1- Ph. D Student in Architecture, Department of Architeture, Sanandaj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Sanandaj, Iran. 2- Assistant Professor of Architecture, Department of Architeture, Sanandaj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Sanandaj, Iran. 3- Assistant Professor of Sociology, Department of Sociology, Sanandaj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Sanandaj, Iran.
Abstract: (947 Views)
Introduction Urban public spaces have long been the physical basis of social interactions; therefore, the creation and reproduction of social spaces as venues of social interaction to create sustainable urban environments is one of the objectives that has received much attention. As an interface between the private and public spheres these spaces are considered as layers of urban design that render cities attractive. Thus, it is imperative to heed environmental qualities and organize them for attendance and interactions in social activities of citizens. Jomhuri Eslami Street in Mahabad stretches as a focal point from the city center (Shahrdari Square) to Azadi Crossroads, also embracing a square called Mangooran. In addition to the convenient location of the space and consequently easy access, it should not be forgotten that primarily lack of responsive and desirable public spaces in terms of environmental quality in small and medium cities such as Mahabad is also regarded as the main reason for citizens to welcome such spaces. In other words, aside from such a space residents of Mahabad have little choice for attending and carrying out what they consider social activities. On the other hand, despite the general popularity of this space, so far the quality of the space has not been addressed adequately to determine what the environmental quality is and how its improvement and organization may influence the promotion of diverse dimensions of socialization. Methodology The present research is an applied research and its method is descriptive-analytical. Having conducted in 2021, study area of the research is Jomhuri Eslami Street in Mahabad. The objectives of the present study are as follows: analyzing the status of the study space based on different dimensions of sociability and environmental quality, and also quantifying and interpreting the impact of environmental quality on different aspects of sociability in the study space. In other words, different dimensions of environmental quality as independent variables and sociability components as dependent variables are addressed in the present study. The method of data collection involves research, documents, and fieldwork. Thus the documentary method, i.e. study of scientific books, dissertations and related scientific articles was employed to select the major measurable components of environmental quality and sociability. The fieldwork method developed on the distribution of the questionnaire to measure and analyze the study space based on different elements of sociability and environmental quality. In this study, initially the level of sociability and the environmental qualities of the space were assessed and analyzed adopting the T.Test in the form of SPSS software. This was carried out by applying the route analysis model in Smart PLS software. Discussion The results of statistical analysis in the form of T.Test software and SPSS software exhibited that concerning the final factor of socialization the difference between the mean and the value of the test is typically equal to 0.134 at a significant level less than 0.05. This indicates that the study space is normally accounted a sociable space. Contrary to the social status, statistical analysis of the quality of the study space environment presents other results. So that the difference between the averages of the final factor of environmental quality with the test value equals 0.020 at a significant level greater than 0.05, which suggests that the space studied by users in different dimensions of environmental quality has been considered relatively successful. Additionally, the results of path analysis model in Smart PLS software established that the total quality of man-made environment in the studied space has a strong and significant effect on the final index of space sociability, so that the path coefficient in this regard is equal to 0.680 (at a significant level less than 0.05). The coefficient of determination also equals 0.462 which means that roughly half of the sociability changes in the study space are interpreted by the quality variable of the human environment. Meanwhile, the attractiveness and inviting element of space with a coefficient of determination of 0.434 and the path coefficient of 0.659, as well as the component of attracting various age and sex groups with a coefficient of determination of 0.208 and the path coefficient of 0.457, are regarded as the mostly affected components of the sociability of environmental quality. Conclusion Though the studied space has not been evaluated desirably and successfully in terms of environmental quality criteria, it still suffices to be identified as a sociable space. The reasons for such conditions are on account of easy access, citizens' preferences such as bearing a sense of belonging to the space, as well as the lack of other attractive public spaces, particularly in Mahabad. Besides, the existence of a strong and significant relationship between the dimensions of the quality of man-made environment and the sociability of space (with a coefficient of determination of 0.462 and path coefficient of 0.680) draws us to this important point that by organizing and improving the environmental quality of space, which is currently at a moderate level, a more sociable atmosphere can be accomplished. To put it another way, the coexistence of a significant relationship between these two variables (man-made environment quality and sociability) conclusively denotes that improving environmental quality promotes the sociability of space particularly concerning the indicators of sociability that are substantially correlated with environmental quality. Factors such as attractiveness and inviting space, attraction of diverse age and sex groups by space, the order of visits, organized interactions of users in space and to some extent the possibility of gatherings and hangouts that are clearly affected by environmental quality are explored in the study. In the meantime, the attractiveness and inviting space, the component of engaging diverse sex and age ranges are the mostly affected components of sociability of environmental quality.
Amirashayeri M, Tahmasebi A, Sahabi J. Assessment and Analysis of Sociability and its dimensions in Urban Routes Based on the Role and Effect of the Quality of Man-made Environment (Case Study: Jomhuri Eslami Street, Mahabad). جغرافیایی 2023; 23 (82) :275-303 URL: http://geographical-space.iau-ahar.ac.ir/article-1-4006-en.html