The Monthly Scientific Journal of Bagh-e Nazar

Explaining the Indicators of Event-Oriented Urban Public Spaces with a Cultural–Ritual Approach (A Case Study in Mashhad, Iran)

https://doi.org/10.22034/bagh.2025.525787.5826
Volume 22, Issue 149
November 2025
Pages 29-40
The Monthly Scientific Journal of Bagh-e Nazar

Document Type : Original Research Article

Authors

Seyede Zeinab Javadi
Seyed Ali Safavi

Department of Urban Planning, Faculty of Art, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract
Problem statement: Urban spaces have undergone transformations over the years due to various forces during periods of urban change. Historically, these spaces served as venues for diverse events and carried identity values embedded in collective memory. However, contemporary urban planning has largely overlooked the design and preparation of urban spaces to host events. In addition, large-scale urban development projects in developing countries and the resulting destruction of historical textures have led to urban spaces that, besides lacking suitable structures for attracting audiences and ensuring sustainable use, remain primarily transitional. Consequently, cultural–ritual events by the public are often held in spaces lacking the essential components of functional urban environments. The central question addressed in this study is: What indicators and characteristics should desirable urban spaces in Iran possess to host cultural and ritual events effectively, thereby serving as dynamic platforms for enhancing urban quality of life?
Research objective: This research aims to identify indicators of urban spaces based on cultural-ritual events to improve the quality of event-based urban spaces. This study seeks to provide a conceptual model to understand and guide the design of urban spaces with the ability to host various cultural-ritual events.
Research method: Methodologically, this research employed a qualitative approach using thematic analysis. Data were collected through document review, observation, questionnaires, and in-depth interviews within the cultural–ritual context of Mashhad, Iran, supplemented by software-based analyses.
Conclusion: Following data analysis, a conceptual model was proposed to elucidate the indicators of event-oriented urban spaces. Urban spaces designed with a cultural–ritual perspective achieve functional and semantic maturity when their design transcends physical form and addresses citizens’ perception, experience, and participation. This is accomplished through a deep understanding of the community’s cultural–ritual needs, translating them into design indicators, and integrating them into spatial structures. The study thus provides a framework for urban designers, cultural managers, and planners to assess and guide this process effectively.

Keywords

Urban Spaces
Event
Event-Oriented
Cultural&‌‌ndash
Ritual
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