Assessing the Sense of Place Levels in Urban Spaces (Case study: Imam Khomeini Square and Imam Hossein Square, Tehran City)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 PhD. in Urbanism, Researcher at Building,Housing Research Center, Tehran, Iran

2 Associate Professor, Dep. of Urban Planning, Academic Member of Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning, Iran University of Science and Technology, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

The existence of sense of place in an urban space is one of the prerequisites of its durability. The studies conducted in the field of sense of place in urban spaces so far are general and qualitative and do not differentiate between various levels with different measurement indicators. The studies based on Shamaie’s sevenfold classification theory are even qualitative and have not specified the indicators for each level. Therefore, the procedure used in assessing sense of place in this study is innovative. In this research, an attempt was made to systematically assess the levels of sense of place in an urban space. Expanding the concept of sense of place in urban spaces and conceptualizing it in the form of an empirical model for the assessment of sense of place and its various levels based on the Shamaie’s sense of place theory are the key goals of this study. The main question addressed in this research is to see how activities affect people's sense of place in urban public spaces. The research methodology was originally of documentary type, the results of which are presented in a detailed table. Then, the empirical model of the research was extracted by means of conceptualization method and analyzed by Delphi method through consulting the experts. In the next step, using an inductive method and survey study in two urban spaces of Tehran (Imam Hossein Square and Imam Khomeini Square), a questionnaire, in line with the adjusted model, was completed by 400 of the present citizens and the data were analyzed by SPSS. The sense of place was measured using the Beta test. Through the correlation test, it was found that the sense of place increases with increasing gravity, and especially the diversity of activities, as well as moving away from compulsory activities to selective and in particular social ones. Finally, some strategies have been put forward to improve the sense of place in urban spaces based on the results of the study.

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References

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Urban Planning Knowledge
Volume 2, Issue 2 - Serial Number 3
September 2018
Pages 47-63

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History

  • Receive Date: 23 May 2018
  • Revise Date: 13 August 2018
  • Accept Date: 31 August 2018

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