Evaluation of physical-conceptual factors on the quality of collective life in public space(Case study: The Shohada Square Of Mashhad)

Subject Areas :

Elham Kaviani ¹ , Khosrow Afzalian ² , Mohammad KHosro Sahaf ³ , seyyed Moslem Seyedolhosseini ⁴

1 - Department of Architecture Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran
2 - Department of Architecture,, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran
3 - Department of Architecture Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran
4 - Department of Urban Planning, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran

Received: 2021-11-09 Accepted : 2022-05-12 Published : 2025-01-24

Keywords: "Physical factors", "Conceptual factors", "Quality of collective life", "Public space",

Abstract :

Most of the collective spaces today, under the influence of the modernist approach of the last 70 years, have undergone identity-historical and social changes and have created unpredictable spaces. Mashhad Martyrs' Square, as one of the most important public and public spaces in the history of this city, has witnessed fundamental changes in shape and function in recent years.
This study has been carried out with the aim of investigating the effect of these physical changes on the life style of people and their feelings towards the changes in this square.
To answer the question of whether the changes in the square have met the demands and needs of the public space or not, this research has used a qualitative and quantitative method. In the qualitative method, using an open-ended questionnaire, through thematic analysis steps, 18 components were identified based on the research background and were divided into five factors of environmental performance, activities, environmental quality, environmental meaning and physical characteristics. In the quantitative method, based on the frequency of data, coding was performed and then the RII index was used for ranking.
The ranking results show that symbolic and memorial factors are the most important factors affecting the quality of daily life of the Martyrs' Square space, but in terms of providing the characteristics of spatial diversity and organization of activities, is not in a good position. In fact, the most important factor in identifying this space is its proximity to the holy shrine of Razavi, and physical changes have reduced the efficiency of the space. The size and scope of this square only responds to occasional, formal events and political gatherings, while it lacks the necessary characteristics for people to spend their daily life of individuals as a collective space.

Extended Abstract

 

Introduction

 

Nowadays, most collective spaces have been influenced by the modernist approach of the last 70 years and have undergone identity-historical and social changes, and created unpredictable spaces. These spaces have become soulless spaces due to the disappearance of the connection of people in the public space, and turning these spaces into traffic points, or their essential change to spaces only for holding ceremonies, and ordinary annual events or holding special political ceremonies. In recent years, the Shohada square of Mashhad, as one of the most important public spaces in this city, has witnessed fundamental changes in shape and performance. This study has been carried out with the aim of investigating the effect of these physical changes on the life style of people and their feelings towards the changes in this square.

 

Methodology

This study has used a qualitative method and so two parts independent of the quantitative method to answer the question of whether the changes in the field have met the demands and needs of the public space or not. In the first part, which is based on a quantitative method, first, questions based on 12 quality criteria of space viability, were considered, and the answers were evaluated based on the Likert scale and ranked using the Shannon technique to determine for which activities the Shohada square has been prepared.

Then, 18 components were identified through thematic analysis steps based on the research background in the qualitative method using an open-ended question and placed in five indicators of environmental performance, activities, environmental quality, meaning of the environment and physical characteristics. The mean t-test of a single sample, which is a statistical test based on the assumption of normality of the data, was used to compare the levels of the questionnaire with the average value described in the text. In the second part of the quantitative method, the coding was done based on the frequency of data, and then the RII index was used for ranking.

 

Results and discussion

According to the ranking of components, the three factors of "preservation of the old municipal building", "installation of martyrs' memorial" and "the impact of square renovation on the improvement of the old texture" have played an effective role in maintaining or improving the quality of space. The level of activities of people in Shohada Square shows that this space provides users with an appropriate level of ability to stand and walk, as well as its security has an acceptable share in the face of crime and violence. But it does not create a sense of satisfaction in the audience in terms of physical characteristics of aesthetics, and lacks appropriate facilities for social interaction. Therefore, symbolic and memorial factors are the most important factors affecting the quality of daily life of the Martyrs' Square space, but it is not in the right place in terms of providing the characteristics of spatial diversity and organizing activities.

 

Conclusion

The most important factor in the identity of Shohada Square is its proximity to the holy shrine of Razavi. Physical changes have reduced the efficiency of space. The size and scope of this square only responds to occasional, formal events and political gatherings, while it lacks the necessary features to carry out the daily life of individuals as a collective space. According to the results of this study, although the lack of spaces with physical qualities is felt in Mashhad, focusing only on physical features, create an incomplete image of understanding the environment and its relationship, while physical qualities compared to semantic variables, have more operational capabilities in operationalizing urban planning, because the perception of environmental factors has a significant impact on activities and emotions.

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