A Interpretive Study of the Physical Transformation of Contemporary Public Spaces and Its Impact on the Quality of Social Interactions in Selected Areas of Tehran

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original article

Authors

1 Department of Urban Planning,Ara.C., Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran.

2 Department of Architecture & Urban Planning, Ta.C., Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran

3 Department of Architecture & Urban Planning, Ilk.C., Islamic Azad University, Ilkhchi, Iran.

Abstract

Introduction: Public spaces, as the main platform for the formation of urban life, play a decisive role in the quality of citizens' interactions and social bonds. In recent decades, physical transformations resulting from modern planning and rapid urban development, often without considering socio-cultural dimensions, have led to a fundamental change in the essence of these spaces. These changes have affected their potential to strengthen social interactions, sense of place attachment, and social capital. In recent decades, a devastating paradox has occurred in the urban development of Tehran (and many metropolises around the world): on one hand, the symbolic and economic importance of public space is increasingly emphasized, and on the other hand, its social and cultural nature is being destroyed in the gears of modern urban planning and speculative urbanism. Prioritizing traffic efficiency at the expense of destroying sidewalks and gathering spaces, giving priority to symbols of development. at the cost of ignoring the human scale, and turning multi-purpose spaces into uniform, controlled commercial products are just a few examples of this trend. These transformations, which often lack historical sensitivity and are indifferent to local wisdom, gradually erase collective memory from spaces, turning them into rootless, defenseless, and passive places. This research was conducted with the aim of studying the physical transformation of public spaces and its impact on the quality of social interactions in selected areas of Tehran.
Materials and Methods: The present study is applied in terms of purpose and qualitative in terms of method. The statistical population of the qualitative section includes experts and specialists in fields related to urban collective spaces (such as urban planning, architecture, urban design, urban sociology, and urban management). A purposive snowball sampling method was employed for participant selection, whereby initially a number of recognized experts were identified and interviewed, and then, through their referrals, other qualified individuals were added to the sample. Data collection continued based on the principle of theoretical saturation; after conducting 10 interviews, no new data emerged, and theoretical saturation was achieved. Consequently, the interview process was halted at this stage. The collected data were then analyzed using MAXQDA qualitative data analysis software.
Results and Discussion: Analysis of the findings indicates that a total of 474 conceptual codes were extracted from the interview data through coding. These codes were organized during the analysis process into 6 main categories and 18 subcategories. Based on frequency and importance, the most significant main categories identified, in order, are: factors affecting transformation (24.7%), physical-spatial transformations (22.8%), and strategies and solutions (18.6%) of the total extracted codes. To ensure the reliability of the coding process, Cohen's Kappa coefficient was calculated, yielding a value of 0.81. This value indicates a high level of agreement among coders and suitable reliability of the qualitative data. Furthermore, using network analysis, key nodes influencing the studied system were identified. The results showed that political-managerial factors, with 31 references and 5 connections, act as the central and pivotal node. On the other hand, transformations during the Pahlavi period, with 42 references, were identified as the most significant historical key node, having the greatest impact on shaping the current situation. Regarding solutions, out of 17 identified strategies, the analysis results determined that 9 strategies fall into the very high priority group. These strategies primarily focus on categories such as community-based regeneration, revitalizing human scale, enhancing walkability, and increasing citizen participation, and should be placed at the forefront of future actions.
Conclusion: The results of the research indicate that public spaces are not neutral backgrounds, but rather play a decisive and dynamic role in the quality and quantity of communications and social bonds among citizens in the selected areas of Tehran. Public spaces should be recognized as living and dynamic arenas that enable diverse interactions, dialogue among different groups, and the formation of a collective identity, which requires a fundamental review and redesign with this approach

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References

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