International Journal of

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The rise in energy consumption in recent years has not only heightened concerns about the depletion of fossil resources but has also led to severe and threatening environmental changes worldwide. Buildings play a significant role as major energy consumers, with residential buildings being particularly important due to their continuous use throughout the day and night. This study aims to investigate the impact of thermal insulation applied to the external walls of residential buildings on cooling and heating energy consumption. Additionally, it seeks to determine the differences between various placements of thermal insulation and identify their optimal thicknesses. Given that testing and comparing different scenarios on an accurate scale would require substantial time and resources, this research employs a simulation-based approach. Modeling and simulations were conducted using Rhino and EnergyPlus software. For this purpose, three common land plot sizes from the city of Qom were selected, and each was simulated in two configurations (north-facing and south-facing) and seven geographical orientations. The final outputs include (1) the percentage contribution of each external wall in reducing energy consumption, (2) the priority ranking of walls for insulation, (3) the effect of the last floor ceiling and pilot roof insulation, and (4) the recommended optimal thickness for thermal insulation. By analyzing the energy load reductions achieved, the study determines the most effective conditions and optimal thicknesses for thermal insulation in the external walls of buildings

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The utilization of natural ventilation in urban canyons plays a substantial role in lessening energy consumption and heat island effects. Determining the appropriate street canyon form is then very influential. In this study, Ansys Fluent was used to numerically measure airflow, heat transfer, and solar radiation in five three-dimensional urban environments with aspect ratios (3, 2, 1, 2/3, 1/3). The 𝑘−𝜀 turbulence model was used for the initial modeling and large eddy simulation of the final one. Three types of materials (gray aluminum composite, gray concrete, and white stone chipping) were considered for buildings and asphalt as ground material. The results showed that increasing the building surface fraction increased the walls’ average temperature and decreased the walls’ net longwave flux for three material types. Moreover, the aspect ratio was directly related to the average wall temperature and inversely related to the net long-wave flux of walls. Furthermore, the results showed that eddy height tracked the street canyon height at different aspect ratios. Comparisons also revealed that the magnitude of the vortices generated next to the buildings is approximately the same for the three materials

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Urban parks play a critical role in enhancing the quality of urban life by offering a range of services. This study explores public expectations regarding services provided in urban parks, using a mixed-methods approach. Quantitative data were collected through a questionnaire completed by 481 participants, while qualitative insights were gathered via semi-structured interviews with 22 stakeholders. The analysis revealed that recreational and comfort-related services are the most valued features of urban parks. Participants emphasized the importance of soft landscapes, greenery, diverse and age-appropriate play equipment, walking paths, and spaces for popular group games. Additionally, there was strong support for incorporating intellectual and educational games to enrich the park experience and promote informal learning. Findings indicate that urban park planning should prioritize recreational and welfare functions, supported by thoughtful landscape design. Enhancing features such as green spaces, play diversity, and inclusive public areas can significantly improve user satisfaction and the overall functionality of urban parks. These insights can inform urban planners and designers in creating parks that better align with community needs and preferences.
 

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In the contemporary period, the pervasive trend towards automation is evident across various industries, including the construction sector. This study presents a novel construction approach by automating the plastering process on flat facades, with the specific aim of eliminating cumbersome scaffolding structures and attaining additional benefits such as enhanced safety and quality. Consequently, the development of a specialized robot, designated as the façade plastering robot (FPROB), has been undertaken for this purpose. It is conjectured that the FPROB holds potential for greater efficiency and cost-effectiveness, particularly in the context of mid-rise buildings, despite its limitation to flat surfaces.
To conceptualize a new design paradigm, a comprehensive review of relevant literature has been conducted, with the aim of discerning the merits and demerits of prior methodologies and identifying innovative solutions for the FPROB. The proposed robotic system demonstrates the capability to achieve several objectives, including a 56% improvement in construction safety, attainment of more uniform finishing quality, and obviation of the need for scaffolding. It is noteworthy that the adaptability of this robot extends to multitasking functionalities, serving as a foundational model for subsequent iterations of façade robots, projected to achieve a 25% enhancement over their predecessors. Moreover, future discourse envisages the potential extension of this method and robot for analogous maintenance and painting tasks within similar contexts.
 

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This study presents a critical examination of the status of urban planning as a discipline and profession. The study is comprised of two main sections. The first is a theoretical review of various selective related studies conducted in English-speaking countries, focusing on those from the United Kingdom and the United States. The second is a survey of
61 professional and graduate urban planners in Iran, which was conducted using a non-probability sampling method. The most significant variables examined are the essential skills and competencies of planners, the inclination to pursue the same field of study once more, and the discrepancy between academic education and professional training. In conclusion, the theoretical and survey-based findings are interpreted from sociological, epistemological, and political economy perspectives, and recommendations are provided. This study is distinctive in its use of an interpretive approach to quantitative and qualitative findings, as well as its combination of quantitative and qualitative methods to achieve a form of causality in the issues of the field and profession of planning.
 

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The provision of social housing represents a fundamental objective for any government, shaped by prevailing circumstances and capabilities, and aligned with the goal of enhancing social welfare. In contexts where housing is regarded as a valuable economic asset and an integral component of the economy, the principal objective frequently becomes the reduction of land acquisition costs. It is regrettable that this exclusive focus on economic considerations frequently results in the marginalization of social, local and cultural values in urban planning and design. The absence of social interaction in such developments impedes the formation of social cohesion among individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds. In order to achieve comprehensive urban sustainability, it is imperative to reinforce social connections and to gain an understanding of the significance of social sustainability. One of the most effective strategies for achieving this is the creation of local green public spaces, w

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This study discusses some factors affecting landscape aesthetics’ perception in Persian gardens, with a case study of Delgosha Garden in Shiraz, Iran. To this end, the main physical elements of the Persian garden are identified, and their aesthetic value is assessed by analyzing landscape preferences in three steps: First, the appreciation of main physical elements in Persian garden is discussed; second, their effects on landscape preferences are examined employing photomontages; and finally, the visual impact of main physical elements of the garden, on aesthetical quality of the landscape, is quantified through a statistical model. An analytical-descriptive method is adopted to achieve this goal, and a statistical population including three groups of inhabitants is involved in the survey from November 2023 to December 2023. Three approaches were also used to analyze the landscape preferences. The main study tool is a questionnaire on aesthetic values. For data analysis, one-way ANOVA, paired sample T-test, and regression model were performed, using SPSS 24. This made it possible to determine if and to what extent the Persian garden's aesthetic values are shared among this study's participants. The results demonstrate that the alteration in the existence of the main physical elements in the Persian garden would lead to different aesthetic perceptions in three groups of interviewees. These findings may help landscape architects and urban designers in further designs to consider and prioritize the main architectural elements based on their impacts on different generations

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This study explores older adults’ perceptions of open-space landscaping in nursing homes, focusing on the psychological underpinnings of their preferences. A photo-based questionnaire employing the Content Identification Method (CIM) was administered to 277 residents of the Khooban Nursing Home in Tabriz. The instrument included three sections: demographic information, dependent variables, and visual imagery of the facility. Findings indicated that respondents highly valued "viewing green spaces was reported to provide comfort" and, in terms of safety, emphasized the importance of "appropriate flooring". Additionally, "having comfortable seating within green areas" emerged as the top priority. Factor analysis identified four key spatial dimensions—complexity, mystery (α = 0.71), prospect (α = 0.63), and refuge—with complexity receiving the highest mean preference rating (3.96 out of 5). Participants also expressed a strong appreciation for landscapes that evoke a "sense of comfort". In terms of visual quality indicators, preferences were ranked in the order of prospect, mystery, complexity, and refuge. These findings can be of interest to landscape architects and urban designers to create appropriate spaces based on the preferences of older adults in nursing homes.
 

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Urban design in hot–arid cities has often depended on implicit intuition rather than transparent, testable rules. This study develops a parametric framework that translates conceptual design principles into an algorithmic flowchart, making the design of a city’s “main structure” explicit and reproducible. Through content analysis of structuralist, typological, and collective-form theories, we identified key parameters—including functional scale, durability, accessibility, connectivity, and visual legibility—and adapted them to climate-specific conditions. The results showed that connectivity, scale, and orientation thresholds were most decisive in shaping resilient urban routes, centers, and icons in the linear cities in the hot arid areas. By embedding these parameters in a stepwise, code-free algorithm, the method allows designers to evaluate alternatives systematically rather than relying on intuition. The contribution lies in operationalizing theoretical concepts into a portable design tool for hot–arid contexts, advancing both the scientific understanding of climate-adapted urban structure and the practical capacity to integrate parametric methods into early-stage planning.

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This study explores the influence of color on the learning experiences and cognitive development of children within educational settings. Recognized as potent psychological tools, colors can markedly affect children's emotions, behaviors, and cognitive abilities. The primary objective of this research is to examine the associations between color characteristics, learning environments, and children's memory performance, with a specific emphasis on color psychology.
    Employing a descriptive and analytical research methodology, the study incorporates a quantitative approach. Data collection methods include questionnaires, interviews, observational studies, and extensive literature reviews. The collected data are analyzed using SPSS software, which reveals significant positive correlations between color usage, educational environments, and memory retention among children.
    The findings suggest that careful selection of colors can significantly enhance children's concentration, reduce levels of stress, and improve their overall memory capabilities. Warm colors, such as red and yellow, have been found to stimulate energy and creativity, while cooler tones, like blue and green, are associated with increased calmness and focus. The main conclusion drawn from this study highlights the necessity of deliberate color design in educational spaces to foster children's learning and cognitive growth. This underscores the vital role that color psychology plays in the effective design of educational environments. The study's results also provide valuable insights for architects and educators aiming to develop more effective and stimulating learning spaces for children

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This study employed a mixed qualitative-quantitative methodology to examine the influential factors in providing affordable housing within the framework of Iran’s socio-cultural patterns. In the qualitative phase, preliminary factors were identified through meta-synthesis of 33 credible articles. Subsequently, in the quantitative phase, these factors were evaluated and validated using confirmatory factor analysis with the participation of 273 housing specialists, managers, and experts. The findings reveal that multiple factors play significant roles, including: standardization and modularization of design and construction, utilization of natural ventilation and climate-adaptive strategies, implementation of modern construction technologies, the use of sustainable and recyclable materials, increased productivity in production and execution processes, design flexibility to meet user needs, energy consumption optimization and environmental impact reduction, construction waste management, reduced reliance on human labor, provision of psychological comfort for residents, utilization of natural lighting, enhancement of neighborhood relationships and social interactions, preservation of architectural identity, reduction of construction and maintenance costs, and future-oriented design approaches. The study shows that the successful provision of affordable housing in Iran requires simultaneous attention to technical, environmental, socio-cultural, and economic dimensions. Accordingly, it is recommended that policies such as developing construction standards, promoting the use of sustainable materials, formulating climate-appropriate design guidelines, and strengthening social participation in housing projects be implemented

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As one of the essential tools for architecture education, one can refer to the criteria for assessing the creativity of architecture novices during the architectural design process and in the final design product. The components required for architecture novice creativity assessment are extracted by reviewing relevant previous studies and surveying 116 experts and professionals using an open-ended questionnaire. Next, the effectiveness of the components in the architectural design process and the final design product is verified using a researcher-made closed-ended questionnaire. The data accuracy and correlations between the variables are examined using Friedman's test and Spearman's correlation coefficient in the Smart-PLS software. The research results presented the subcomponents of stages in the fluid architectural design process: the recognition and perception stage (including the right and comprehensive understanding of site potentials and climatic and environmental information), imagination and unconscious mind stage (with emphasis on the uniqueness of the idea), in-between stage (abstract thinking and use of metaphor and amphibology), consciousness (intellection) stage (coherence in design, attention to primary data and the future), and from latency of the design idea to the final decision based on the individual evaluation. Attention to each mentioned component within these nonlinear and flexible stages in the architectural design process improves the creativity of architecture novices. Thirteen criteria were obtained for assessing the creativity of the final product of architectural design which includes all effective physical, conceptual, and spatial subcomponents.
 

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Urban design in hot–arid cities has often depended on implicit intuition rather than transparent, testable rules. This study develops a parametric framework that translates conceptual design principles into an algorithmic flowchart, making the design of a city’s “main structure” explicit and reproducible. Through content analysis of structuralist, typological, and collective-form theories, we identified key parameters—including functional scale, durability, accessibility, connectivity, and visual legibility—and adapted them to climate-specific conditions. The results showed that connectivity, scale, and orientation thresholds were most decisive in shaping resilient urban routes, centers, and icons in the linear cities in the hot arid areas. By embedding these parameters in a stepwise, code-free algorithm, the method allows designers to evaluate alternatives systematically rather than relying on intuition. The contribution lies in operationalizing theoretical concepts into a portable design tool for hot–arid contexts, advancing both the scientific understanding of climate-adapted urban structure and the practical capacity to integrate parametric methods into early-stage planning.
 

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This research aims to explore the process of modernization of the city’s image—a topic that has not yet been critically
examined. The study employs an interpretive-historical method, drawing on publications, photographs, and oral
historiography related to both existing and lost buildings of the period. In the case of Qom, the obligatory modern
changes—such as cutting streets through the traditional urban fabric—could not entirely erase traditional conceptions of
the city image at the microscale. Revisiting the street façades of the early modern era in Qom reveals that the public
perception of the new phenomenon of the street was derived from the spatial logic of inner courtyards as well as the bazaar.
The baroque-style planning of the new city was exceptional within Reza Khan’s urban plans and had the greatest impact
on turning the holy shrine into the new city center. However, about a decade after the onset of this modernization process,
a popular trend emerged toward adopting certain modern spatial features. Thus, in this small city at the beginning of
modernization—and later a large city at its peak—numerous popular adaptations between tradition and modernity can be
observed, not only at the microscale and in façade design but also at the urban scale, where modern detached spaces were
integrated through the adaptation of traditional spatial patterns.

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This study investigates crime, particularly robbery, in Mashhad, the second largest city in Iran. It examines whether urban facilities and students—representing the built environment and studentification—act as crime attractors or detractors. The study also introduces crime prevention strategies in urban contexts, focusing on crime detractors. To this aim, quantitative analysis and spatial statistics methods such as correlation, regression, Moran's I index, and Getis-Ord Gi are applied. These tools are used to explore the spatial distribution of robberies and their relationships with urban facilities and students. The findings reveal that robberies are often concentrated in impoverished and marginalized neighborhoods. Commercial, residential, educational, green spaces, farms, gardens, and warehousing generally act as robbery attractors. In contrast, cultural facilities and students, as culturally expressive social groups, serve as robbery detractors. Challenging the assumption of purely rational offenders, the study argues that crime is primarily driven by life necessities. Since most facilities attract crime, while cultural facilities and students reduce it, a culture-led crime prevention strategy is suggested as a potential pathway to lower crime rates.

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This study examines climate-responsive form in the historic fabric of Lar (Fars, Iran) and clarifies how its vernacular differs from canonical hot-arid cases such as Yazd/Kashan. We adopt a mixed-methods, mechanism-centred approach: plans and field documentation were compiled for 30 dwellings (19 with an iwan, 11 without), iwan and courtyard attributes were coded, and findings were benchmarked against the Mahoney tables. An expert elicitation (n = 218, Cronbach’s α = 0.91) provided ranked environmental and cultural priorities to contextualize the spatial evidence. Across the sample, Lar’s dwellings consistently express façade buffering, solar control, and ventilation staging. Iwans are typically summer-oriented, often aligned with prevailing winds, span about half the façade, and have depth equal to or greater than the principal room, with one-way side access used more often than two-way. Openings on exposed fronts are small and recessed. At the urban-fabric scale, narrow lanes and covered passages (sabat) sustain shaded, ventilated continuity. Courtyards are predominantly central or three-sided, with intermediate plot shares (~20–40%) and elongated proportions (~1/2–1/3) that deepen self-shade and channel breezes; walls and roofs are heavy earthen assemblies, sometimes complemented by basements for thermal damping. Expert rankings place temperature/sunlight as the leading environmental concern and historical/place-based practices as the leading cultural theme, aligning with the observed configurations. Distinctive features of Lar include its dense sabat network, short-wide wind-catchers, and water-organized urban grain. The paper translates these convergences into practice-ready rules for hot-arid design: compact courtyard planning with elongated courts; deep transitional iwans serving principal rooms; protected, recessed openings; shaded, narrow pedestrian ways; and heavy, time-lagging envelopes with adequate drainage. These lessons demonstrate how Lar’s vernacular can inform contemporary, culturally resonant low-energy architecture.
 

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This paper aims to regenerate the urban identity of Shahr-e Rey by proposing an analytical model for sustainable urban planning. In this context, the ‘theory of Relativity’ refers to the idea that urban identity is shaped by the relative relationships among cultural, social, and natural forces, and the ‘principle of biocentrism’ emphasizes the central role of ecological considerations in planning. Building on these theoretical foundations, this model guides urban regeneration by identifying and evaluating the dynamic interactions among cultural, social, and natural forces affexting the city. Regarding methodology, the study uses both historical and analytical data, integrating qualitative and quantitative approaches. In the first stage, historical and documentary information on Shahr-e Rey is gathered from written sources and semi-structured interviews with professors at the Tehran University. In the second stage, spatial and functional analyses were conducted using satellite imagery and analytical tools. The findings led to the development of a two-part framework: the Observer Model and the Functional Model. The Observer Model serves as the theoretical and analytical foundation, focusing on how urban phenomena are perceived and interpreted. In contrast, the Functional Model outlines the proposed spatial system, based on empirical data and biocentric indicators. Functional relationship matrices enabled the evaluation of convergence or divergence among urban spaces. This approach allowed for a redefinition of the city’s essential urban functions. The results demonstrate that applying the theory of Relativity in urban planning makes possible a flexible, context-sensitive, and localized design approach. Accordingly, urban policy should move away from dependence on capitalist paradigms and imitation of global models, and instead, through relative and data-driven analyses, advance toward the development of a sustainable and identity-based city. To achieve this, biocentrism must be prioritized as a higher-order indicator in analyses and decision-making, with its relationship to other areas, particularly the built environment, redefined. Such an approach enables Shahr-e Rey to progress toward self-sufficiency and to stabilize at a sustainable level consistent with its historical identity and natural setting

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The concept of place has long been regarded as a foundational notion in urban design, environmental psychology, and cognitive science. Yet, the mental and neural mechanisms underlying place perception have rarely been examined through an interdisciplinary lens. This study focuses on the role of the hippocampal neural structure in the mental representation of place, exploring the links between episodic memory, emotion, lived experience, and the semantic dimensions of place. Drawing on cognitive and semantic theories, prototypes are considered as primary, central configurations that shape individual perceptions of place.

The research was designed at both conceptual and empirical levels. Conceptually, the notions of “place,” “hippocampus,” and “prototype” were analyzed from the perspectives of neuroscience, environmental psychology, and phenomenology. Empirically, free word-association data were collected from 60 residents and pilgrims in the vicinity of the Imam Reza Shrine in Mashhad. The data were analyzed using content analysis, with internal validity ensured through theoretical saturation.

Findings reveal that mental associations with the term " place" fall into four main clusters: personal spaces, sacred and spiritual spaces, functional spaces, and value concepts of place. Due to early theoretical saturation and the limited diversity of responses, place-based experiences in the contemporary urban context appear restricted, with urban spaces often failing to evoke memory, meaning, or sensory engagement—particularly among residents. Pilgrims exhibit more intense emotional engagement but a narrower spatial focus, whereas residents experience a broader spatial range with less emotional intensity.

In conclusion, place perception is not merely a spatial or functional phenomenon but is deeply rooted in the interweaving of memory, emotion, and daily life, underpinned by the hippocampus. By integrating concepts from cognitive neuroscience with place theory, this study opens new horizons for understanding human experience of place and for developing urban design approaches grounded in memory and perception.
 

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This study aims to examine how the Burden of COVID-19 (BUC), depression (DEP), and stress (STR) are related to soundscape preferences (City Voice/traffic, Music, Voice of Nature/birdsong) and to distil design implications for pandemic-resilient urban parks. This cross-sectional online study with N = 323 university students used a 60-s 3D animation of a constant green pedestrian way with three randomized audio conditions (City Voice, Music, Voice of Nature). Psychological variables were assessed with DASS-21 subscales (DEP, STR) and a 10-item BUC index. To minimize loudness confounds, audio was loudness-normalized (BS.1770-5) and participants completed a brief headphone screening before trials. Analyses reported Cronbach’s α, Pearson correlations, exact p values, and FDR control. The study showed that BUC correlated positively with Music (r = .288, p < .001), DEP (r = .213, p < .001), and STR (r = .186, p = .001), but not with City Voice or Voice of Nature. DEP correlated positively with Music (r = .174, p = .002) and Voice of Nature (r = .492, p < .001). STR correlated positively with Voice of Nature
(r = .377, p < .001). City Voice showed no reliable associations with BUC, DEP, or STR. All effects with p ≤ .002 remained after FDR control. Park and streetscape projects should buffer traffic noise, foreground pleasant natural acoustics (e.g., water features, habitat for birds/insects), and consider opt-in, curated music zones during crises to support self-regulation and recovery. Sound-attentive design can extend restorative experiences to communities with limited access to large green spaces, supporting equitable mental-health resilience during public-health emergencies. However, findings should be interpreted with caution given the student sample, correlational design, and single-item soundscape preference measures. The study isolates the auditory contribution to restoration under controlled loudness in a virtual park, links pandemic burden to sound preferences, and translates results into actionable soundscape guidelines for pandemic-ready urban design.