https://upk.guilan.ac.ir/ Urban Planning Knowledge en daily 1 Sat, 21 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0330 Sat, 21 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0330 https://upk.guilan.ac.ir/article_9657.html Problem Statement: The formation of urban morphology has always relied on the use of geometry. From micro-scale physical elements such as streets, squares, and open spaces to the macro composition of the city, geometric principles and rules play a fundamental role in structuring and enhancing the aesthetics of urban spaces. Nevertheless, the systematic explanation of how specific geometric principles—such as the creation of axes and the application of proportions—affect the perception of urban beauty has been relatively underexplored.Purpose: This study aims to clarify the characteristics and effects of key geometric principles on the aesthetics of urban form.Methodology: The research is qualitative, theoretical, and analytical in nature, based on library studies and case analysis. First, theoretical foundations concerning the role of geometry in architecture and urban design were reviewed. Then, as a case study, geometry and proportions in the design of the historic Naqsh-e Jahan Square in Isfahan were analyzed.Findings: The theoretical results indicate that geometric principles such as axis, symmetry, and proportion have long served as the foundation of architectural and urban spatial composition, acting as factors of visual order and harmony. The case analysis shows that the geometric organization of Naqsh-e Jahan Square—structured through regular polygons—aligns major physical elements with geometric axes and achieves golden proportions in its dimensions.Conclusion: The intelligent application of geometric principles in urban form creates order, legibility, and unity within diversity, thereby enhancing the perception of urban beauty. These findings highlight the necessity for urban designers to regard geometry as a formative tool for aesthetics and environmental quality.The intelligent application of geometric principles in urban form creates order, legibility, and unity within diversity, thereby enhancing the perception of urban beauty. Beyond these immediate perceptual benefits, geometry functions as a practical design language that connects spatial organization, human movement, and visual experience. When designers consciously employ axes, symmetries, proportional systems, and regular geometries, they provide cognitive cues that help users read, navigate, and emotionally relate to places—strengthening place identity and social cohesion. Moreover, geometric order can coexist with local cultural expressions and functional variations, allowing cities to be both coherent adaptable. https://upk.guilan.ac.ir/article_9670.html Introduction: Accordingly, analyzing the urban system of Guilan Province—with an emphasis on urban population dynamics, hierarchical structures, and trends of spatial concentration and balance between 1986 and 2021—provides essential insights into the province’s spatial development challenges and potential pathways for future development. The main research questions are as follows:1. How has the structure and transformation of Guilan’s urban system evolved over the past half-century?2. What factors have contributed to the formation and persistence of spatial centralization in the province?What strategies can be proposed, within a spatial planning framework, to enhance spatial and functional balance across Guilan’s urban network?Methodology: This study is applied and analytical in nature and employs a descriptive–analytical and comparative approach to examine the structure and evolution of the urban system of Guilan Province between 1986 and 2021. The objective is to identify trends in urban concentration and population distribution and to propose spatial balancing strategies within the framework of spatial planning. The research data consist of population figures for all cities in the province across five official national census years. Data were obtained from the Statistical Center of Iran and provincial statistical yearbooks and were processed using Excel. Urban population was treated as the primary indicator of each city's position within the urban hierarchy. The analytical process consisted of four stages:Analysis of changes in urban population;Examination of the hierarchical structure;Assessment of spatial concentration and balance;Formulation of spatial balancing strategies.planning. To analyze the data, a comprehensive set of quantitative urban-system models was employed. The Primacy Index, Ginsberg Index, Mehta Index, Herfindahl–Hirschman Index (HHI), and MOMA Index were used to assess concentration at the upper levels of the urban hierarchy. The Entropy Index was applied to measure spatial balance, while the Elasticity Model was used to analyze the dynamics of urban population change. Numerical calculations and the plotting of rank–size distributions and concentration curves were performed using Excel.Results:  The analysis of demographic and spatial indicators from 1986 to 2021 indicates that Guilan Province’s urban network underwent a gradual transition from a monocentric, Rasht-dominated structure toward a relatively more balanced polycentric system. During the early years (1986 and 1996), the urban population was highly concentrated in Rasht, while other cities played only a limited role in shaping the province’s spatial structure. Over time, however, economic development, improvements in transportation networks, the establishment of industrial zones, and the expansion of services in medium-sized cities contributed to a decline in population concentration and a more even distribution of population across large and medium-sized urban centers. The Entropy Index decreased slightly from 0.723 in 1986 to 0.693 in 2021. Despite this modest decline, when interpreted alongside the other indicators, it suggests increased diversity and a more balanced spatial distribution of population. The Primacy Elasticity Index increased from 0.369 to 0.422, reflecting reduced concentration in the primate city and gradual population growth in second-tier cities, particularly Bandar Anzali, Lahijan, and Talesh. The Mehta and Ginsberg indices also reveal movement toward a more balanced hierarchical structure. The Mehta Index increased from 0.629 in 1986 to 0.697 in 2021, while the Ginsberg Index rose from 1.693 to 2.302, indicating strengthened roles for medium-sized cities and a gradual reduction in Rasht’s absolute dominance. Similarly, the Herfindahl–Hirschman Index (HHI) increased from 0.162 in 1986 to 0.197 in 2021, signaling reduced extreme concentration and greater spatial competitiveness among cities. The MOMA Index declined from 2.652 to 2.541, demonstrating increased cohesion and relative equality among city sizes. Finally, the Primacy and Bi-City indices provide additional insight. The Primacy Index (the population of the largest city relative to that of the second-largest city) increased from 0.369 to 0.422, while the Bi-City Index (the combined population of the two largest cities relative to the total urban population) rose from 3.445 to 5.996. These changes indicate that although Rasht continues to function as the leading urban center, the second- and third-ranked cities have increasingly absorbed a substantial share of urban growth.Discussion: The longitudinal analysis of demographic and spatial indicators demonstrates a gradual transformation of Guilan’s urban network from a Rasht-centered monocentric structure toward a more balanced and emerging polycentric pattern. Population concentration has moderately declined, while the functional roles of medium-sized cities—such as Bandar Anzali, Lahijan, and Talesh—have expanded. The combined results of the Entropy, Mehta, Ginsberg, HHI, MOMA, and Primacy indices indicate increased spatial convergence, reduced dominance of the primate city, and enhanced multinucleation within the provincial urban system. This evolving spatial configuration creates opportunities to improve the distribution of services, achieve a better balance between employment and housing, and reduce urban pressures on Rasht.Conclusion: The analysis of demographic and spatial trends between 1986 and 2021 provides a comprehensive understanding of the transformations that have occurred within Guilan Province’s urban system. Calculations of key indices—including the Entropy, Mehta, Ginsberg, Herfindahl–Hirschman, MOMA, Primacy, and Bi-City indices—demonstrate a structural transition from a centralized monocentric system toward a more diverse, dynamic, and relatively balanced spatial pattern. Medium-sized and smaller cities have increasingly absorbed population and economic functions, while the dominance of the primary urban center has gradually weakened. This shift reflects an evolving spatial logic in the distribution of population, resources, and capital and indicates a gradual weakening of long-standing centralization tendencies. Based on these trends, and drawing on both quantitative findings and spatial analysis, it is possible to address the key research questions concerning the structure and transformation of the urban system, the drivers of spatial centralization, and appropriate strategies for achieving spatial balance within a spatial planning framework.In summary, over the past five decades, Guilan’s urban system has evolved from a predominantly centralized structure toward a more polycentric configuration. Although this transition has established the foundations for greater spatial balance, achieving a fully efficient, interconnected, and sustainable urban network will require reforms in spatial policy, more equitable resource allocation, and stronger institutional coordination among cities. The future of the province’s spatial development depends on regional planning approaches that prioritize not only physical growth but also spatial justice, environmental sustainability, and functional synergy among urban centers. https://upk.guilan.ac.ir/article_9669.html Problem Statement: In contemporary urban design, the role of spatial configuration in shaping local interactions and fostering urban communities has gained increasing importance. The concept of spatial intelligence reflects the ability of urban space to guide behavior, movement, and social interaction; an area that still requires extensive investigation at both urban and neighborhood scales.Aim: This study aims to uncover the hidden structures of spatial intelligence and examine their relationship with the formation of local communities in the city of Bojnord.Method: Street-network data for the central urban fabric were processed using the Space Syntax method and Depthmap software. Network indicators were analyzed across four main categories: (1) movement and accessibility, (2) routes and flow, (3) local and network properties, and (4) geometric characteristics, forming a comprehensive analytical framework for interpretation.Findings: The results reveal that segments with high integration, accessibility, and choice values form the core of the network, guiding major movement flows and shaping residents’ social interactions. Secondary segments with moderate levels of connectivity and control create localized nodes of sociability at the neighborhood scale. A comparative analysis with the city’s neighborhood map shows that areas adjacent to primary urban axes benefit most from spatial integration and network connectivity, while peripheral neighborhoods play a more limited role. These patterns reflect the embedded spatial intelligence of the urban fabric; meaning that the street network and built form can autonomously organize daily movement, social flows, and local interactions without relying solely on institutional decisions or advanced technologies.Conclusion: The findings highlight the latent spatial intelligence of Bojnord’s central fabric and demonstrate that the street-network structure, even in the absence of smart technologies, possesses the inherent capacity to facilitate social interaction and strengthen neighborhood cohesion. The study offers a practical analytical framework for identifying urban potentialities and supporting sustainable, context-sensitive urban regeneration strategies. https://upk.guilan.ac.ir/article_9664.html Urbanization and industrial expansion have significantly contributed to the degradation of natural assets, disrupting the delicate balance between urban growth and ecological sustainability. Rapid city expansion, particularly in arid regions like Yazd, exacerbates environmental challenges such as air pollution, biodiversity loss, and declining green spaces. Yazd, with a green space per capita below international standards, exemplifies the adverse effects of unsustainable development. This study seeks to identify and model the key factors influencing urban natural asset degradation in Yazd using a systems-based analytical approach, which integrates social, economic, and environmental dimensions to provide a holistic understanding of the issue.This research employs a mixed-methods approach, combining semi-structured expert interviews and fuzzy cognitive mapping (FCM) to analyze the complex interactions between different factors. A total of 17 environmental and urban planning specialists were selected based on academic and professional expertise. The study used Mental Modeler software to measure system complexity and density, calculating a system density of 0.795 and an average of 11.93 connections per factor. The fuzzy cognitive maps identified key factors influencing degradation, with interconnections categorized as either reinforcing or suppressing influences. The methodology allows for a nuanced understanding of the intricate relationships between urban development and environmental degradation.The findings indicate that land-use changes (centrality score: 23.95), shifting consumer culture (21.9), and increased pressure on natural systems (21.44) are the most influential drivers of urban environmental degradation. These results align with previous studies emphasizing the cascading effects of land-use transitions on biodiversity loss and ecosystem instability.The degradation of Yazd’s natural assets is driven by a complex interplay of economic, social, and environmental factors, necessitating ecosystem-based management approaches to mitigate further decline. Policy recommendations include strengthening land-use regulations to preserve green spaces, promoting sustainable urban development through eco-friendly technologies, enhancing public participation in environmental conservation, and investing in nature-based solutions such as urban forestry and green infrastructure. Future research should explore the long-term implications of climate change on urban natural assets and develop resilience strategies tailored to arid regions like Yazd. https://upk.guilan.ac.ir/article_9666.html Problem Statement:The accelerated pace of urbanization in recent decades, accompanied by significant physical and social transformations in cities, has exerted multilayered and complex effects on the mental health of urban populations. Within this context, various components of the built environment—including access to green spaces, residential quality, population density, street layout, and levels of social cohesion—have been shown to meaningfully influence psychological well-being. These factors interact with broader socio-spatial dynamics, shaping mental health outcomes through both direct and indirect pathways. Although a growing body of empirical research has investigated these relationships, the field still lacks a comprehensive and integrative systematic review that identifies common patterns, synthesizes existing findings, and pinpoints remaining knowledge gaps.Objective:This study aims to conduct a systematic review of empirical studies published between 2014 and 2024that examine how physical and social elements of the urban built environment impact mental health. The goal is to extract causal mechanisms and identify evidence-based strategies for environmental and policy-level interventions.Method:Following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) framework, a structured search was carried out across PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar databases. After a multi-stage screening process of 575 initial records, 26 empirical studies meeting the inclusion criteria were selected for final analysis. Data were extracted using thematic synthesis and comparative analysis, categorized into major conceptual dimensions.Findings:The results highlight that factors such as urban greenness, housing quality, street design, and social cohesion positively influence mental health through mediators like reduced stress, enhanced social interaction, and stronger sense of belonging. These effects are particularly notable in densely populated urban areas and in developing country contexts.Conclusion:The review underscores the critical role of human-centered urban design and the value of evidence-informed policymaking in fostering mentally healthier cities. The proposed conceptual framework provides a foundation for future research and practical urban planning interventions. https://upk.guilan.ac.ir/article_9667.html Objective: The present study aims to review research related to the literature on biophilic design and mental health and psychological recovery in the specific field of urban design studies based on a systematic review method and descriptive and qualitative content analysis.Method: After reviewing research in scientific databases related to the field of urban design and removing and monitoring articles through a process based on the PRISM framework, 28 studies were selected and their publication time, publication, research origin, type of study scale, research method and approach, focus of study objectives and research findings were reviewed and analyzed.Findings: The findings show that the importance of this issue has been considered in the last five years, mainly in European and American countries. Qualitative findings also indicate that the selected studies were mainly location-based with a combined quantitative-qualitative approach. These studies focused on ten cognitive categories in the field of the most important concerns related to biophilic design and mental health and psychological recovery. The psychological effectiveness of biophilic design in urban space can also be realized within the framework of six main areas. The emotional-cognitive categories and the green natural landscape are the most research focus areas, and the perceptual-cognitive and environmental areas are among the most practical areas in defining the framework of the psychological effectiveness of biophilic design in urban space. Also, in the content structure of these studies, health and biophilic design have the most connection and relationship with the concepts of restoration or recovery, stress, and urban green space. Conclusion: Despite the volume of studies conducted in the field of biophilic design, the findings of the present study can achieve deeper insight into the psychological effectiveness of this type of nature-friendly design. Also, by providing a theoretical foundation for research and studies related to the literature on nature-friendly and health-oriented design, it can be a guide for future research in various fields of thematic literature, methodology, concerns, and challenges, especially in the context of domestic research studies. https://upk.guilan.ac.ir/article_9672.html Assessing Compatibility with Zero-Carbon Housing Indicators:In the present era, confronting the consequences of climate change and environmental crises has underscored the need to revise urban development patterns, particularly in the housing sector. In this regard, the "zero-carbon housing" approach has emerged as a novel and strategic paradigm in housing planning, emphasizing the reduction of energy consumption and the minimization of greenhouse gas emissions throughout a building's life cycle. By integrating principles of sustainability, modern technologies, and intelligent resource management, this concept has garnered special attention from housing researchers and policymakers in recent years. However, assessing the extent to which existing urban structures align with these indicators is a crucial and essential first step for any future planning. Recognizing this necessity, the present study examines the degree of compatibility of an area in the city of Qom with the components of zero-carbon housing.Introduction: One of the relatively new concepts in housing planning literature is zero-carbon housing, which emphasizes energy saving and the amount of energy consumption. The topic of zero-carbon housing has attracted the attention of researchers in the housing field in recent years.Methodology: This research, conducted using descriptive-analytical methods based on library and field studies, aims to examine the status of the area in District 8 of Qom Municipality in terms of suitability with the indicators and components of zero-carbon housing.Results: For this purpose, a questionnaire was designed and distributed among a sample of 386 individuals in the area.Discussion: The results indicate that no significant suitability was observed in most indicators; only three indicators showed relatively favorable conditions: thermal capacity of the envelope at 8.2, energy consumption at 9.7, and use of solar energy at 4.9.Conclusion: Overall, the results, despite noticeable differences among various neighborhoods, indicate a favorable status in terms of optimal energy management indicators. https://upk.guilan.ac.ir/article_9242.html Currently, urban management in most Iranian cities has become dependent on the most unstable source of revenue—construction fees—to meet its financial needs. Housing-related charges, especially in the past decade and in the country’s major cities, are regarded as an influential factor affecting both the price and supply of housing.In recent years, due to the rapid expansion of Tabriz city, Tabriz Municipality divided the city into ten independent districts to provide proper urban services to citizens. These ten districts of the Tabriz metropolis possess diverse features and capacities in terms of area, population, urban fabric, and other aspects, which significantly influence the housing supply within each district. Therefore, the main challenge concerning the varying housing supply across Tabriz’s ten districts lies in examining the factors that affect housing supply.This study examines the factors influencing housing supply by the ten districts of Tabriz metropolis, with an emphasis on municipal charges related to housing. Ultimately, it evaluates a model based on the factors affecting how municipal fees impact the housing supplyTo achieve this goal in this research, 68 identified factors affecting housing supply (based on previous researchers’ findings) were used to develop a model of factors influencing housing supply, utilizing the Grounded Theory approach. The developed model includes causal conditions, intervening conditions, contextual conditions, and strategies. Finally, the constructed model was tested using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). For this purpose, a sample of 156 housing sector experts and a 5-point Likert scale questionnaire were utilized.Factors such as the increase in construction costs, reduction in construction discounts, corruption and administrative violations, improper use of municipal budgets in construction, lack of attention to renovating dilapidated buildings and urban structure, lack of coordination between construction and regional levels, excessive focus of mass builders on specific areas, rising land prices, absence of precise field studies to understand the city and existing problems, inadequate crisis management, lack of meritocracy in member selection, and so on, are among the most significant factors affecting the increase in housing prices.Municipal taxes also affect the housing supply through certain other factors.