Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 Ph.D. Student, Department of Urban Development, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
2 Professor, Department of Urban Development, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
3 Associate Professor, Department of Urban Development, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
Introduction
Today, although urban societies have become more introverted and private with the expansion of communication technologies, and subsequently, urban spaces, as the most important centers of vitality and collective life, have been threatened, but still ,there is a need to provide facilities in order to more vitality the mentioned spaces as much as possible. "Vitality" is a concept with a "qualitative", "abstract" and "mental" nature, which can be considered as including all the spatial qualities in an urban space or place. Despite the importance and position of this concept in improving the quality of urban life, it has not been conceptualized accurately so far. In the domestic field, most of the previous researches have studied urban vitality based on quantitative approaches and have not contributed to the conceptualization of urban vitality from this point of view. with the aim of limiting the mentioned knowledge gap, this research tries to investigate urban vitality through a theoretical-fundamental and qualitative study and take an effective step towards conceptualizing it as a "whole". Based on this, in the first level of research, based on the world theoretical literature, the two concepts of "vitality" and "urban vitality" are explained. Then, in the second level, with the help of text content analysis, the dimensions, criteria and indicators of urban vitality are explained and used in compiling the "dynamic model of vitality at the scale of urban spaces".
Methodology
After selecting 25 relevant sources, data related to the vitality of urban spaces were collected and classified through a three-step process. In the first step, phrases and words reflecting indicators of urban vitality were selected and labeled with a theme (open coding). In the second step, through constant comparison, similar and related themes were placed in a conceptual class and formed 15 categories (axial coding). In the third step, themes and categories were classified and related in the form of three dimensions (selective coding). Finally, the dynamic conceptual model of vitality at the scale of urban space was developed in the form of a schematic diagram.
Results and discussion
The proposed conceptual model is presented in the form of a schematic diagram, including 3 dimensions, 15 criteria and 55 indicators, which conceptualize urban vitality on the scale of urban space and it can be used to measure or evaluate the vitality of urban spaces. This model has the ability to be developed (especially at the level of indicators) in future researches. In addition to the proposed indices, in relation to each index, an index called "contextual index" has been predicted, which may be able to take into account the specific conditions (social, cultural, political, etc.) of the city. This model, considering the two factors of "time" and "contextual indicators" is considered a dynamic and acceptable model that can be used in various fields and cultures.
Conclusion
Among the most important findings of the upcoming research, the following can be mentioned:
Unlike most of the previous researches (both domestic and foreign) that have presented urban vitality as one-dimensional and generally derived from diversity (activity and social), the current research considers urban vitality as "One whole" includes a set of multiple and interrelated factors to improve the quality of the environment and the quality of life.
Seven interrelated key factors play a role in explaining urban vitality: 1) movement and dynamism, 2) events, 3) context for emergence, 4) accessibility, 5) urban diversity, 6) city energy, 7 ) active street life.
The process of creating urban vitality can be conceptualized in the form of a three-component model, which is based on attention to the dialectic and the relationship between the three elements of "human", "space" and "activity". These elements are respectively related to 3 dimensions "cognitive-semantic", "physical-environmental" and "functional-management".
Graphical Abstract
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