figure-forming elements of the facade, the observer’s cognitive background, and the manner in which the observer acts and moves through space - with time operating as a transversal factor. On this basis, it is argued that the corridor under study has accommodated at least four simultaneous and at times incompatible perceptual images, each arising from the predominance of one of these factors. Rather than a narrative of “identity loss,” the findings point to a displacement in the hierarchy of figure and ground over time, yielding implications for the urban planning of historic urban fabrics. The study adopts a qualitative interpretive case-study strategy, combining documentary-historical analysis with structured field observation of the facades, and presents its perceptual propositions as testable hypotheses. https://iuds.shirazu.ac.ir/article_8826.html The Zandieh complex in Shiraz, as a masterpiece of urbanism from the Karim Khan era, was historically an integrated constellation of governmental, economic, and civic functions. With the hasty introduction of modernity and destructive physical interventions, this spatial coherence underwent fragmentation, and dynamic spaces such as “Naqqareh-khaneh Square” were degraded into passive realms dominated by traffic. The objective of this research is to present an operational framework for the urban regeneration of Naqqareh-khaneh Square as the spatial node connecting the Citadel and the Bazaar, functioning as the beating heart of Shiraz’s urban life. This study is grounded in the principles of Iranian-Islamic architecture and contemporary approaches to contextual urban regeneration. The research findings reveal that to extract this complex from its spatial isolation, measures such as the removal of incompatible physical barriers to achieve visual connectivity, the expansion of pedestrianization and reduction of automobile dominance, the revitalization of historical passages, the utilization of economic catalysts, and the resuscitation of intangible heritage (such as the Naqqareh-playing ritual) were deemed essential. Consequently, by transcending a strictly restorative perspective and adopting participatory management, the Comprehensive Urban Regeneration Plan of the Zandieh Complex provided a framework for Naqqareh-khaneh Square to reclaim its historical role, transforming it once again into a vibrant space of collective memory and civic interaction within the contemporary life of Shiraz. https://iuds.shirazu.ac.ir/article_8821.html Spatial openings are one of the key components in natural ventilation and regulation of thermal conditions in traditional Iranian covered markets, and especially in cold climates, they play a decisive role in the environmental quality of these spaces. The aim of this research is to analyze the effect of the dimensions and characteristics of spatial openings on the thermal behavior and airflow pattern in the four-squares of Malayer Bazaar as an example located in a cold climate. The research method is based on a combination of field measurements and numerical simulation. For this purpose, two four-squares with different dimensions and heights were selected and climatic parameters including temperature, relative humidity, and air velocity were measured at different times of the day. Then, the field data were simulated and analyzed in DesignBuilder software. The results show that in both four-squares, even in conditions of strong winter winds, the airflow is directed towards the ground surface and the fluctuations of air velocity in the interior space are reduced. However, a significant difference in the air inlet and outlet pattern and thermal stability was observed between the two squares; in the smaller square, the vents operate as either fully inlet or fully outlet for a longer period of time, while in the larger square, the semi-balanced air inlet and outlet pattern prevails. Analysis of the thermal comfort indices (PMV) and (PPD) also shows that the larger square has more favorable comfort conditions and has a higher thermal storage capacity in the cold season, especially during peak wind hours. The findings of this study emphasize the effective role of spatial openings in improving the thermal performance of covered markets and can be used as a basis for reviewing and optimizing the design of covered public spaces in cold climates. https://iuds.shirazu.ac.ir/article_8822.html The expansion of built-up surfaces and the decline of vegetation cover in high-rainfall lowland cities reduce the natural capacity for infiltration, water retention, and stormwater regulation, thereby increasing the risk of urban flooding, waterlogging, and pollutant transport. In Rasht, addressing this issue requires a spatially informed and design-oriented approach that can transform hydrological modelling outputs into water-sensitive urban design strategies. This study aims to develop water-sensitive urban design strategies for urban stormwater management in Rasht using the InVEST model. The research adopts a quantitative-spatial approach, including the production of land-use/land-cover and NDVI maps for the years 2000, 2008, 2016, and 2024 in ENVI, as well as the modelling of the 2024 baseline hydrological condition using the Urban Stormwater Retention module of InVEST. The data used in the study include Landsat and Sentinel imagery, GPM precipitation data, HWSD hydrological soil group data, and EMC values for nitrogen and nitrate, as well as phosphorus. The results indicate that built-up areas increased from 41.28 km² to 63.48 km², while vegetation cover decreased from 46.89 km² to 21.71 km². The central and southern zones of Rasht are characterized by higher runoff, lower infiltration, reduced water retention capacity, and greater pollutant loads. By contrast, the western and northern zones, owing to higher NDVI values and more extensive vegetation cover, demonstrate greater potential for infiltration, water storage, and pollutant reduction. Accordingly, the proposed strategies include redesigning impervious surfaces in the city center, creating detention and retention spaces in the southern zones, protecting ecological capacities in the western and northern zones, and developing blue-green corridors along riverfront areas. https://iuds.shirazu.ac.ir/article_8828.html Urban spaces, as primary settings for social interaction, shape citizens’ perceptions and lived experiences through a wide range of sensory stimuli. This study aims to evaluate the sensory qualities of urban spaces and identify the hierarchy of significant urban spaces in Tabriz, Iran. Adopting a multisensory landscape approach, the study assesses the sensory richness of selected urban spaces across five sensory dimensions: visual, auditory, olfactory, gustatory, and tactile. A descriptive-exploratory research design was employed, and quantitative data were collected through an electronic questionnaire using the sensory recall technique. Of the 265 responses received, 141 were considered valid and included in the analysis. The findings indicate that human presence is the predominant factor influencing the selection of urban spaces and represents the most important driver of visual and auditory stimuli. Among the four most prominent sites identified by respondents, the Ilguly Historical-Recreational Complex accounted for the largest share (29%), followed by the Terabit Pedestrian Walkway, Shariati (Shahnaz) Avenue, and Sa'at Square. The findings further indicate that, despite the physical separation of certain pedestrian corridors, such as the Terabit Walkway, from vehicular traffic, traffic noise remains a pervasive and intrusive stimulus that significantly influences citizens’ psychological perceptions of these spaces. Overall, the findings suggest that sensory perception is an integrated process rather than a combination of isolated sensory dimensions. Consequently, sensory recall alone may not fully capture the complex and multilayered nature of environmental perception. The study highlights the need for sensory-oriented urban design and management strategies that account for diverse urban spatial typologies in order to enhance the quality of environmental experience. https://iuds.shirazu.ac.ir/article_8829.html This research was conducted with the aim of redesigning the landscape of the Shiraz Fars Cement Factory, based on the integration of climate simulation and phased phytoremediation. The research methodology includes field surveys, wind flow simulation using ENVI-met software to identify critical hotspots, and plant species selection based on a dual-criteria framework of efficiency and time-horizon. According to the simulation outputs, the western and north-western zones of the site were identified as high-risk areas for dust emission. In response, a multi-layered and three-tier planting system was developed: the first tier consists of shock and annual species (such as sunflower and scented geranium) for rapid heavy metal extraction; the second tier comprises stable herbaceous species (vetiver, creeping bentgrass, and Indian mustard) for substrate stabilization and erosion control; and the third tier includes native long-lived trees and shrubs (Christ's thorn, wild pistachio, and mountain almond) to establish a permanent landscape skeleton, provide optimal shading, and restore biodiversity. The findings indicate that this combined approach, while mitigating the risk of pollutant emission in the arid climate of Shiraz, provides a foundation for creating a sustainable, drought-resilient urban park rich in ecological and cultural values. https://iuds.shirazu.ac.ir/article_8830.html Cities in hot and arid climates face challenges including intensified urban thermal variations, fragmentation of urban ecological structure, and exacerbation of thermal stress in public spaces. To mitigate thermal stress, pedestrian-oriented corridors are considered one of the influential applications in urban landscape design. This research aims to investigate the effectiveness of ecological corridors as pedestrian-oriented urban routes in reducing thermal stress, improving the environmental quality of pedestrian spaces, and enhancing climate resilience. In doing so, the study addresses the key concepts of “ecological corridor,” “pedestrian-oriented design,” and “urban landscape resilience” not as separate concepts, but as interconnected structures. The research methodology is developmental-applied, employing a deductive–inferential approach to analyze data extracted from a systematic review of the research literature using meta-analysis. This approach is used to examine the role and function of pedestrian-oriented corridors in hot and arid-climate cities and to systematically analyze their ecological and climatic dimensions. The methodology enables interdisciplinary analysis and comparison, as well as the development of the study’s conceptual framework. Finally, to evaluate the research findings, the effects of an ecological corridor in the QasrDasht neighborhood of Shiraz are assessed. The findings indicate that ecological corridors, through improving the microclimate, strengthening intra-urban ecological connectivity, enhancing the quality of urban pedestrian-oriented spaces, and reducing thermal stress, play an infrastructural role in increasing urban landscape resilience and have a significant impact on the regeneration of sustainable urban landscapes in hot and arid climates. Ultimately, the findings lead to the formulation of a conceptual framework of ecological pedestrian-oriented corridors' role in the landscapes of hot and arid-climate cities. Consequently; when the indicators of physical, ecological, microclimatic, and social structures operate synergistically, urban landscape resilience can be enhanced. Under such conditions, ecological pedestrian-oriented corridors proposed to be defined within the framework of informed spatial decision-making and climate-responsive design. https://iuds.shirazu.ac.ir/article_8831.html The presence and mobility independence of the elderly are key pillars of urban quality of life; however, urbanization and neglect of their sensory, cognitive, and motor needs have marginalized them from public spaces. This study aims to investigate the impact of biophilic urban space on the presence and mobility independence of the elderly on Taghebostan Boulevard in Kermanshah. This research adopts a quantitative approach with a correlational method. Data were collected through a survey using a questionnaire. Effective biophilic components, including 20 variables within three factors—sensory-perceptual, physical-functional, and psycho-social—were extracted from literature and expert opinions and designed as a researcher-made questionnaire with a five-point Likert scale, completed by 200 elderly individuals. Data were analyzed using SPSS and statistical tests including Kolmogorov-Smirnov (normality testing), Spearman correlation, Mann-Whitney U, and Cronbach's alpha. Findings showed the highest mean satisfaction related to the presence of other elderly (4.23) and flowing water (4.11), while the lowest related to public toilets (2.87) and natural pavement texture (3.08). The psycho-social factor (0.86), sensory-perceptual (0.82), and physical-functional (0.76) had the greatest impact on presence, respectively. Mean satisfaction with mobility independence was 3.59 out of 5, with no significant difference between elderly women and men. Taghebostan Boulevard has favorable sensory-natural richness, but weaknesses in perceived safety, climatic shelters, and sanitary services are the main obstacles to elderly mobility independence. Improving pavement with natural materials, constructing semi-open shelters, and enhancing path safety are intervention priorities. https://iuds.shirazu.ac.ir/article_8859.html Urban design governance, with an emphasis on participation, stakeholder coordination, transparency, accountability, and attention to the public interest, is regarded as an approach to improving decision-making processes and achieving quality in urban design. Despite the extensive attention devoted to urban governance in domestic studies, the position of this concept within urban design, its interpretation in urban design projects, and, consequently, the examination of the factors hindering its realization have received comparatively limited attention. The present study initially seeks to examine this concept through its theoretical foundations and, by developing an initial conceptual framework, analyze it in the context of Tehran from the perspective of urban design professionals and identify the barriers to its realization. Accordingly, this applied research adopts a qualitative approach within an interpretive paradigm. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 16 experts and professionals working in the field and were analyzed using qualitative analysis with an inductive approach. The findings indicate that, based on the participants’ experiences, the realization of this concept is affected by a set of institutional, managerial, economic, and process-related barriers. The most significant of these include the concentration of power and the decisive role of the client, weak coordination among actors, the dominance of economic considerations, limited effective stakeholder participation, resource constraints, and shortcomings in the design process. According to the findings, these factors undermine participatory capacity, inter-institutional coordination, and attention to the public interest throughout the urban design process. The results emphasize that realizing urban design governance in Iran requires reforming institutional and decision-making mechanisms, redefining the relationships between clients and design teams, strengthening effective participation, and establishing coordination mechanisms among project actors. https://iuds.shirazu.ac.ir/article_8950.html Rapid urbanization and vertical development in metropolitan areas have turned the urban heat island (UHI) phenomenon into a fundamental challenge affecting environmental quality and citizens' thermal comfort. Dark-colored roofs, through absorption and storage of solar energy, significantly exacerbate this phenomenon. Therefore, their modification is a key strategy in urban planning and design. This study quantitatively evaluates the cool roof strategy (high albedo and high thermal emissivity) in mitigating UHI and improving thermal homogeneity in high-rise neighborhoods of District 22, Tehran. Using ENVI-met microclimate simulation, the impact of replacing roof materials across all buildings was analyzed on key thermal comfort indices during the summer solstice. Findings indicate that cool roofs, by reducing mean radiant temperature by 5.5–10.5°C at pedestrian level and surface temperatures by 5–10°C, not only decrease UHI intensity but also improve temperature distribution homogeneity at the neighborhood scale by reducing the air temperature coefficient of variation by up to 44%. Compared to low-rise and high-rise typologies, the mid-rise typology (6–10 stories) was identified as the optimal urban fabric, offering the highest thermal stability throughout all daytime hours. The main contribution is introducing cool roofs as a passive, scalable, and cost-effective strategy for reducing microclimatic heterogeneity and enhancing environmental quality in high-rise urban fabrics. Furthermore, "thermal homogeneity" is proposed as a novel metric for evaluating UHI mitigation strategies. Its quantitative measurement provides an analytical-design tool for urban planners and designers to achieve more balanced and equitable microclimates through optimal typology selection and reflective roof materials. The findings can inform climate-sensitive urban design guidelines in high-rise contexts. However, generalizing results to other regions and seasons requires further research.