Honarhaye Ziba- Honarhaye Memari va SHahrsazi
Year:2015 | Volume:20 | Issue:3|Papers Count:8

After globalization and advances in information and communications, two conflicting schools of thought in connection with the role of the place and geography emerged: the first school of thought, led to the doctrine of geography and location death parallel to the cyber advances, with a view to the reducing importance of place and physical proximity due to the emergence of virtual interactions. But despite predictions, after 1980s, from the perspective of many such as Porter and new regionalists, globalization and technological changes caused more information and communication mechanism to promote the “place” position in organizing economic cycles. In their beliefs, doctrine of “death of geography” shortcomings would lead to the formation of another school of thought, under the title “the re - emergence of geography and the region”; based on the rationale that “face-to-face” interactions, in relation to virtual ones are more important and required in making trust necessary in economic relations. Moreover, human capital freedom from the place bonds after 1990 s, especially after the integrity of the national economies in the form of trade blocs, such as the European Union, raised the importance of location - based factors in economic growth more than before. Putting the concept of competitive advantage, with emphasis on decisive features of an activity unit, in completion of relative advantage paradigm’s shortcomings in the development literature, also attracted the attention of many economists and pundits in the area of business, to the issues related to the place. Accordingly, “regional competitiveness”, the concept which was only meaningful at the level of activity units for years as well as the countries, since mid-1990s entered in regional studies and spatial development planning dialogues. Unilateral and generalizing common approaches deficiencies in the extension of the answer to the questions in relation to the “nature of regional competitiveness” and either “the reason and drivers of this goal”, has led the research agenda ahead to developing “Iran’s integrated spatial development framework for regional competitiveness”. Hence aimed at containing full dimensions and various components affecting regional competitiveness, after identifying competitiveness drivers from different perspective by archival studies, finally with inductive method using structural equation modeling, the theoretical integrated competitiveness model would be befitted to the provincial areas of Iran. Fitted model indicates that the cognitive - cultural activities through a desire to be clustered are most effective drivers in achieving regional competitiveness in Iran. In regional competitiveness definition proposed in the following research, different from the definition raised from comprehensive study of Porter which is only focused on firms’ level and their businesses productivity, component of individuals (residents, entrepreneurs and tourists) alongside space components and firms ones would be consider. Based on the research findings sustainable competitiveness is the one aimed not only to increasing productivity but also the distribution of wealth and income; also contain the quality issues (quality of life, quality of goods and services, quality of manpower, etc.) and include sustainability and integrity in discussion. Consequently would be different with purely economic growth and performance concepts.

There are some evidences on Elamite seals that show Iranian people had enough knowledge to construct small dome on cylindrical spaces Like Silo in the third millennium BC. But the foundations of large dome over square spaces were formed in the Parthian period. Bazeh-Hur dome chamber with the corners of wood in Khorasan province is the most ancient dome from the Sasanian dynasty. Since the Sasanian period, the dome chambers have played an important role in the Persian architecture. Despite of the popularity of simple Arabic Mosques in the Islamic period, the dome chambers never been completely abandoned. Yazdkhast mosque from the early centuries of Islamic period is an example of this continuity. However, full-blown addition of the dome chamber to the mosque is done in the Seljuk dynasty era. Iranian architects in the first of the 11th century placed the Dome chamber in the heart of the Jame- mosque of Isfahan. They formed four-Iwan mosque as a common type, by putting Iwan in the four sides of the courtyard. During the period they add dome chambers to mosques in two main ways: 1. Addition of dome chamber to existing mosques by removing some cells in south prayer hall, such as Jame- mosque of Isfahan. 2. Constructing dome chambers as a basic core of the mosque and developing them in later periods by adding prayer halls, Iwan and courtyards, such as Jame-mosque of Boroojerd and Golpaygan. However, this achievement caused breaking the unified space of mosque and some functional conflicts. Developing of mosque in later periods focused on solving the problem. Generally, absorbing dome chamber in mosque plan was done in two ways: 3. Opening the surrounding walls: In this way architects tried to facilitate circulation by opening the surrounding walls, while maintaining the classical form of the dome chamber. The best example is Rahimkhan mosque from 19th century, in this case, the architects removed the lateral walls and the dome Chamber is positioned just on four stone columns. 4. Geometric expanse of the dome chamber: The Second way that cause fundamental change in the plan of dome chamber was Geometric expanse to the surrounding spaces. In these cases, separating of the dome chamber area from the prayer hall is hard. Mirchakhmagh mosque from the Timurid period is one of the first mosques that can be categorized in this type. The cruciform plan of the mosque extends the dome chamber's space to four sides and makes the boundaries blurred. In this case the dome chamber's space becomes dynamic for the first time. Through geometric and structural innovations, Iranian architects have succeeded to achieve a diverse and unified space and also introduced the Iranian type of the mosque. The findings of the research show that the spatial organization of Iranian mosques has been continuously under developing in spite of maintaining some principles. Iranian architects through getting out of the boundary of Arabic mosque and their attempting to solve the problem, open a new way for the next innovations and present variations of spatial composition.

Many cities and towns across the world have poured investment into improving and re-creating the urban public realm, in the redesign of plazas, streets and parks. These designs are intended to have a social impact by encouraging more active social life in urban public space. With the concern to bring back places lost vitality, recently, attention has been focused on the creation of cafe culture and developing outdoor cafes. In outdoor cafes Apart from drinking and relaxing, people enjoy a number of activities which derive from the public character of the setting: watching the world go by, being 'entertained by street life', bumping into people one knows, seeing and being seen and meeting strangers. This paper aims to investigate about the role of pavement cafes in urban regeneration and tries to probe into how these cafes can be used in order to revitalize functionally an urban place. Adopting an analytical-descriptive research method, the concepts of sidewalk cafes and their urban role is theoretically studied in this paper. After summarizing the views of leading researchers of this realm, "improving sense of attachment to place", "enhancing social interactions", "having economic benefits" and "increasing feeling of safety" are mentioned as physical, social and mental functions of outdoor cafes. The research for this article was conducted on Chahar Bagh Avenue in Isfahan. This case is the most important historical street of Iran which was built in safavid era by Shah Abbas as an recreational and commercial axis. Recently, regeneration of this street has become an important part of city development plans. With the concern to bring back this street lost character, most of proposals lay emphasis on rebuilding of street facades and pedestrainisation of it. Although these plans are affective and somehow essential, but they need lots of Infrastructure measures, and they are costly and time consuming. Consequently, taking into consideration of other solutions which are less expensive and time saving, seems indispensable. This paper puts forward the argument that developing sidewalk cafes and cafe culture could be considered as a Preliminary solution of regenerating Chahar Bagh Avenue, functionally. As a result, this paper carry out a study of all the factors that play a part as social, physical and mental restrictions of recreational activities in Chahar Bagh. Supporting evidences gathered by empirical examination of behavioral responses of people in this limited area. Observation and Structured and semi structured interviews were used to study deficiencies which limit users’ recreational activities on this street. Then through a descriptive-comparative approach this paper draws an analogy between the economic, social, environmental, physical-spatial, administrational and cultural dimensions of outdoor cafes and this street limitation as a recreational zone. This comparison establishes a connection between Chahar Bagh needs of social conditioning and what street cafes offer as social institutions. There for, this paper draws the conclusion that sidewalk cafes and cafe culture, in the absence of sufficient researches, proper decisions and governmental support, can be used in order to revitalize functionally Chahar Bagh Avenue.

An urban regeneration project is defined as a series of actions determined to accomplish urban regeneration aims that lead to reduce the problems of an area via improving the socioeconomic, physical and environmental conditions. Today, urban regeneration is one of key principles in act of planning and it is beyond the urban renewal, urban redevelopment or urban rehabilitation processes because of its longer-term and strategic approaches and its socioeconomic goals beside physical ones. The governance's policies show that urban tourism has been seen as an important tool to regenerate the cities has been faced declining. So, in this situation, urban tourism development can be the catalyst of radical changes in the city's economy. It means urban tourism often is applied for motivating economic regenerating in cities because the tourism can increasingly offer major employment. In many of famous cities around the world that are taken account as the main tourism center, in fact, their historical spaces and inner cities play as a center to attract tourists and city branding. Thus, improving and addressing to these spaces can be play a key role to develop local economic based on urban tourism. In Iran, there are a lot of old and historical cities in scale of medium and they often have many historical spaces. But, these spaces have been destroying due to negligence of them. Also, Amol city has similarly contained these problems. Amol's old fabric has several valuable potentials such as historical monuments, Straights-Markets, 12 Cheshme Bridge, Haraz River and etc. to develop tourism in order to sustainable development. In this article, it first was addressed to identify influence components on regeneration of Amol's old fabric based on urban tourism development and then, to present a theoretical framework of Tourism Development Strategy (TDS). The results of theoretical foundations are shown that the fundamental components for developing tourism include strategic components such as business, events, attractions, retail and culture; and components of infrastructures and amenities for supporting tourism such as public services and catering, transportation-accessibility and education-information. The background was provided for developing key TDSs by applying these components in form of the research conceptual model (TDS process), identifying them in Amol's old fabric and analyzing data using SWOTET technique (The acronym 'SWOTET' means Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats, Events and Trends). Thus, five key guidelines were formulated by key stakeholder's opinions and were prioritized by VIKOR method. Essences of strategies show that locational components (religious and historical attractions and hosting spaces of exhibitions and events), economical components (market and retail) and cultural components have most impact on tourism development in Amol's old fabric. Subsequently, the shared vision was formulated based on essences of three first key guidelines, and similarly, three scenarios that include leisure and business tourism, retail tourism and religious tourism were designed for interpreting the shared vision. The aims, strategies, policies and action plan were offered for each of the scenarios to be regenerated Amol's old fabric through tourism in long-term (Ten years).

Modern world faces a multitude of challenges regarding displacement including high fuel consumption, air pollution, congestion in streets, decrease in physical activities, insecurity of passers-by etc. most of which result from dependence on automobiles and the vehicle-stricken urban forms. Planners and public health officials are turning to land planning and urban design for help in reducing automobile use and related social and environmental costs. A growing number of empirical studies have contributed to the debate about the relationship between the built environment and pedestrian behavior.These studies found that residents living in traditional neighborhoods (characterized as high density, high accessibility, mixed land use, rectilinear street network, and so on) drive less and walk more than those living in suburban neighborhoods. The results of the some studies have been different and sometimes inconsistent and transferability of their primary findings to other countries has not been tested yet. Despite many studies in other countries, generally in Iran and particularly in Isfahan, this relation has not so far been investigated while new developments are incrementally emerging. In addition, the majority of previous studies ignore distinguishing between travel for utilitarian purpose and travel for its own sake while combination of these two types of travel is likely to lead to biased conclusion. Present research, which is a correlational study, aims to investigate the factors that affect travel behavior new urban development in Isfahan. In this regard, 5 new neighborhoods have been carefully selected. In fact, this study explores correlation between perceived built environment factors and two types of travels (travel to a certain destination/directed of travel and travel whit no particular destination in mind /undirected travel). Results show that, for directed travel, frequencies of trip by auto is significantly more than frequencies of trip by walking. While for undirected frequencies of trip by walking is more than frequencies of trip by auto. Also, results of negative binomial models, after controlling for attitudinal and sociodemographic factors, demonstrate that safety and accessibility negatively impact on directed driving and proximity, attractiveness of walking/cycling and accessibility positively impact on directed walking. For undirected travel, proximity and accessibility have negative association with frequencies of auto trips and safety has positive association with frequencies of walking trips. Finally accessibility may lead to the substitution of walking/biking for driving. the study offers a number of valuable insights into the relationship between the built environment and nonwork travel behavior. It shows that neighborhood characteristics are associated with individuals’ travel decisions, especially non-motorized travel frequency. mixed land uses tend to discourage auto travel and facilitate the use of non-motorized modes; the availability of walking/biking infrastructures are important predictors for non-motorized travel; and walking/biking behavior is also affected by the aesthetic quality and social context of the built environment. All these associations are present even after accounting for the influences of scio-economic and travel attitudes. Therefore, although this study does not definitely confirm causality between the built environment and travel behavior, it strongly suggests that the built environment itself influences individuals’ travel behavior.

Many of urban designer in order to describe functions of urban spaces, specially, streets, in a voluntaristice and formalistic point of view or on psychological aspect on human life in the Town and cities. This issue for several decades was core of debates and many have been written about it. for examples: le courbousier (1951), Gordon Cullen (1959) Kevin lynch (1961), Wictor Gruen, Lewis Mumford (1961), Jan Jacobs (1961), François Choay (1961), Melvin weber (1967), Edmond Bacon (1973), Amos Rappaport (1977, 1975), Edward Krupat (1985) Caroline Francois (1988), David Herbert (1981, 1991) Ian Bentley (1999) Ian Gahl, Michel south worth, and many others. But recent studies have Shown that: 1) formalism is predominated in Analysis and design of urban space and content of cities and Town have been neglected. 2) Social and Economic context and their impact in process of change and inner potential of cities also have been neglected. 3) overstress on Psychology caused that mechanism of evolution is not considered in such studies. This article is concentrated about the relation between contextual process of cities and functional aspect of its central spaces, suggests that: essentially, functions of central spaces of cities, including central streets, in many aspects, reflects the process, forces and potential of towns and cities which organized in spaces and might become a force for changing the cities. so, the question is how urban spaces, spatially at city center, streets on central represent needs of social forces and how factors of urban process represents in place. And elements of it organized in representational space. Thus aim of this article is explaining the process of urbanization and urbanism, Historical forces of town due to this inner potential, in changing the function of central streets, explaining dimension of this process and the way the functions established in spaces. The hypothesis of article therefore is that the streets of city central are representation of what each cities has in it potentiality to change. The method of research, in research goals point of view is applied method and is concentrating on systematical – historical analysis in methodology based on Elias approach on analyzing civilization and its process and on empirical – causality methods using measure of distributions of activities which is subsystem of spatial – statistical tools group. The case study of this research is Hashtgerd and Imam Komeini Street in that. Finding of research show that Hashtgerd have been changed after revolution in Iran. City center in Hashtgerd in recent years is changed and streets are transforming to livable space. Change in this city is due to formation and grows worker class and medium class, diversity of Ethical, religious and national groups and their presence in town management and municipality. Change in space mutually becomes a force for developing city. Tow of neighborhoods which was Ghetto and called TorkAbad and KordAban transformed to neighborhoods that are very livable. This development is not result of planning and designing.

Recently, increased growth of the population and insufficiency of infrastructures have expedited vertical development of cities, with the outcome of which being residence in such High-Rise complexes and creation of spiritless, dull masses which lack the prerequisites of making a permanent relationship with their residents, provoke high-level alienations, and dilute one’s attachment to his/her living environment. Whatever in the planning and design of residential complexes what has received little attention, is the principles and criteria for environmental quality and its impact on citizens' positive assessment on the status of their homes. Outcome of this neglect, was the formation of large masses of cold and bland buildings which lack the necessary conditions for a lasting relationship with its inhabitants and reduce the sense of attachment to their environment. On the other hand, attachment sense is key factor in creating sustainable urban spaces, creating a sense of identity and participation and social interaction. The aim of this study is to explain the relationship between quality criteria of residential environment and sense of attachment in high-rise residential complexes. So, we tried to explain the relationship of these criteria with residents' attachment sense by identifying quality criteria of living environment in the high-rise complexes. Therefore, an investigation of different approaches to living environment quality was carried out in order to identify environment quality criteria in high-Rise Residential complexes. By examining various, environmental quality criteria in high-rise residential complexes have been studied, and these criteria were presented in two levels of complex environment quality and residential environment quality due to the nature of High-Rise residential complexes. Consequently, in order to achieve the objectives of the research, theories of belonging to place were examined. Tehran-based Kowsar Township was evaluated as possessing High-Rise residential complex in order to affirm theoretical fundamentals of the research, and by distributing 380 questionnaires, the required data was collected. After Confirmatory factor analysis on the data, environment quality of township was calculated and determined that residential environment quality in Kowsar Township is in good condition. Then, 8 factors with Eigenvector more than 1 was extracted. after naming them, the factors 'town management, facilities and services, environmental variables, security and safety, residential environment facilities, costs and attachment sense' as criteria of residential environment quality in high-rise residential complexes were determined, and the model obtained was confirmed by theoretical foundations. Also attachment sense of residents determined and shown that is in good condition. In addition, the relationship between criteria obtained and the attachment sense were studied with Pearson correlation coefficients, this indicates that an increase in satisfaction from the quality of the environment of residents living in high-rise residential complex habitat may also increase their sense of belonging. Pearson correlation coefficient also showed that all the criteria of residential environment in the High-rise residential complexes have a significant effect on the attachment sense of residents, and it was shown that among them, the management of the town has the most impact on the attachment sense of residents of high-rise residential complexes.

Decreasing qualitative aspects of residential environments is a real problem in residential complexes of Iran. Thinking about living space is related to different factors. Analyzing the factors that shape residential space, help us to find out a comprehensive knowledge about this type of buildings. There are many principles which used to design residential complexes. Researchers don’t limit their studies about a housing unit. They talk about neighborhood, district, life style, urban space, culture and behavior of inhabitants, access to services and so on. They use qualitative or quantitative methods to analyze. In order to create satisfied environments, planners, designers, and policy makers need to understand the structures that cause residents to feel satisfied with their environments. This article is concentrated on the functionality of residential complexes; especially the complexes which is built through Mehr housing scheme. The article tries to evaluate different indictors that determine functionality of an apartment. Mehr housing scheme is a widespread scheme to provide house for low income people. Though the apartments –which is built through this scheme- are small apartments (about 70 m2). Through this scheme about one million and seven hundred thousand apartments built throughout the country of Iran. The scheme aimed to help the low income people to invest in affordable housing and use low interest bank loans. There are many researches about Mehr housing schema. These researches and articles shows inhabitants are not satisfied qualitative aspects of residential environments. Analyzing and assessment the functionality of residential complexes shows the satisfaction level of inhabitants. Case study of this research is Ghadir project (which has about 50000 apartments), that is built in different cities: Golbahar, Ramshar, Parand, Ramin, Sahand, Hashtgerd, and Pardis (all of them are new towns around the metropolises of Iran). For this project more than 30 types of apartments are designed. This article classified them in 10 classes. We use a questionnaire to ask expert’s view about these plans. The questionnaire contains six parts: functionality of living room, functionality of bed room, functionality of kitchen, functionality of bathroom and WC, functionality of entrance, and the last part is about the totality of apartments. To assess each part we use several indicators. Through the questionnaire eighteen indicators asked from experts designers (Professors and professional architects. Analyzing the questionnaires shows that some of indicators have more correlation with the satisfaction level of inhabitants of the apartments. Geometry of plan (the situation of each space and the relation with other spaces) has highest correlation. Functionality of living room has the second highest correlation with the satisfaction level of inhabitants of the apartments. The other indicator that has high correlation is the situation of bathroom and WC. At the end, this article tries to give us some solutions to elevate each indicator. Forty eight solutions (such as solution that help designers to control dimensions of spaces) are offered for ten principle indicators. They help architects to design residential complexes in which people feels better and be more satisfied.