Urban Economics and Planning

Urban Economics and Planning

Explanation of the Situation and Factors Affecting the Quality of Life in the Historical Context and Surface of Qazvin City

Document Type : Case Study

Authors
Armin Eslami 1
Mohammad Saleh Shokouhi Bidhendi 2
1 Master of Urban Planning, Department of Urban Planning & Design, School of Architecture and Environmental Design, Iran University of Science and Technology, Tehran, Iran
2 Assistant Professor in the Urban Planning Department, Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning, University of Science and Technology, Tehran, Iran
10.22034/uep.2024.432161.1450
Abstract
Introduction 
The expansion of cities and the increase in daily urbanization in the form of densely populated cities with industrial and production roles have led to fundamental changes in the concepts related to urbanization and have generally brought about major structural changes in the structure and nature of modern cities. On the other hand, the movement of cities towards modernism has resulted in many valuable and historical structures within cities facing neglect and significant destruction. However, after years have passed, many urban challenges and problems resulting from modernism have led to a renewed focus on historical structures, creating a dual and deep confrontation between new urban structures and historical structures This factor has caused many of the criteria for urban planning to focus on the superiority and desirability between new and historical urban structures. It is important to determine which levels provide a more desirable situation for the better living of citizens in each of the valuable urban concepts and criteria. One of the most important of these concepts is the quality of urban life for individuals. Quality of life is a multi-dimensional and dynamic concept that encompasses the environment and living conditions of the people in a region, including all factors that impact an individual’s life. With the prevalence of the modernist approach in cities and the increasing trend of urbanization, the urban structure of many countries has been faced with fundamental changes and transformations. This has led to negligence towards historical structures, resulting in a decrease in the quality of life in these areas and a hidden confrontation of historical structures with new urban levels. Therefore, this research aims to conduct a comparative study on the quality of life and the influencing factors on it in historical structures and the urban level of Qazvin city.
Materials and Methods
The research method is practical and based on quantitative methods. Questionnaires were used for data collection. This research aims to investigate and analyze the quality-of-life status and its influencing factors in historical structures and the urban level of Qazvin city. The research indicators were extracted by reviewing relevant literature sources. In other words, the dominant approach in this research is a survey method using a questionnaire about urban quality of life, employing a five-point Likert spectrum scoring scale. This research was conducted in three steps. In the first step, to examine the quality-of-life status in each of the study areas, quality-of-life indicators were examined and analyzed using a one-sample T-test. In the second step, quality of life indicators were separated into distinct and structured factors using exploratory factor analysis in the SPSS software, and finally, a stepwise regression method was used to explain and identify the influential factors on the quality of life in each of the study areas (historical structures and the urban level of Qazvin city).
Findings
The examination of the quality of life in the historical fabric and urban level of Qazvin city indicates that the accessibility to essential urban services and facilities at the urban level of Qazvin city is more favorable compared to historical fabrics. This demonstrates the attention of urban management in urban planning and emphasizes coherent and modern urban planning at the urban level compared to historical fabrics, leading to better provision and distribution of urban services and facilities at the urban level, resulting in higher satisfaction and a more desirable situation compared to historical fabrics. On the other hand, in terms of security and some cultural and social concepts, historical fabrics provide a more favorable situation. The overall status of the quality of life in the areas indicates that satisfaction with the overall quality of life in both urban types, despite differences in some components, is almost the same, and desirable satisfaction with the quality of life is not observed in both types. The elucidation of indicators influencing the quality of life of each type indicates that in historical fabrics, factors such as access to urban services, leisure and recreational status, and citizens’ economic status, respectively, are the most important and influential in explaining the quality of life. In contrast, at the urban level, factors such as access to urban services, access to educational and recreational services, the economic and social potentials of citizens, urban transportation status, housing, and urban economy, respectively, have the greatest impact on the quality-of-life situation. The examination of this concept shows that the factors influencing the quality of urban life, from a general perspective and in essence, share fundamental similarities with factors influencing the quality of life in historical fabrics. Despite the belief that historical fabrics, due to differences in nature and fabric type, have fundamental differences in some concepts such as quality of life compared to other urban levels, the results indicate that the indicators affecting the quality of life at the urban level and historical fabrics are almost the same and only have fundamental differences in some minor areas.
Conclusion
The results of data analysis in the study areas indicate that the accessibility to urban services and facilities in the city of Qazvin is more favorable compared to historical areas. On the other hand, in terms of security and cultural and social concepts, historical areas have higher levels and more favorable conditions. Overall, satisfaction with the general quality of life in both types of cities is at a similar level, despite differences in some components, and desirable satisfaction with the quality of life is not observed in either type. In terms of indicators influencing the quality of life in historical areas, factors such as access to urban services, leisure and recreation, and the economic situation of citizens respectively have the most importance and impact on explaining the quality of life. In the city of Qazvin, factors like access to urban services, access to educational and recreational services, and the economic and social potentials of citizens have the greatest influence and importance. The examination of this concept shows that contrary to the assumption, factors influencing the quality of life in historical areas and other urban levels have many commonalities and are almost the same in both types, with very minor differences. Therefore, it can be concluded that factors influencing the quality of life in historical areas and other urban levels are not different from each other and point to common areas that, in improvement programs emphasizing areas such as urban facilities and services, leisure and recreation, and some economic concepts, can create opportunities for improving the quality of life in both types.
Keywords
Historical Context
Qazvin City
Quality of Urban Life
Satisfaction

Subjects

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Urban Economics and Planning
Volume 5, Issue 1
Winter 2024
Pages 90-105

  • Receive Date 25 December 2023
  • Revise Date 05 February 2024
  • Accept Date 08 February 2024