Study of Urban Vitality based on Jacobs's theory and its adaptation to Shiraz Municipality District 6

Subject Areas :

farhad omidvar ¹ , Esmaeil Shieh ² , Atefeh Dehghan Tooran Poshti ³

1 - Ph.D. Student in urban planning, Department of urban planning, West Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
2 - Professor, Faculty of Art and Architecture, Islamic Azad University, Tehran West Branch, Tehran, Iran.
3 - Associate Professor, Faculty of Art and Architecture, Islamic Azad University, Tehran West Branch, Tehran, Iran.

Received: 2022-01-31 Accepted : 2022-08-24 Published : 2024-02-20

Keywords: urban vitality, Jacobs theory of diversity, District 6 of Shiraz Municipality,

Abstract :

Jane Jacobs's quest for urban vitality has had an undoubted impact on researchers and urban planners, yet her theory has received little attention in many parts of the world. Where Jacobs's principles for urban vitality fit well with the traditional features of these urban settlements. Even if their core nature has been gradually challenged under the pattern of modernity. Numerous studies have been conducted in the past few years with the aim of experimentally testing Jacobs's ideas. In this study, we examined urban vitality in District 6 of Shiraz Municipality from Jacobs's point of view. Urban vitality analysis in the form of a systemic approach allows spatial interpretation of the study area. The results were determined in 4 groups (high vitality, moderate vitality, low vitality and no vitality) using grouping method and k-means algorithm.
Extended Abstract
Introduction
Urban vitality means that the city provides a safe place for its residents to live and can provide all the necessary activities for them. Since the 1950s, the study of urban space has become more accurate. One of these theories is Jane Jacobs's theory of diversity.
Methodology
In order to study Jane Jacobs' ideas about urban vitality from a practical point of view, six conditions have been considered: concentration, diversity, contact opportunity, the need for aged buildings, accessibility and border vacuums. These 6 conditions can be extracted based on 11 observable variables and the JANE index can be created. After collecting all the variables and fixing the problems in the data, the variables were examined at the block level. In order to integrate the 11 original variables to their corresponding urban vitality conditions, we have created six scores. Lastly, in order to facilitate the analysis and interpretation of the spatial distribution of JANE results, four categories have been identified based on the Grouping Analysis tool available in ESRI ArcGIS 10.5.
Results and discussion
Concentration and Diversity go hand-by-hand in Jane Jacobs’ arguments on urban vitality. High levels of concentration are found in areas where building density, housing, and population overlap. This is especially evident on both sides of MaliAbad Street. In addition to this axis, the concentration can be seen in the area of the old neighborhood of Qasrdasht. MaliAbad Street and the old Qasrdasht neighborhood also scored the highest points in other indicators.
we have synthesized the five conditions of urban vitality in the JANE Index. Higher values of this index correspond to areas that are more likely to nest vibrant street life.
Conclusion
The results show that in fact, a small part of District 6 of Shiraz Municipality; It has high vitality (2.5%) and medium vitality (17.5%). Meanwhile, a significant share of the territory of Shiraz Municipality District 6 in this study is classified in the group of low vitality (36%) and lack of vitality (44%).

References:

References

1. Ahmadi, A. (2014). An investigation into the status of the vitality of distressed area and providing solution for improving: A case study of Shiva Neighborhood, Tehran. HAFTSHAHR, 4(47, 48), 85-96. [In Persian].


2. Akhavan, A., Salehi, E., & Toghyani, S. (2018). Evaluating the Effect of Environmental-Physical Factors on the Livability and Quality of Urban Streets (Case Study: Nader and Enghelab Streets in Sari City). Geography and Environmental Sustainability, 8(2), 15-29. [In Persian].


3. Alipour Esfahani, M., Zamani, B., & Shahivandi, A. (2018). Compiling components affecting the quality of social vitality in streets (Case study: historic street of Sepah, Isfahan). Maremat-E Asar & Baft-haye Tarikhi-Farhangi, 8(15), 119-135. [In Persian].


4. Arranz-López, A., Soria-Lara, J. A., López-Escolano, C., & Campos, Á. P. (2017). Retail Mobility Environments: A methodological framework for integrating retail activity and non-motorised accessibility in Zaragoza, Spain. Journal of transport geography, 58, 92-103.


5. Arvin, M., Faraji, A., & Ghane, M. (2018). Evaluation of the Dimensions of Vitality of Urban Walkways from Point of View of Citizens (Case of study: Rasht Cultural Walkway). Community Development (Rural and Urban Communities), 10(2), 253-276. [In Persian].


6. Asadi, A., Mododi, M., & Hossein Abadi, S. (2020). The relation between urban vitality and sense of place attachment (Case study: Qaen city). Research and urban planning, 11(40), 17-30. [In Persian].


7. Azemati, S., Mozaffar, F., Hosseini, S. B., & Saleh Sedghpour, B. (2017). University-Based Design Principles of Open Spaces Creative Vitality and Social Interaction. Journal of Research in Educational Science, 11(37), 179-200. [In Persian].


8. Bahaghighat Mangoodehi, H., & Parvizi, R., & Karimi Azari, A., & Namazi Jokandan, S. (2015). Evaluation of The Impact On the Vitality of Citizens in Neighborhoods Old Architectural Elements Native Rasht (Case Study: Neighborhood Sagharisazan). Urban Management, 14(40), 269-284. [In Persian].


9. Bakhtiarimanesh, E., & Bakhtiarimanesh, M. (2021). Examining the role of physical factors in Nobahar street’s livelihood in Kermanshah according to the users’ opinions of the space. Armanshahr Architecture & Urban Development, 14(34), 47-64.


10. Delclos-Alio, X. & Miralles-Guasch, C. (2018). Looking at Barcelona through Jain Jacobs eyes: Mapping the basic condition for urban vitality in Mediterranean conurbation, Land Use Policy, 75, 505-517.


11. Frank, L. D., Sallis, J. F., Saelens, B. E., Leary, L., Cain, K., Conway, T. L., & Hess, P. M. (2010). The development of a walkability index: application to the Neighborhood Quality of Life Study. British journal of sports medicine, 44(13), 924-933.


12. Fuentes, L., Miralles-Guasch, C., Truffello, R., Delclòs-Alió, X., Flores, M., & Rodríguez, S. (2020). Santiago de Chile through the eyes of Jane Jacobs. Analysis of the conditions for urban vitality in a Latin American metropolis. Land, 9(12), 1-17.


13. Gómez-Varo, I., Delclòs-Alió, X., & Miralles-Guasch, C. (2022). Jane Jacobs reloaded: A contemporary operationalization of urban vitality in a district in Barcelona. Cities, 123, 103565.


14. Gordon, P., & Ikeda, S. (2011). Does density matter? In Handbook of creative cities. Edward Elgar Publishing.


15. Grant, J. (2002). Mixed use in theory and practice: Canadian experience with implementing a planning principle. Journal of the American planning association, 68(1), 71-84.


16. Grant, J. L. (2017). Time, scale, and control: How new urbanism mis (uses) Jane Jacobs. In Reconsidering Jane Jacobs (pp. 91-176). Routledge.


17. Gullón, P., Bilal, U., Cebrecos, A., Badland, H. M., Galán, I., & Franco, M. (2017). Intersection of neighborhood dynamics and socioeconomic status in small-area walkability: The Heart Healthy Hoods project. International Journal of Health Geographics, 16(1), 1-9.


18. Habibi, K., Nastarn, M., & Mohammadi, M. (2016). Measuring and evaluating the vitality of urban public spaces and its role in improving the quality of life of young people. Geography and territorial spatial arrangement, 6(19), 161-179.


19. Hedayat nejad kashi, S. M., Hadyani, Z., Hajinezhad, A., & Asgari, A. (2019). Interdisciplinary Conceptual Urban Vitality (Examining Principles, Dimensions and Indicators). Urban Structure and Function Studies, 6(20), 75-103.


20. Hirt, S. A. (2016). Rooting out mixed use: Revisiting the original rationales. Land Use Policy, 50, 134-147.


21. Izadi, S., & Nikookhooy, M., & Samavati, S. (2012). Investigating The Role of Variables in Enhancing the Vibrancy of Urban Streets: The Case of Buali Sina Street in Hamedan. Geographical Journal of Tourism Space, 1(3), 103-118.


22. Jacobs, J., (1961). The Death and Life of Great American Cities, 1st ed. Vintage Books, New York.


23. Kang, C. D. (2016). Spatial access to pedestrians and retail sales in Seoul, Korea. Habitat international, 57, 110-120.


24. Karimi Dehkordi, F., & Abdollahi, A. A. (2017). Creating pedestrians to enhance alacrity and vitality in urban spaces (Case Study: Mellat Street, Shahr-e-Kord, between the 21th Muharram Square and Bazaar). Spatial Planning, 7(1), 81-100. [In Persian].


25. King, K. (2013). Jane Jacobs and ‘the need for aged buildings’: Neighbourhood historical development pace and community social relations. Urban Studies, 50(12), 2407-2424.


26. Klemek, C. (2007). Placing Jane Jacobs within the transatlantic urban conversation. American Planning Association. Journal of the American Planning Association, 73(1), 49.


27. Laurence, P. L. (2006). The death and life of urban design: Jane Jacobs, The Rockefeller Foundation and the new research in urbanism, 1955–1965. Journal of Urban Design, 11(2), 145-172.


28. Llewelyn-Davies. (2000). Urban Design compendium, English partnership and the housing.


29. Mardani, S. F. (2018). Public spaces liveliness indebted to Commercial function* Case studies are the cities of Marrakesh and Meknes. Journal of Art and Civilization of the Orient, 6(20), 13-20.


30. Mikaeili Hache Sou, G., & Azar, A. (2017). Comparative evaluation of urban vitality in Gated residential complexes and traditional neighborhoods: Case Study Charandab neighborhood and Aseman exclusive residential complex. Geography (Regional Planning), 7(4), 269-284.


31. Moore, T. W., & Dixon, R. W. (2015). A Spatiotemporal Analysis and Description of Hurricane Ivan's (2004) Tornado Clusters. Papers in Applied Geography, 1(2), 192-196.


32. Mortazi Mehrbani, e., & mansouri, s., & javadi, s. (2018). Landscape approach in creating vitality in Valiasr avenue an emphasis on creating the sense of place a case study of Valiasr avenue (the distance between vanak square and parkway intersection). Bagh-e Nazar, 14(55), 5-18.


33. Noghsan mohammadi, M., & dehghan, F. (2014). Ecocentrism in the design of urban leisure time spaces in iran, a comparative study of dimensions and components of liveliness in qiyam and dahom-e farvaradin streets at yazd city. Journal of studies on iranian islamic city, 4(16), 55-69.


34. Peiravian, F., Derrible, S., & Ijaz, F. (2014). Development and application of the Pedestrian Environment Index (PEI). Journal of Transport Geography, 39, 73-84.


35. Sedaghati, A., & Farsi, J. (2016). Vitality Spectrography in Urban Textures and Neighborhoods by Integrating Sustainable Development, Smart Growth and New Urbanism Approaches and Use of Electre Model (Case study: Marvdasht’s neighborhoods). Geography and Development Iranian Journal, 14(44), 229-254.


36. Shahbazi, M., yeganeh, M., & Bemanian, M. (2019). Screening of environmental vitality factors in open spaces of residential complexes in Tehran city using fuzzy technique. Urban management, 18(54), 147-168.


37. Shahbazi, M., Yeganeh, M., & Bemanian, M. (2020a). Meta-analysis of environmental vitality factors in open spaces. Motaleate Shahri, 9(34), 61-76.


38. Shahbazi, M., Yeganeh, M., & Bemanian, M. R. (2020b). Identifying the Physical-Spatial Factors Affecting Environmental Vitality of Open Spaces within Residential Complexes from the Views of Designers and Residents; Case Study: Residential Complexes of Tehran. Armanshahr Architecture & Urban Development, 13(30), 117-137.


39. Sung, H., & Lee, S. (2015). Residential built environment and walking activity: Empirical evidence of Jane Jacobs’ urban vitality. Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment, 41, 318-329.


40. Sung, H., Lee, S., & Cheon, S. (2015). Operationalizing jane Jacobs's urban design theory: Empirical verification from the great city of Seoul, korea. Journal of Planning Education and research, 35(2), 117-130.


41. Tabibian, M., & Mousavi, M. J. (2017). Investigation of Beautification and Improvement of Environmental Quality effect on the Urban Vitality” Case Study: Maragheh Historical Garden City. Armanshahr Architecture & Urban Development, 9(17), 249-262.


42. Tahmasebi, F., Nazmfar, H., Ghanbari, A., & Rezaeinia, H. (2020). Evaluation and Analysis of Urban Vitality Criteria Preferences Case Study: Valiasr St., Tehran. Sustainable city, 3(1), 1-18.


43. Talen, E. (2013). Contradiction and Consensus in American Urbanism. Architectoni. ca, 2, 23-29.


44. Tolou del, M., & sadat, S. (2017). The factors contributing to the livability of inhabitants of residential spaces. Journal of sustainable architecture and urban design, 5(1), 47-60.


45. Wendt, M. (2009). The importance of death and life of great American cities (1961) by Jane Jacobs to the profession of urban planning. New Visions for Public Affairs, 1, 1-24.


46. Wey, W. M., & Chiu, Y. H. (2013). Assessing the walkability of pedestrian environment under the transit-oriented development. Habitat International, 38, 106-118.


47. Ye, Y., Li, D., & Liu, X. (2018). How block density and typology affect urban vitality: An exploratory analysis in Shenzhen, China. Urban Geography, 39(4), 631-652.


48. Yue, W., Chen, Y., Zhang, Q., & Liu, Y. (2019). Spatial explicit assessment of urban vitality using multi-source data: A case of Shanghai, China. Sustainability, 11(3), 638