Neighborhoods

As it is commonly understood, Urban neighborhoods play a significant role in developing urban sustainability as the smallest unit of city so that the formation and promotion of neighborhood identity, and focusing on social relationships would be in harmony with urban sustainability. It is believed that a dramatic change in spatial structure of urban neighborhood include a decline in levels of political, social and economic role of neighborhoods as long as they have had some disadvantages such as environmental pollution, marginalization, poor housing, socialpsychological and cultural damages, and particularly losing spiritual and material values as well in the recent decades. To limit these disadvantages associated with communities, neighborhood centers should be designed. The purpose of this study will analyze the concept of neighborhoods and neighborhoods’ centers and their effects on urban sustainability by descriptive- analytical approach and by gathering information through libraries and reviewing documents. This paper engages in analyzing components, dimensions, factors of sustainability and neighborhoods centers that integrated in the final model which characterized by practical-economic, environmental, empirical- aesthetic components; and, the validity of the used questionnaires based on factors of this model with 387 subjects (the selected sample) and the reliability of the questionnaires by using Cronbach Alpha through Bartlett Test and KMO factor at high level of 0/85 was proved. The level of significance of each component was reexامینed by concerning their effects on urban sustainability. By applying multiple- regression test, the statistical outcomes reveal that designing based on environmental components have the utmost impact on neighborhoods sustainability.

Today, places play a significant role in shaping individuals' identities. However, due to phenomena such as urbanization and urban development, places are often under threat and may lose their true meaning. The role of neighborhoods as elements that strengthen and preserve the sense of place identity among citizens is undeniable. As such, this study aims to explore the perceptions of residents and tourists regarding urban heritage identity and the old neighborhoods of Tehran to determine whether these neighborhoods still successfully create a sense of place identity among their inhabitants. The purpose of this research is to identify the aspects of continuity in urban heritage identity in Tehran's old neighborhoods, with an emphasis on the perceptions of tourists and residents. This research is practical and descriptive-analytical. Data and information were collected using library resources, field studies, and questionnaires. The study population includes tourism and cultural heritage experts, tourism officials, as well as residents and tourists who have visited the old fabric of Tehran. To test the hypotheses, a 21-item questionnaire was prepared and distributed among 188 residents and 245 tourists of the neighborhoods, selected through convenience sampling. The findings revealed six components—familiarity and attachment, nostalgia and memories, architecture, security, values, and vibrancy—that can be considered as the components of continuity in urban heritage identity. Furthermore, the findings indicated that residents and tourists have a relatively favorable perception of the components of continuity in urban heritage identity in the studied areas.