Placemaking in cinema complex architecture: Unveiling Tabriz city;s cinematic desires in Iran

Subject Areas : Space Ontology International Journal

Tina Ghaznavi ¹ , Sara Soleimani ² , Soheil Sabri ³ , Salahedin Molanaei ⁴ , Hessam Ghamari ⁵

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2 - Architecture department, Faculty of art and architecture, University of Kurdistan, Sanandaj, Iran
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Received: 2023-11-28 Accepted : 2025-09-18

Keywords: Cinema complex, Placemaking, Successful public place, Power of 10, Creative placemaking,

Abstract :

In recent years, numerous urban design and architecture projects, such as multi-purpose urban complexes, have been developed in Iran with the aim of enhancing public space quality. However, many of these spaces fail to meet acceptable standards, primarily due to the lack of incorporating residents’ opinions in the design process. This study adopts the placemaking approach to propose a user-centred design framework for creating successful cinema complexes as vibrant public spaces in Iran. Focusing on three cinemas in Tabriz, a major city in northwestern Iran, the research employs quantitative methods to evaluate their success based on the four key factors introduced by the Project for Public Spaces (PPS): access and linkages, comfort and image, uses and activities, and sociability. Methodologically, the study relies on questionnaire-based surveys distributed among 367 users of the selected cinemas. The collected data is analyzed using statistical tests (t-test, ANOVA and Friedman test) in SPSS. Drawing on PPS’s foundational concepts: “successful public place”, “the power of 10” and “creative placemaking”, the research identifies sixteen essential spaces and six key events that significantly contribute to the success of cinema complexes within Tabriz’s socio-cultural context. The proposed framework aims to bridge the existing gap in designing dynamic and socially engaging cinema complexes.

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