Conceptual Model of Interconnected Dimensions of the Creative City of Tabriz A Systematic Approach to Creative Urban Planning

Subject Areas :

heydar beheshtiasl ¹ , Karim Hosseinzadeh Dalir ² , Morteza Mirgholami ³

1 - PhD student
2 - Department of Urban Planning, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
3 - Department of Urban Planning, Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning, Islamic Art University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran

Received: 2025-07-25 Accepted : 2025-08-28 Published : 2025-12-14

Keywords: Creative City, Tabriz, Creative Ecosystem, Citizen Participation, Discourse Analysis, Interdimensional Integration,

Abstract :

Introduction:
In the face of accelerating global transformations and complex urban challenges, the concept of the "creative city" has emerged as a dynamic paradigm for sustainable, inclusive, and innovation-driven urban development. Tabriz, a historically rich and culturally vibrant city in Iran, stands at a pivotal moment to leverage its unique socio-cultural capital and creative potential for transformative urban planning. However, despite increasing interest in the creative city agenda, a coherent, integrated model that reflects the specific context of Tabriz and unifies its diverse creative dimensions has remained elusive. This study addresses this critical gap by proposing a conceptual model of interconnected dimensions for the creative city of Tabriz, grounded in a systems-thinking approach.

Methodology:
This research adopts a qualitative, applied-developmental approach using a directed content analysis method. Data were collected from an extensive corpus of more than 2,250 citizen-submitted ideas within the framework of a participatory urban initiative aimed at identifying grassroots pathways toward a creative Tabriz. The analytical process followed a three-level coding scheme: (1) extraction of base concepts, (2) identification of cross-dimensional linkages, and (3) formulation of a systemic network model of creativity-enabling urban components. The analysis was guided by a comprehensive theoretical framework comprising 14 interwoven dimensions, including: spatial-physical and infrastructural; cultural-artistic; historical and region-specific; social and community-based; technological and smartization; economic and entrepreneurial; educational and cognitive; institutional and governance-based; environmental and ecological; touristic; spiritual and identity-based; urban diplomacy and international relations; family-centered and psychological; and climatic and regional-natural.

Results:
Findings reveal that the core discourses emerging from citizen ideas in Tabriz are organized into eight semantic clusters, each reflecting an urgent and concrete urban need: justice orientation, ecological awareness, identity-driven planning, elite participation, neighborhood mobility and regeneration, cultural innovation, smart governance, and wellness-centered development. These discourses bridge spatial, social, historical, technological, and managerial dimensions in a multilayered and interconnected network, pointing to the emergence of a context-specific conceptual model for a creative Tabriz. Based on these discourses, the proposed model outlines a three-tiered structure comprising drivers, discursive mediators, and strategic outcomes—where Tabriz is conceptualized not merely as a physical urban space, but as a dynamic platform for the emergence of ideas, creative dialogue, and sustainable transformation.

Conclusion:
This research makes a novel scientific contribution by formulating a conceptual model of creative city interconnectedness that is both theoretically robust and empirically rooted in the lived experiences and aspirations of urban citizens. Unlike many externally imposed or abstract models, this framework organically emerges from bottom-up idea mining and bridges the gap between creativity theory and urban planning practice. By visualizing creative dimensions not as isolated checkboxes but as synergistic networks, this study provides a strategic systems map for forward-thinking urban policy. The overarching conclusion is that a creative city cannot be engineered through imported templates, but must be realized through inner narratives, historical depth, and a generative fusion between past, present, and future.

Conflict of Interest: None declared

 

References:

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