According to research conducted in three neighborhoods of Isfahan, using a combination of methods, including interpretative-historical approaches, correlation, and space syntax, to identify the spatial qualities, disadvantages and problems (that have arisen) in traditional contexts in recent years, the following results have been obtained:
In this comparison, it was observed that the connection between the traditional and modern parts of the city is very important. Due to the density of the traditional context in the past and the priority given to pedestrianization, there is a contrast with modern life, which prioritizes vehicular access, resulting in the formation of built masses alongside wide roads. Based on the research findings, if new streets can be built in parts that create the highest level of integration within the context and contribute to accessibility and other indicators, the centers of the old neighborhoods can continue to thrive. However, if a neighborhood becomes isolated, social activities in that neighborhood will decline, and over time, the neighborhood will become depopulated, losing many of the qualities associated with community and residents that it had in the past.
As a result, the observed structure in all three neighborhoods is a tree-like structure consisting of a main trunk, connected branches, and sub-branches branching out from them, creating clear hierarchies for the presence of individuals and residents. These hierarchies have different levels of accessibility, axial line length (maximum visibility from a point), depth, and width. Therefore, the spaces clearly demonstrate their primary and secondary nature and evoke a sense of presence or not presence to the users. In this regard, it was observed that in the main parts of the neighborhood, including the market and related spaces designed for population presence and social interactions, they were positioned in space syntax as either single elements or main branches, possessing less depth, higher integration, accessibility, natural selection, control (acceptance selection), and longer axial line lengths. Whereas in residential areas, the depth increased, and other indicators decreased. This reduction in indicators hinderes the invitation for passage and created a sense of fear and anxiety for unfamiliar passersby, while the residents of that area are familiar with the environment and pass through the passages without feeling fear or surprise. The tranquility are created by these hierarchies in residential areas creates a kind of personal space and territory for the residents of those areas, which allows them to control their parts of the neighborhood, increases security, and alongside all these factors, creates a zone for several households who are common to a part of the neighborhood. They meet each other every day, face to face, while passing through narrow alleys that pass through personal and intimate spaces, thus forming intimate social relationships in that zone. In fact, a kind of semi-public-semi-private space is created that lies between the house (as a private space) and the public spaces of the neighborhood. Individuals in these zones meet each other and establish social relationships in the more public areas of the neighborhood, forming a coherent whole .
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