Exploring the Intangible Elements of Place: A Case Study of Laleh Park Commercial Complex in Tabriz"

Subject Areas :

Hossein Ssmaeili Sangari ¹ (Architecture, Faculty of Buildings and Historical Context, National Cultural Heritage Research Institute, Tehran, Iran. (Corresponding Author)[e-mail])
Raheleh Parvin ² (Architecture, Islamic Azad University Tabriz branch,Tabriz, Iran.)

Received: 2023-06-24 Accepted : 2023-08-12 Published : 2023-08-23

Keywords: Tabriz, sense of place, business centers, Laleh Park,

Abstract :

The concept of place has been contrasted with abstract concepts. In this context, intangible heritage and customs are essential aspects of architectural buildings. When designing spaces, it is important to consider the cultural and religious backgrounds of society, as well as the knowledge of the place and the sense of place. The sense of place creates a connection between the habitat and its surroundings, making it a safe point from which social processes can be accepted within a space. The nature of a space accepts social processes in its heart, and the ambiguities of social processes manifest in the appearance of urban spaces.Paying attention to the architectural design of spaces has become more important than just focusing on the ruling social dimensions. Modern business centers are created with the aim of meeting physical needs and providing services on a certain scale. However, designers and managers of these centers should not ignore the psychological dimension of their users. In metropolitan cities, the trend of business-entertainment complexes with beautiful and modern architecture is growing. The Laleh Park commercial center in Tabriz has played an important role in urban development and become a symbol of the city's modernity and progress. It was chosen as a research case to investigate its potential in creating a sense of place from the perspective of its main users.The Laleh Park commercial center boasts a wide range of businesses, from trendy cafes and restaurants to high-end fashion boutiques and electronics stores. Despite its success, the center faces some challenges, including traffic congestion due to an increase in cars and pedestrians in the area. Additionally, some critics argue that the center's focus on consumerism and materialism detracts from the city's cultural heritage and identity. Nevertheless, the Laleh Park commercial center remains an important landmark in Tabriz and a testament to the city's growth and development.During field observations and interviews, 40 people were selected as the statistical population for a focus group. They answered a questionnaire containing 20 questions related to research variables based on a Likert scale. The validity of the variable measurement tool was established through face and content validity, using the experts' point of view. To determine the validity of the prepared tool, the collaboration of 5 university professors was sought. They were asked to comment on the research objectives, evaluate the prepared tool in terms of form and content, and provide corrective comments.The current research strategy is practical, with a mixed method of qualitative-quantitative description based on the method of library studies and phenomenological analysis in the field section. The reliability of the questionnaire was calculated using the Cronbach's alpha formula, with a reliability score of 0.78. The information obtained from the questionnaires was analyzed using SPSS software.According to the research findings, the success of the Laleh Park complex in terms of functionality and modern lifestyle increases people's tendency to attend the place for various activities and recommend it to others, leading to the promotion of social participation in the complex. In this research, the functional spatial components affecting the absorption and continuity of dynamics are referred to as "found", while the semantic components are labeled as "hidden".