Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Assistant Professor, Department of Architecture, Mizan Institute of Higher Education, Tabriz, Iran.
2
Assistant Professor, Department of Urban Planning, Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism, Soureh International University, Tehran, Iran
10.22034/rau.2025.2063487.1212
Abstract
Contemporary urban design literature conceptualizes urban identity as a multi-layered, dynamic, and trans-scalar phenomenon that transcends the city's physical form. Urban identity is shaped and reproduced through the interplay of social interactions, historical memory, cultural rituals, and collective behaviors. It emerges from a semantic network created by the convergence and interconnection of diverse urban layers, representing a continuous process responsive to time, place, and human agency. In many historic Iranian cities, especially Tabriz, rapid physical development, urban regeneration without semantic evaluation, and uncoordinated renovation projects have disrupted layers of identity, reduced spatial coherence, and weakened collective memory. These disruptions extend beyond physical alterations to buildings and streets, affecting the city’s semantic networks, where residents’ lived experiences and spatial cognition become misaligned with new structures, gradually transforming space from a meaningful place into a purely physical environment.
A critical review of the literature indicates that, despite theoretical attention to concepts such as “sense of place” (Relph), “the social production of space” (Lefebvre), and “environmental semiotics” (Rapoport), most studies remain descriptive, focusing on physical elements or cataloging signs, and seldom translate these ideas into operational, quantitative, or policy-relevant indicators. This persistent gap between qualitative semantic analysis and urban decision-making highlights the need for a framework that both deepens understanding of meaning and enables measurement, prioritization, and intervention planning at the neighborhood scale. Such a framework should represent the interrelationships among physical, historical, cultural, and social layers as a network and facilitate its application in urban governance and management.
This study addresses the identified gap by adopting a social constructivist paradigm and a qualitative–interpretive methodology. The underlying premise is that spatial meaning is neither intrinsic nor static, nor solely discernible through physical elements; instead, it is generated through the interaction of residents’ lived experiences, collective narratives, social practices, and urban layers. The research focuses on the historic core of Tabriz, particularly the bazaar complex and adjacent neighborhoods, which, due to their dense historical and cultural layers and exposure to contemporary development pressures, provide an exemplary context for analyzing the semantic network of urban identity. This selection allows for the examination of the effects of modern interventions on historical and cultural layers and for the identification of critical points of identity erosion.
Data collection employed three complementary sources. First, twenty semi-structured interviews were conducted with fifteen experts in urban design, history, and urban sociology, as well as five informed residents, using purposive–theoretical sampling to ensure diverse perspectives and conceptual depth. Second, georeferenced field observations at multiple time intervals documented spatial patterns, physical structures, collective behaviors, and ongoing rituals. Third, historical document analysis—including maps from the Safavid and Qajar periods, contemporary urban development plans, and archival records—was used to reconstruct the spatio-semantic evolution of Tabriz. Integrating these sources ensured analytical robustness from both lived-experience and historical–physical perspectives.
Data analysis utilized Braun and Clarke’s six-step thematic analysis. Initial open coding identified preliminary concepts, which were then grouped into central themes and organized into a semantic network to reveal interrelations among physical, historical, cultural, and social layers. NVivo 12 software supported analytical rigor and transparency. Inter-coder agreement, measured by Cohen’s Kappa, exceeded 0.75, indicating substantial reliability and consistency. Data credibility and trustworthiness were established using Lincoln and Guba’s criteria—credibility, dependability, confirmability, and transferability—supported by participant review and data triangulation.
A key methodological innovation was translating qualitative themes into spatial layers for analysis in a GIS environment, enabling the examination of the spatial distribution of semantic layers. The findings revealed that identity elements are unevenly distributed, with areas of high semantic density and critical zones at risk of identity erosion identified. To facilitate comparative assessment, a composite Semantic Significance Score (SSS) was developed, integrating three components: thematic intensity, historical continuity, and social representation in rituals and collective memory. Component weights were determined through a Delphi panel of experts, with consensus coefficients established.
The results identified four principal layers within Tabriz's urban identity. The first, the physical–spatial layer, includes bazaar network patterns, brickwork rhythms, teamcheh structures, street hierarchies, and public space continuity, all of which shape residents’ perceptual frameworks and sensory–cognitive experiences. GIS analysis demonstrated that the density of key physical elements directly influences sensory experience and people's movement, with low-density areas being most vulnerable to physical changes. These findings emphasize that physical interventions that lack semantic reproduction retain only functional form and are insufficient to sustain urban identity over time.
The second, historical–civilizational layer, represents the continuity of collective memory, the persistence of Safavid and Qajar elements, and the stabilization of historical features within the urban fabric. The lack of integrated policies addressing both physical preservation and semantic reproduction has led to unclear resource allocation and to conservative or symbolic regeneration practices. Analysis showed that official programs primarily emphasize physical restoration, often neglecting the reproduction of associated functions and narratives. This layer highlights the temporal dimension of spaces and demonstrates that physical preservation alone is inadequate without semantic safeguarding.
The third, cultural–ritual layer, encompasses the influence of rituals, religious ceremonies, collective gatherings, and urban calendars on the reproduction of meaning. GIS analysis and field observations indicated that the density of ritual spaces and collective participation in ceremonies are directly linked to the continuity of the sense of place and identity resilience. Altering or removing these functions reduces the spatial capacity for ritual enactment and diminishes residents’ sense of belonging. These results suggest that urban policies neglecting the temporal and functional reproduction of rituals undermine both the symbolic and functional aspects of urban identity.
The fourth, social–interactive layer, comprises place attachment, social capital, network trust, and mechanisms for local participation. Findings indicated that older generations demonstrate stronger environmental attachment, while younger generations exhibit lower attachment, primarily due to land-use changes and commercialization. Weak participatory institutions and the lack of institutionalized local narratives are significant contributors to identity erosion. In the absence of participatory mechanisms that reinforce place attachment, the sense of place declines, and collective identity is weakened.
Spatial analysis of the SSS index showed that the historic Tabriz bazaar serves as the core of the city’s semantic network, with the highest semantic density and a central role in identity cohesion. In contrast, neighborhoods such as Shanbghazan and Cherandab face the greatest risk of identity erosion. The SSS index facilitates the prioritization of neighborhoods and identification of critical intervention zones, supporting evidence-based policies for preservation, activation, and identity reconstruction.
Based on these findings, three levels of intervention are proposed: preservation in areas with high semantic density, activation in neighborhoods with latent capacity, and semantic reconstruction in zones experiencing identity rupture. This approach enables precise, quantitative policy-making and offers strategies for cultural preservation, increased identity resilience, and strengthened social cohesion.
In summary, the study demonstrates that urban identity in Tabriz is a networked, multidimensional, and quantifiable structure with direct relevance for urban decision-making and policy. The extension of the SSS index enables the translation of semantic analysis into measurable, policy-relevant indicators that inform regeneration, restoration, and urban management. This theoretical and practical framework supports the transition from qualitative semantic analysis to transparent, quantifiable, and monitorable urban governance, and applies to other historic Iranian cities.
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