بازتعریف ابعاد مختلف سرزندگی در مراکز تجاری شهر تهران: مطالعه موردی مراکز تجاری چندمنظوره بزرگ مقیاس

Abstract

Purpose- Vitality is specifically understood as the diversity of activities in public spaces and its compatibility with urban environments within a framework of behavioral settings. Commercial centers, which occupy a significant area of the city and serve as the most frequented spaces by citizens, meet diverse human needs by providing a mix of uses, thereby fostering positive social interactions. Urban vitality is considered one of the desirable qualities of life that plays a significant role in the social cohesion of citizens. The ultimate goal of urban planning is to provide suitable living conditions in cities and their associated environments, including shopping centers, which are closely related to the concepts of vitality and livability in urban areas. This study aims to enhance the environmental quality of current and future large-scale mixed-use commercial centers in Tehran by identifying and redefining the dimensions of vitality in these spaces.

Methodology- This qualitative research employed the Delphi method for selecting commercial centers and content analysis for identifying vitality components. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were utilized as the primary research tool. The study population included large commercial centers in Tehran and specialists in architecture, landscape architecture, urban design, and city planning. Nineteen centers were selected through the Delphi method for qualitative sampling. Subsequently, 46 experts were interviewed using theoretical sampling. Atlas.ti software was used for coding and analyzing interview texts. To assess the reliability and validity of the research findings, continuous engagement with the research environment was employed. This involved presenting the findings to some members of the research community and obtaining their feedback, as well as utilizing coding conducted by another researcher.

Findings- Initially, an architectural analysis of the 19 selected commercial centers was conducted based on the vitality components and criteria derived from literature review and theoretical foundations. Following a comprehensive review of information obtained from interviews with experts, 58 concepts related to spatial vitality were extracted through open coding. After data reduction processes, 11 dimensions of vitality relevant to commercial centers in Tehran emerged: place revival, sense of place, spatial proportions, coherence of locations, people-orientedness, landscape aesthetics, safety, diversity, building form, connectivity, and spatial openness.

Conclusions- This research specifically focuses on commercial centers and their vitality from distinct research dimensions. Commercial spaces embody "form" in their physical aspect and "content" in their activity aspect, complementing each other through aesthetic, visual, physical, and perceptual elements that are interwoven with significant meanings. This interplay evokes a sense of nostalgia, liveliness, and sensory richness at street edges and valuable surrounding spaces, potentially influencing the depth of adjacent urban fabric. Based on findings from previous studies aligned with these results, it is essential to replace quantity-driven design processes with quality-driven design processes to achieve outstanding recreational objectives such as prioritizing commercial centers. Vitality is interconnected with various social, economic, aesthetic, and physical dimensions of an environment and can comprehensively address all needs related to the influential dimensions highlighted in this research towards achieving stated goals.