Identifying Criteria of Weariness on Urban Areas (Case Study: Samen District of Mashhad)

Abstract

Today, one of the challenges of modern urbanization in Iran is the issue of old and worn-out urban textures and identification of their criteria. Samen District of Mashhad, a historical texture in an area of 321 hectares, was selected as the study sample. The aim of this study was to determine priorities of improving old neighborhoods based on criteria of weariness. The research adopted a descriptive-analytical method and used the model of Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) for the process analysis. The data collection was conducted by a questionnaire (according to Cochran’s formula, 287 questionnaires were randomly distributed in 6 neighborhoods using random sampling method), mapping and field study. Six parameters and twenty four indices were measured as criteria affecting the weariness process. Results showed that physical, constructional, environmental, economic, and social and services parameters had respectively the highest impact on worn-out urban texture. In addition, Eidgah, Payin Khiyaban, Tabarsi, Noghan, Bala Khiyaban and Chaharbagh were ranked first and sixth in terms of the degree of weariness and intervention priorities were specified in each neighborhood.

Evaluating urban housing development patterns in developing countries: Case study of Worn-out Urban Fabrics in Iran

“…In particular, according to Samiei and Sayafzadeh's (2016) empirical study on the WoUFs of the deteriorated fabrics of Eslamshahr city, WoUFs are featured by: a) socio-economic problems (e.g., increase of migrants who lack any ties to these regions in the place of old residents), b) environmental problems (e.g., pollution due to the concentration of business and workplace spaces), and c) architectural vulnerability and accessibility (e.g., intensive shortage of urban public services) (see also Gorjinia & Amini, 2016). Similarly, Babaei, Rahnama, Khakpoor, and Ajza Shokouhi (2018) administered a questionnaire to a sample of residents of the Samen District of Mashhad (an Iranian historical texture in an area of 321 ha), and found that physical, constructional, environmental, economic, and social/services parameters had the highest impact on worn-out urban texture.…”