Urban Economics and Planning

Urban Economics and Planning

Investigating the Effective Factors on Improving the Vitality of Urban Neighborhoods with the Foundation Data Method (Case Study: Jolfa Neighborhood of Isfahan)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Davood Mohebbi 1
Mahsa Faramarzi Asli 2
Arash Saghafi Asl 2
1 PhD candidate of Urban Design, Tabriz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran
2 Assistant Professor, Department of Urban Planning, Tabriz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran
10.22034/uep.2024.441027.1459
Abstract
Introduction 
Nowadays, one of the most significant concerns in urban space design is ensuring the vibrancy of these spaces, which fosters the continuous presence of citizens. Paying attention to residents’ preferences, creating diverse and round-the-clock active land uses, establishing hubs for gatherings and interactions, involving citizens in the neighbourhood planning process, and considering their interests and preferences are essential requirements for a vibrant urban space. Neglecting these factors reduces the environment’s capability to achieve urban vitality indicators. The Jolfa neighbourhood, the Armenian quarter of Isfahan, is considered one of the city’s most important areas. Beyond its significant role in ensuring the comfort of its residents, this neighbourhood also plays a key role in presenting a favourable image to tourists and other visitors to the city. However, it has been consistently overlooked in urban programs and planning efforts. In contemporary Jolfa, one of the factors that has had the greatest impact on the vibrancy and liveliness of cities and their residents compared to previous decades is the presence of urban spaces. With rapid population growth, urban expansion, traffic, visual pollution, lack of accessible services, scarcity of appropriate public spaces for recreation, absence of social connections, inadequate pedestrian pathways, and an overall shortage of spaces to attract people, urban spaces have lost their actual functionality (the concept of the “happy city”). Consequently, the lack of vibrancy and a sense of joy in urban spaces has become one of the fundamental challenges facing contemporary urban planners and designers in Iran, including in the city of Isfahan. In line with the primary objective of this research, the study focuses on examining vitality in the Jolfa neighbourhood of Isfahan.
Materials and Methods
Given that the present study aims to explain the factors affecting the improvement of the vitality of urban neighbourhoods in Meleh Jolfa, Isfahan, the present study is an applied study in terms of purpose because, in addition to the awareness-raising and scientific aspects, it will also have an applied aspect. Considering the purpose and nature, this study is qualitative in terms of method. The strategy used for the qualitative part is grounded theory and classification of information collected from research experts. The statistical population of the study is urban planning and urban design professors and specialists, and the sample size includes 20 experts who were selected through purposive sampling. Two methods of convenient sampling and snowball sampling were used in the sampling. Usually, in qualitative research, purposive sampling is used to obtain the most information, and exploratory and semi-structured interview tools were used to collect data. Finally, after collecting information from the interview sections and reviewing sources, this stage, the data-driven method and coding (open, axial, and selective) were used to classify the data. Maxqda software was used to analyse the information and to better conduct the research, extract codes, concepts, and axial components, and analyse the data obtained from the interviews and panels.
Findings
Based on the research, findings, and views of urban design experts, many factors have led to the Jolfa neighbourhood of Isfahan being recognised as a desirable neighbourhood with high social quality. The city of Isfahan has a historical background in terms of culture, art, calligraphy, and architecture. But first, we must provide a complete understanding of the citizens of the Jolfa neighbourhood, including their language, culture, and customs, which have had an important impact on their social environment. Based on historical findings, the residents of this neighbourhood from Isfahan were actually people who, according to historical documents, led to the formation of the Jolfa neighbourhood of Isfahan in five stages of migration, and the reason for this was the migration of Armenians in Jolfa of Aras by Shah Abbas I. In the migrations that took place during different stages, the type of skill of the families, which included two hundred stonemason families, led to the development of the western area of this town. With the fourth stage of migration, which involved nearly twelve Armenians from the northern part of Zayandeh-Rud, Jolfa experienced great prosperity, and in the fifth migration, which took place in 1670, a large number of Armenian people from the Armenian region settled in Jolfa and in the Yerevan neighbourhood.
Conclusion
By examining the Jolfa neighbourhood, the factors that have increased and prospered tourism and natural attractions in this area include: 1. Customs and traditions and the type of urban architecture, symbols, tombs, and glasses that show the customs, attitudes, and culture of a minority, and gatherings in ceremonies, paying attention to the type of texture, strength, and beauty of houses, creating green spaces, creating suitable business environments, and preventing the accumulation of large numbers of cars in urban spaces, the appearance and furniture of the city, and using attractive visual symbols and creativity in the type of architecture, including Verdi architecture in churches, strengthening and maintaining hangouts, and the location of houses, and many of the following can affect the quality of the social environment of the Jolfa neighbourhood. 
Keywords
Environmental Quality
Isfahan city
Urban neighbourhoods
Vitality

Subjects

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Urban Economics and Planning
Volume 5, Issue 4
Winter 2025
Pages 6-19

  • Receive Date 31 January 2024
  • Revise Date 14 November 2024
  • Accept Date 20 August 2024