Ability of Urban Structures to Respond to the Perception of Environmental Components Based on Different Movement Levels of Pedestrians (Case Study: the historical context of Zanjan)

Document Type : Scientific-Research

Authors

Mina MahasenNeyari ¹

Alireza andalib ²

Hamid Majedi ³

¹ PhD student in Urban Planning, Islamic Azad University, Tehran Branch

² Associate Professor, Department of Urban Planning and Architecture, Azad University, Science and Research Branch, Tehran

³ Science and Reserch Branch, Islamic Azad University

https://doi.org/10.22067/jgusd.2025.89954.1463

Abstract

The ability of urban structures to respond to environmental perceptions in historical contexts is increasingly recognized as important for improving urban living conditions and addressing modern challenges of urbanization. The research aims to measure urban structures' responsiveness to environmental components based on pedestrian movement levels and identify key effective factors in Zanjan city's historical context. The research method in the current study is descriptive-analytical based on field survey. A total of 384 people were questioned with an error level of 0.05% using Cochran's formula by random sampling to achieve the goal. In order to determine the speed of pedestrian movement in relation to the perceptual space and their relationship, observation and photography techniques were used. Observations were taken at a certain time in the morning (10 to 12) and evening (5 to 7) among men and women. The study conclusively demonstrated that the different pedestrian axes exhibited varying environmental perceptions based on urban structures and elements, as well as pedestrian movement speed. Following extensive renovations and improvements, the Sabzeh Maidan pedestrian axis now unequivocally boasts exceptional aesthetic and visual quality, with a high concentration of service and commercial establishments such as the bazaar, the Grand Mosque, old houses, and historical textures at its center, creating a fabric with a distinct identity. Key factors were unequivocally identified, and variables were decisively extracted in 5 main dimensions: pedestrian-oriented design, public space security, urban furniture, landscape and environmental quality, and access to public spaces. In essence, urban spaces must be designed to indisputably attract citizens and pedestrians, but it's crucial to note that not all urban plans effectively integrate these elements.

Keywords

Responsiveness

urban structures

perception of environmental components

movement levels

pedestrians

Subjects

• urban planinnin

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