Extended Abstract
Urban public spaces have long constituted one of the most fundamental components of cities, serving not only as physical settings for movement and accessibility but also as arenas for social interaction, cultural exchange, and collective urban life. Among these spaces, streets occupy a particularly significant position. In contemporary urbanism, the role of streets has evolved far beyond their traditional transportation function. Streets are now understood as multidimensional public environments capable of fostering social participation, strengthening place identity, and enhancing urban vitality. Their spatial configuration, environmental quality, and social functionality shape citizens’ everyday experiences and influence the extent to which urban environments are perceived as attractive, inclusive, and livable. Consequently, the revitalization and regeneration of urban streets have emerged as critical concerns in urban planning and design, particularly in cities facing challenges related to declining public life, reduced social interaction, and weakened environmental quality.
Urban vibrancy and social presence are closely connected to the capacity of public spaces to support diverse activities and accommodate different groups of users. Streets that successfully encourage walking, gathering, cultural exchange, and commercial interaction contribute significantly to the formation of collective memories and civic identity. Conversely, poorly designed or inadequately managed streets may generate feelings of insecurity, monotony, and social exclusion. Therefore, identifying the factors that influence street vitality and understanding users’ perceptions of urban environments are essential steps toward achieving sustainable and people-oriented urban development.
Within this context, Setareh Khan Street in Shiraz represents a particularly significant case for investigation. Owing to its strategic urban location and multifunctional role, the street constitutes one of the most important public corridors in the city. The presence of major urban facilities and destinations, including Afif Abad Garden, Dr. Khodadoust Eye Hospital, governmental institutions, and commercial complexes, has transformed this corridor into a dynamic urban axis with considerable social, economic, and cultural potential. Despite these advantages, however, the street faces a range of spatial and environmental challenges that affect the quality of public life and limit its capacity to attract sustained citizen presence. These conditions highlight the necessity of evaluating the street from the perspective of its users and exploring possibilities for enhancing its livability and vibrancy through context-sensitive interventions.
The present study aims to investigate the factors affecting urban vitality and citizen presence along Setareh Khan Street through a qualitative and grounded theory approach. Unlike conventional quantitative methods that frequently test predefined hypotheses, grounded theory emphasizes the extraction of concepts and explanatory frameworks directly from empirical data. This data-driven approach allows researchers to uncover dominant social processes and interpret urban phenomena through the lived experiences and perceptions of participants. Accordingly, the present research seeks not merely to describe existing spatial conditions but to identify and conceptualize the deeper mechanisms shaping users’ experiences of the street environment.
The methodological framework of this study is qualitative and based on grounded theory. Data were collected through fieldwork and documentary research, combining theoretical literature with empirical observations and interviews. The research population consisted of Shiraz citizens who regularly use or experience Setareh Khan Street and its surrounding spaces. Purposeful and field-oriented participant selection was employed to ensure that interviewees possessed direct experiential knowledge of the study area. Semi-structured interviews constituted the principal data collection method, enabling participants to freely express their perceptions, concerns, and suggestions regarding the street environment while allowing the researcher to maintain thematic consistency throughout the interview process.
A total of 86 citizens participated in the study. Of these, 50 participants were male and 34 were female, while two individuals chose not to disclose their gender. The age distribution of participants reflected considerable demographic diversity: six respondents were under 18 years old, twelve were between 19 and 30 years old, fifty-three belonged to the 31–50 age group, seventeen were between 51 and 65 years old, and four participants were over 65 years of age, while six respondents did not report their age. This demographic diversity contributed to the richness of the qualitative data and enabled the study to capture a wide range of experiences and perspectives concerning the urban environment.
The analytical process followed the systematic procedures of grounded theory and involved three stages of coding: open coding, axial coding, and selective coding. During open coding, interview texts were carefully examined and segmented into meaningful units from which preliminary concepts were extracted. These concepts were subsequently categorized and organized through axial coding, allowing relationships between ideas and recurring themes to emerge. Finally, selective coding facilitated the integration of these categories into a coherent conceptual framework capable of explaining the dominant patterns identified throughout the interviews.
The coding process generated twenty-five conceptual codes that were ultimately organized into three major axial categories: (a) Mobility and Activity, (b) Attractiveness and Unattractiveness, and (c) Citizens, Activities, and Behaviors (Active and Inactive). These categories collectively formed the analytical basis of the study and were integrated around the central theme of spatial-social justice and urban vitality.
The first category, Mobility and Activity, refers to the dynamic and functional dimensions of the street environment that facilitate movement, interaction, and continuous urban life. Interview findings indicate that both domestic and international tourists play an important role in enhancing the vibrancy of Setareh Khan Street. Participants frequently associated the presence of visitors with the attractiveness of Afif Abad Garden and the broader cultural and environmental qualities of Shiraz. The diversity of businesses, active pedestrian movement, and concentration of urban functions were also identified as factors contributing to a lively atmosphere. Respondents emphasized that vibrant streets are characterized not merely by physical movement but by the coexistence of multiple forms of activity that encourage social exchange and reinforce the perception of safety and vitality.
The second category, Attractiveness and Unattractiveness, reflects the perceptual and environmental qualities influencing users’ emotional and psychological responses to the street. Public spaces become meaningful when they provide visual stimulation, comfort, and positive sensory experiences. Participants highlighted several attractive characteristics of the street, including greenery, visual openness, cultural identity, and nostalgic qualities associated with Afif Abad Garden and surrounding urban elements. Simultaneously, however, several negative conditions were repeatedly mentioned. These included inadequate lighting, heavy vehicular congestion, insufficient seating, poor waste management, and feelings of insecurity during nighttime hours. Such findings demonstrate that attractiveness is not solely an aesthetic matter but involves a broader combination of environmental quality, maintenance, and social comfort.
The third category, Citizens, Activities, and Behaviors, addresses the social and behavioral dimensions of urban life. Interviewees emphasized that the quality of streets is strongly influenced by the nature of activities occurring within them and by the behaviors of their users. Participants noted both positive and negative behavioral patterns affecting the street experience. On one hand, walking, social encounters, and recreational activities were considered desirable features capable of enhancing social life. On the other hand, issues such as smoking, street vending conflicts, inadequate public behavior, and insufficient collective spaces were identified as obstacles to comfort and inclusivity. Several respondents also expressed concerns regarding the absence of spaces for rest and gathering, the lack of cycling infrastructure, and limited public transportation accessibility.
The findings suggest that urban vitality cannot be achieved through isolated physical interventions alone. Rather, successful street revitalization requires an integrated approach combining environmental quality, social inclusiveness, and functional diversity. Accordingly, several recommendations emerged from the qualitative findings. These include improving movement comfort and safety during adverse weather conditions, creating sheltered resting spaces, providing appropriate coverings for drainage channels and sidewalks, and implementing complete street principles to accommodate all categories of users. Participants further emphasized the importance of physically organizing street functions according to established urban design principles and ensuring that any structural or material interventions remain consistent with the historical character and social role of the corridor.
Additional recommendations focused on strengthening the social and economic dimensions of the street environment. These involved introducing greater diversity of urban activities, supporting cafés and cultural events, improving pedestrian infrastructure, enhancing visual identity through continuous maintenance and environmental improvements, and considering the needs of users across different age groups, genders, and physical abilities. Establishing parking facilities at strategic locations and improving connections between the street and surrounding urban landmarks were likewise identified as important strategies for enhancing accessibility and reinforcing place identity.
Ultimately, the findings of this study demonstrate that urban vitality emerges from the interaction between physical design, social behavior, and environmental quality. Setareh Khan Street possesses considerable potential to function as a vibrant and socially inclusive urban corridor; however, realizing this potential requires interventions that extend beyond conventional transportation-oriented planning. By integrating principles of complete streets, inclusive urban design, and context-sensitive regeneration, planners and decision-makers can strengthen the street’s role as a public space capable of supporting social interaction, economic activity, and collective urban identity. Consequently, this research contributes both theoretically and practically to the discourse on urban regeneration and highlights the necessity of people-centered approaches in revitalizing contemporary streets and public environments.