Identifying and Prioritizing Factors Affecting Urban Landscape Organization Case Study; The Façade of Daneshsara Street, Rasht

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Department of Architecture, Faculty of Art& Architecture, University of Mazandaran

Abstract

Introduction: 
:  The starting point for understanding and evaluating cities is the urban landscape, and the nature of the city’s interaction with humans is also expressed through the urban landscape. If we consider the city as a written text, it is the urban landscape that allows the city to be read and interpreted. In other words, all information, including the form, function, and meaning of the space, is contained by the urban landscape.
According to Carmona, the urban landscape is divided into three categories:

Roof landscape
Ground landscape
Façade landscape: Among physical elements, urban façades play the most significant role in defining the city’s landscape.

John Lang believes that the perceived quality of a city depends primarily on the quality of its streets. In conceptualization, the streetscape- the most fundamental component of a street’s physical structure- is understood as the vertical planes that define the street or thoroughfare, acting as its boundary edges. In this context, the façade represents the vital interface between the architectural shell of buildings and the public realm. A facade is not simply a two-dimensional surface, but may take on volumetric features, including articulations, protrusions, and depressions, depending on the formal configuration of the building. According to the 4th chapter of the National Building Regulations, a façade is defined as the part of the building’s exterior that is visible to the public. On a broader scale, three main issues significantly affect the urban landscape of cities in Iran. The first issue concerns the increase in unauthorized construction, such as enclosed balconies and rooftop extensions for additional space, and exposed infrastructure elements, including cooling and heating systems, water and electrical ducts, or overhead power lines. 
The second major challenge is façade deterioration, which is caused by economic and social factors. This deterioration is often exacerbated by a lack of responsibility for the renovation and restoration of urban facades. The problem of disorganization of signs has led business owners to install signs arbitrarily - based on their own judgment and needs - without any supervision or regulation. To address these issues at a micro-scale, three key actions related to the three aforementioned problems should be taken:

Trimming out: Removing unnecessary additions and extensions
Renovation: Addressing the issue of deterioration
Rearrangement: Managing excessive proliferation of signage.

 
Methodology:
This research is categorized as fundamental-experimental in terms of purpose and descriptive-survey in terms of nature and method, and a case study approach was used. The study utilized a questionnaire with open-ended questions, followed by closed-ended questions with a five-point Likert scale. In the first phase, a review of previous studies and theoretical foundations was conducted to create a framework of key indicators affecting the urban landscape organization. In the second phase, these foundational insights were further enriched to increase the depth and validity of the research findings. After these phases, an expert panel was formed. Twelve faculty members from the Faculty of Architecture and Art at the University of Guilan, who were experts in various fields related to the study, were selected as members of the expert panel. To identify and extract the key indicators leading to the research objective, open-ended questionnaires—structured based on findings of the first phase and theoretical foundations—were designed. These questionnaires, along with 2D and 3D visual representations of Rasht Daneshsara Street, were distributed to the expert panel members for evaluation. In the next step, the integration of the indicators derived from the theoretical framework and the criteria proposed by the expert panel members resulted in a new list of influential indicators for the urban landscape organizing. A thorough content review, along with an analysis of the overlap of similar and common criteria, led to the development of a new classification system, which is categorized, summarized, and coded in the following figure: After evaluating the expert panel`s ratings for each indicator in the second round of the Delphi questionnaire, a quantitative analysis was conducted. TOPSIS method was used to rank the indicators. 
Results: Based on the findings from the questionnaire and TOPSIS technique, the category of indicators related to "renovation" has the greatest impact on improving the quality of urban facades in the studied sample.
Conclusion: This study identified 26 influential factors influencing the organization and arrangement of building facades, which were classified into three main groups. In this study, the authors evaluated and prioritized these factors quantitatively: The selection of " Development of implementation criteria for various facade additions" as the main priority shows that the experts are concerned about the fragmented and uncoordinated approach to the composition of the Rasht Daneshsara street facade. Their focus is on achieving a coherent and integrated streetscape, not a fragmented and piecemeal approach. The primary factors exacerbating this visual disturbance along the axis have been identified as commercial and office signs, advertising posters, and awnings. The constant increase of these elements contributes significantly to public dissatisfaction with the chaotic urban landscape. Facade modification, by removing incongruous additions, reveals the hidden architectural values ​​of the built environment. This process highlights the contrast between new materials and the historical fabric. As a result, the implementation of two additional criteria—“the use of appropriate and harmonious materials in repairs and renovations” and “the use of materials that reflect the architectural age”—leads observers to perceive a defined architectural order.

Keywords

Main Subjects

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Urban Planning Knowledge
Volume 9, Issue 3
December 2025
Pages 168-187

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  • Receive Date: 04 April 2025
  • Revise Date: 21 May 2025
  • Accept Date: 22 September 2025

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