Sepideh Afsari | Tarbiat Modares University (original) (raw)
Papers by Sepideh Afsari
Journal of Place Management and Development
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore and clarify the relationship between creative dev... more Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore and clarify the relationship between creative developments and the concepts of place and placemaking. Design/methodology/approach This paper systematically reviews scholarly literature on the relationship between creative developments and the concepts of place, and critically analyzes the extent to which creative developments acknowledge different aspects of place. Findings The findings demonstrate that the relationship between creative development and place is multifaceted, and combines physical, cultural and social aspects of place. However, the literature also calls for the greater valuation of particular facets of place, including the daily experiences of communities and local cultural producers, alongside symbolic and imagined aspects of place, all of which inform either positive or negative perceptions of urban form. In addition, the authors argue that the cultural value of the creative industries needs to be better acknowledged ...
The old parts of the Iranian cities, which have survived over the past few decades, are now suffe... more The old parts of the Iranian cities, which have survived over the past few decades, are now suffering degradation due to the long-term lack of maintenance and conservation. Based on the comprehensive approach to urban planning, despite the high social potentials of some of these deteriorated areas, in order to improve their physical quality; complete demolition is the ultimate suggested solution. Therefore, an urgent strategy is needed in order to reintegrate these forgotten places into mainstream development of the main city in an adequate approach. In recent years, sustainability has become one of the main vital strategies to set as a goal in urban regeneration and renewal projects. This approach can link economic profits and environmental improvement with social aspects. This paper is the study of a historical district called “Ghaleh Abkooh”. With a 300-year history, this high density organic fabric is located at Mashhad downtown. Lacking a development plan in the past decades, A...
در جريان رقابت هاي جهاني بسياري از دولت هاي ملي ، در جهت جذب سرمايه هاي سيال بين المللي و حركت به... more در جريان رقابت هاي جهاني بسياري از دولت هاي ملي ، در جهت جذب سرمايه هاي سيال بين المللي و حركت به سوي جايگاه جهاني درصدد تقويت موقعيت شهرهاي خود هستند. شهر مشهد با توجه به چشم انداز بالا دست خود در طرح هاي توسعه شهري مبني بر قطب فرهنگي و تبليغي جهان اسلام در مقياس بين المللي در تكاپو دستيابي به نقش فراملي و بين المللي است. يكي از سناريو هاي تحقق اين مهم برجسته كردن نقش اين شهر در مقياس جهان اسلام با تكيه بر سرمايه حضور بارگاه منور رضوي است در اين راستا،طرح هاي توسعه اطراف حرم مطهر رضوي دخل و تصرف هاي گسترده كالبدي را ابزاري مناسب براي توسعه اقتصادي و رونق گردشگري دانسته اند. متاسفانه، اين امر با بي توجهي به ساختار ديروز شهر و پيوند منطقي با آن و كم توجهي به اندوخته و پيشينه فرهنگي آن همراه بوده و نهايتا منجر به از دست رفتن هويت تاريخي وخاطره جمعي شهر مشهد خواهد شد. بنابراين، در راستاي تقويت نقش زيارتي گردشگري و تسريع در فرايند تقويت سيماي شهر مشهد نمي توان سرمايه فرهنگي موجود درآن را ناديد گرفت و نيازمند راهكارهاي جديدو بهره گيري از تجربيات ساير شهرها و به ويژه شهرهايي با خصوصيات نس...
Journal of Urban Planning and Development
Abstract Urban spaces are important components within cities that improve urban competitiveness i... more Abstract Urban spaces are important components within cities that improve urban competitiveness in the context of intercity competition. The notion of urban space in today's increasingly globalizin...
The old parts of the Iranian cities, which have survived over the past few decades, are now suffe... more The old parts of the Iranian cities, which have survived over the past few decades, are now suffering degradation due to the long-term lack of maintenance and conservation. Based on the comprehensive approach to urban planning, despite the high social potentials of some of these deteriorated areas, in order to improve their physical quality; complete demolition is the ultimate suggested solution. Therefore, an urgent strategy is needed in order to reintegrate these forgotten places into mainstream development of the main city in an adequate approach. In recent years, sustainability has become one of the main vital strategies to set as a goal in urban regeneration and renewal projects. This approach can link economic profits and environmental improvement with social aspects.
This paper is the study of a historical district called “Ghaleh Abkooh”. With a 300-year history, this high density organic fabric is located at Mashhad downtown. Lacking a development plan in the past decades, Abkooh area does not function properly within Mashhad urban socio-eco system. Therefore, it is conceived to be an informal settlement. Despite of long history of residence and strong kinship ties which have led to social cohesion and strong local identity, the proposed regeneration plan consists of complete demolition and rebuilding approach through compulsory acquisition. There are growing local resistance against these culminated disputes, petition movements and negotiations with regional and provincial authorities.
Considering the importance of historical urban fabrics in urban policies and the vulnerability of... more Considering the importance of historical urban fabrics in urban policies and the vulnerability of these fabrics, different approaches on how to encounter the renewal of historical fabrics have recently become a crucial debate in the literature. Sustainability, as a comoprehensive approach in different dimensions of social, physical, etc. have been an effectual paradigm in recent decades and sustainable regeneration is now on the agenda of a large number of cities’ urban policy. This paper tends to disclose the potentials of historical fabrics on the way to reaching socio-cultural sustainability and thus, a qualitative method containing case study review (Istanbul and Mashhad) has been adopted. Following a theoretical review of sustainability in its socio-cultural aspect, a number of related measures have been introduced. The measures have subsequently been scrutinized (based on theoretical studies of the renewal of historical urban fabrics) and structured a framework for evaluating case studies: ‘reinforcing socio-cultural relationships’, ‘participative/advocative approach’ and ‘respecting history’ have been explored in the renewal experience of Istanbul and Mashhad. Analyzing the renewal approaches in case studies contains analogies and dissimilarities that proves to be helpful for further interventions in historical fabrics. It is finally revealed that after-effects of urban renewal projects in both case studies seem to resemble in consequences ,while the approaches and types of tourism varies in each, and is contrary to socio-cultural sustainability measures.
A brief review of contemporary urban regeneration literature reveals different approaches in whic... more A brief review of contemporary urban regeneration literature reveals different approaches in which culture led regeneration has a substantial compatibility to the situation of historic cities of Iran. This article tries to have an analysis on contemporary experiences of urban regeneration in historic cities of Iran in which urban spaces and culture are key factors. As a research method four case studies of urban spaces regeneration in different cities of Iran have been selected. Some results demonstrate successful experiences of Isfahan because of new generation of urban culture in relation to nightlife and also in Gorgan because of flexible use of squares as places for religious ceremonies. As unsuccessful experiences, in Busherhr the new plans have changed a historical square with cultural ceremony function to a playground. Also in the historic center of Shiraz for new development of The Holly Shrine a huge amount of public spaces has been demolished.
Journal of Place Management and Development
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore and clarify the relationship between creative dev... more Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore and clarify the relationship between creative developments and the concepts of place and placemaking. Design/methodology/approach This paper systematically reviews scholarly literature on the relationship between creative developments and the concepts of place, and critically analyzes the extent to which creative developments acknowledge different aspects of place. Findings The findings demonstrate that the relationship between creative development and place is multifaceted, and combines physical, cultural and social aspects of place. However, the literature also calls for the greater valuation of particular facets of place, including the daily experiences of communities and local cultural producers, alongside symbolic and imagined aspects of place, all of which inform either positive or negative perceptions of urban form. In addition, the authors argue that the cultural value of the creative industries needs to be better acknowledged ...
The old parts of the Iranian cities, which have survived over the past few decades, are now suffe... more The old parts of the Iranian cities, which have survived over the past few decades, are now suffering degradation due to the long-term lack of maintenance and conservation. Based on the comprehensive approach to urban planning, despite the high social potentials of some of these deteriorated areas, in order to improve their physical quality; complete demolition is the ultimate suggested solution. Therefore, an urgent strategy is needed in order to reintegrate these forgotten places into mainstream development of the main city in an adequate approach. In recent years, sustainability has become one of the main vital strategies to set as a goal in urban regeneration and renewal projects. This approach can link economic profits and environmental improvement with social aspects. This paper is the study of a historical district called “Ghaleh Abkooh”. With a 300-year history, this high density organic fabric is located at Mashhad downtown. Lacking a development plan in the past decades, A...
در جريان رقابت هاي جهاني بسياري از دولت هاي ملي ، در جهت جذب سرمايه هاي سيال بين المللي و حركت به... more در جريان رقابت هاي جهاني بسياري از دولت هاي ملي ، در جهت جذب سرمايه هاي سيال بين المللي و حركت به سوي جايگاه جهاني درصدد تقويت موقعيت شهرهاي خود هستند. شهر مشهد با توجه به چشم انداز بالا دست خود در طرح هاي توسعه شهري مبني بر قطب فرهنگي و تبليغي جهان اسلام در مقياس بين المللي در تكاپو دستيابي به نقش فراملي و بين المللي است. يكي از سناريو هاي تحقق اين مهم برجسته كردن نقش اين شهر در مقياس جهان اسلام با تكيه بر سرمايه حضور بارگاه منور رضوي است در اين راستا،طرح هاي توسعه اطراف حرم مطهر رضوي دخل و تصرف هاي گسترده كالبدي را ابزاري مناسب براي توسعه اقتصادي و رونق گردشگري دانسته اند. متاسفانه، اين امر با بي توجهي به ساختار ديروز شهر و پيوند منطقي با آن و كم توجهي به اندوخته و پيشينه فرهنگي آن همراه بوده و نهايتا منجر به از دست رفتن هويت تاريخي وخاطره جمعي شهر مشهد خواهد شد. بنابراين، در راستاي تقويت نقش زيارتي گردشگري و تسريع در فرايند تقويت سيماي شهر مشهد نمي توان سرمايه فرهنگي موجود درآن را ناديد گرفت و نيازمند راهكارهاي جديدو بهره گيري از تجربيات ساير شهرها و به ويژه شهرهايي با خصوصيات نس...
Journal of Urban Planning and Development
Abstract Urban spaces are important components within cities that improve urban competitiveness i... more Abstract Urban spaces are important components within cities that improve urban competitiveness in the context of intercity competition. The notion of urban space in today's increasingly globalizin...
The old parts of the Iranian cities, which have survived over the past few decades, are now suffe... more The old parts of the Iranian cities, which have survived over the past few decades, are now suffering degradation due to the long-term lack of maintenance and conservation. Based on the comprehensive approach to urban planning, despite the high social potentials of some of these deteriorated areas, in order to improve their physical quality; complete demolition is the ultimate suggested solution. Therefore, an urgent strategy is needed in order to reintegrate these forgotten places into mainstream development of the main city in an adequate approach. In recent years, sustainability has become one of the main vital strategies to set as a goal in urban regeneration and renewal projects. This approach can link economic profits and environmental improvement with social aspects.
This paper is the study of a historical district called “Ghaleh Abkooh”. With a 300-year history, this high density organic fabric is located at Mashhad downtown. Lacking a development plan in the past decades, Abkooh area does not function properly within Mashhad urban socio-eco system. Therefore, it is conceived to be an informal settlement. Despite of long history of residence and strong kinship ties which have led to social cohesion and strong local identity, the proposed regeneration plan consists of complete demolition and rebuilding approach through compulsory acquisition. There are growing local resistance against these culminated disputes, petition movements and negotiations with regional and provincial authorities.
Considering the importance of historical urban fabrics in urban policies and the vulnerability of... more Considering the importance of historical urban fabrics in urban policies and the vulnerability of these fabrics, different approaches on how to encounter the renewal of historical fabrics have recently become a crucial debate in the literature. Sustainability, as a comoprehensive approach in different dimensions of social, physical, etc. have been an effectual paradigm in recent decades and sustainable regeneration is now on the agenda of a large number of cities’ urban policy. This paper tends to disclose the potentials of historical fabrics on the way to reaching socio-cultural sustainability and thus, a qualitative method containing case study review (Istanbul and Mashhad) has been adopted. Following a theoretical review of sustainability in its socio-cultural aspect, a number of related measures have been introduced. The measures have subsequently been scrutinized (based on theoretical studies of the renewal of historical urban fabrics) and structured a framework for evaluating case studies: ‘reinforcing socio-cultural relationships’, ‘participative/advocative approach’ and ‘respecting history’ have been explored in the renewal experience of Istanbul and Mashhad. Analyzing the renewal approaches in case studies contains analogies and dissimilarities that proves to be helpful for further interventions in historical fabrics. It is finally revealed that after-effects of urban renewal projects in both case studies seem to resemble in consequences ,while the approaches and types of tourism varies in each, and is contrary to socio-cultural sustainability measures.
A brief review of contemporary urban regeneration literature reveals different approaches in whic... more A brief review of contemporary urban regeneration literature reveals different approaches in which culture led regeneration has a substantial compatibility to the situation of historic cities of Iran. This article tries to have an analysis on contemporary experiences of urban regeneration in historic cities of Iran in which urban spaces and culture are key factors. As a research method four case studies of urban spaces regeneration in different cities of Iran have been selected. Some results demonstrate successful experiences of Isfahan because of new generation of urban culture in relation to nightlife and also in Gorgan because of flexible use of squares as places for religious ceremonies. As unsuccessful experiences, in Busherhr the new plans have changed a historical square with cultural ceremony function to a playground. Also in the historic center of Shiraz for new development of The Holly Shrine a huge amount of public spaces has been demolished.