Document Type : Case study
Authors
1
PhD Student, Department of Urban Planning and Design, Faculty of Art & Architecture, University of Tarbiat Modares, Tehran, Iran
2
Professor, Department of Urban Planning and Design, Faculty of Art & Architecture, University of Tarbiat Modares, Tehran, Iran
3
Assistant Professor, Department of Urban Planning and Design, Faculty of Art & Architecture, University of Tarbiat Modares, Tehran, Iran
4
Professor, Department of Computer Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Ferdowsi, Mashhad, Iran
Abstract
Abstract :
Social network platforms have become context for the production and reproduction of urban experiences, public space is also beyond its physical boundaries into a medium for digital representation, social meaning and sensory interaction. This article aims to reconceptualize the notion and function of urban public space in the age of social media through a case study of Tehran’s multi-functional Chitgar complex, employing a theoretical synthesis of the " Experience Economy " and " Digital Construction of Space ". The research collected and analyzed 4,852 Instagram posts tagged with Chitgar Hashtag over the one year. Data were examined across three analytical levels: Image Analysis (using Deep Learning and Image Clustering), Text Mining ( by Topic Modeling ), and Sentiment Analysis ( based on a pre-trained Persian language model ). Findings indicate that Chitgar, as one of Tehran’s major public spaces, is undergoing a conceptual transformation from a mere recreational area into a multi - sensory, participatory urban experience. This space has evolved into a form of urban digital life, where users’ experiences gain meaning and are reproduced through continuous representation on social media, leading to the social construction of space. As a result, Chitgar has transformed into an urban brand, a symbol of experience and memory-making, social interaction, cultural consumption, and a digitally social spatial network. The study emphasizes that public spaces should be understood and managed as media-oriented and experience - based infrastructures. Utilizing social media data can serve as an effective tool for future-oriented urban design and policymaking.
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