The role of biophilic urban landscape on the psychological behavior of citizens (case study: Mehrshahr Karaj)

Subject Areas : َArchitecture

Zahra Golchin ¹ , Mahdi Zandieh ² , Akram Khalili ³

1 - Phd Student, Department of Architecture, No.C, Islamic Azad University, Noor, Iran
2 - Department of Architecture, Imam Khomeini International University, Qazvin, Iran
3 - Department of Architecture, No.C, Islamic Azad University, Noor, Iran

Received: 2025-01-23 Accepted : 2025-05-05 Published : 2025-09-21

Keywords: Landscape, Urban Landscape, Biophilic, Psychological Behavior, Mehrshahr, Karaj,

Abstract :

Nowadays, attention to urban landscapes has become crucial, as neglecting the harmonious coexistence between humans and nature and failing to implement biophilic strategies has resulted in inadequate responses to citizens’ psychological needs and behaviors. The importance of nature in human life can serve as a means to induce mental and emotional relaxation and well-being for citizens. Therefore, the aim of this study is to examine the role of biophilic urban landscapes in influencing the psychological behaviors of citizens in Mehrshahr, Karaj. The research question is: What is the role of biophilic urban landscapes in affecting the psychological behaviors of citizens in Mehrshahr, Karaj?The research employed a mixed-methods approach combining qualitative and quantitative methods, using semi-structured interviews and questionnaires for data collection. The statistical population consisted of 357 citizens of Mehrshahr, Karaj, and 10 experts in the field, from whom a purposive sample was selected. Data analysis was performed using MAXQDA software, the one-sample t-test, and the Friedman test.The results indicated that the biophilic urban landscape, considering its three components—natural analogs, spatial characteristics, and the presence of nature in space—is in an unfavorable condition in Mehrshahr, Karaj. From the experts’ perspective, among the three components, the natural analogs component, particularly green walls and rooftops, has a greater impact on reducing citizens’ fear and stress and enhancing their psychological well-being.Overall, considering the components of biophilic urban landscapes can guide urban landscape designers in aligning with citizens’ behaviors and even their interactive and behavioral responses in a process consistent with biophilic urban landscapes. In this process, identifying components prior to the design and construction of biophilic urban landscapes, according to users and the nature of these spaces, may involve different details. Identifying these factors in collaboration with biophilic urban designers, managers, and planners can improve the quality of these spaces and enhance the psychological behaviors of citizens.

 

Extended Abstract

 

Introduction

Biophilic urban landscape, as the first phenomenon that the observer encounters and understands when stepping into the city, plays an important role in the behavior and cognition of the city's people. In a way, biophilic urban landscape, due to its attention to the nature and essence of nature, deals with the interaction between humans and nature and shapes psychological behaviors in its urban environment. Unfortunately, today, in Iranian cities, this issue has not been considered by designers, managers, and planners. therefore, the psychological behaviors of citizens have also faced problems. Nevertheless, attention to biophilic principles and strategies in the urban landscape of cities around the world has long been considered in order to reduce environmental pollution and improve climate performance in cities. Now, on this basis, it can be stated that in the biophilic urban landscape, only natural processes are effective and present, and therefore these natural processes have induced the biophilic design to the city (Beatley, 2016:262) and through this, they can address the connection and interaction of humans with nature and the ecosystem and have a significant impact on the behavior and psychological actions of citizens. Therefore, the purpose of the present study is to investigate the role of biophilic urban landscape on the psychological behaviors of citizens in Mehrshahr, Karaj. The questions of this study are as follows:What is the role of biophilic urban landscape on the psychological behaviors of citizens in Mehrshahr, Karaj? And What effect do biophilic urban landscape criteria have on the psychological behavior of citizens of Mehrshahr, Karaj through the natural analog component?. In order to answer the research questions, the following hypotheses were formed: It is established that biophilic urban landscapes affect the psychological behavior of citizens, and by applying its components, a positive effect can be had on the psychological behaviors of citizens of Mehrshahr, Karaj. And It is assumed that biophilic urban landscape criteria, such as the natural analog component, have greater effects on the psychological behavior of citizens of Mehrshahr, Karaj, than other components of the biophilic urban landscape.

 

Methodology

In the present study, for the role of biophilic urban landscape on the psychological behaviors of citizens in Mehrshahr, Karaj, it is important to use methods based on a combination of research paradigms. Because despite the complex nature of these areas, it is not possible to be satisfied with using only one quantitative or qualitative method and achieve sufficient knowledge of certain situations. Therefore, the use of a combined research method is necessary. Hence, the research method is qualitative-quantitative of the descriptive-analytical type and in terms of research method, content analysis. The method of collecting information is field studies in addition to library studies. In addition, the data collection tool, in addition to taking notes from first-hand and second-hand written sources, was a semi-structured interview with systematic coding using Max Quda software (2020). At the end of the qualitative phase of the research and after coding the data, the major categories were linked to each other in the form of a paradigmatic model around the core category. The Friedman test and the T-test were also used. In order to ensure the normality of the questionnaire data, the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used to measure the main components of the biophilic urban landscape strategy from the perspective of "Klert, 2008". Also, the validity of the questionnaire was measured using the content validity method and its reliability using the Cronbach's alpha method. The Cronbach's alpha for all questions in the questionnaire was 0.86.

 

Results and discussion

Qualitative findings showed that In this research, Natural analog factors have a greater impact on the psychological behavior of citizens (reducing fear, stress, feeling of security and behavioral actions). These factors are based on the theoretical foundations of urban and biophilic landscape and the analyses conducted in the research. Based on the analysis of the interviews conducted, it was determined that one of the main factors influencing the biophilic urban landscape on the psychological behavior of citizens of Mehrshahr Karaj is this factor, which affects behavioral action and even the perception of citizens and can somehow provide them with mental comfort and physical and mental health. However, in Mehrshahr Karaj, this factor, along with other factors such as activity in the city space in line with the perception and behavior of citizens, as well as the factors of the nature of the space and the nature of the space, is not in a favorable situation. In this regard, it is important to mention that the use of natural analogs is an aspect of urban landscape and space that can also contain the natural components of space, and the direction of the urban landscape in urban spaces, as well as the use of greater continuity in the built and natural environment of Mehrshahr, Karaj, in order to improve the behaviors and actions of citizens, can lead to the sustainability of the biophilic urban landscape.

 

Conclusion

The present study, which examined the role of biophilic urban landscape on the psychological behaviors of citizens in Mehrshahr, Karaj, examined the results of interviews and analyzed them in Max Quda software, showing that the biophilic urban landscape in Mehrshahr, Karaj has three main components and seventeen sub-components.The main components of the biophilic urban landscape in Mehrshahr, Karaj include the nature of space component, natural analogs, and the nature of space. In this regard, human activity and his perceptions and behavior in the man-made environment, or urban space, are more shaped by the natural analogs component, and in the meantime, creating green space on a low-slope roof, material connection with nature, biomorphic shapes and patterns, green walls and green roofs, and fractal and natural forms, geometry, and patterns have an integrated function in the structure of the biophilic urban landscape of Mehrshahr, Karaj, and in a way, they consider the use of nature essential and important. Therefore, the first component and in a way the most important component of the biophilic urban landscape in Mehrshahr is Karaj, which affects the other two mentioned components (nature of space and nature of space). In addition, this research revealed that the psychological behavior of citizens is primarily affected by the factors of natural analogues in the biophilic urban landscape, the nature of space, and the nature of space, respectively; and therefore, the priority of these factors should be given importance in the urban landscape to approach the biophilic urban landscape.

 

 

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