The Monthly Scientific Journal of Bagh-e Nazar

Genealogy of World’s Fairs (Expos) Traced through an Assessment of Their Structure & Content

https://doi.org/10.22034/bagh.2025.512690.5787
Volume 22, Issue 150
December 2025
Pages 59-72
The Monthly Scientific Journal of Bagh-e Nazar

Document Type : Original Research Article

Authors

Mohammad Shafiei 1
Reza Sameh 2

1 Faculty of Architecture & Urbanism, Imam Khomeini International University

2 Faculty of Architecture & Urbanism , Imam Khomeini International University

Abstract
Problem Statement: World’s fair, as the most important phenomenon of the modern era, which emerged with the commencement of the industrial revolution, contributed to the reflection of attitudes, the presentation of findings, and technological and cultural developments. Despite their long-standing history, rarely have their structure, content, and historical course been systematically assessed to provide a guideline for future planning. How can the World’s Fairs be assessed, and what insight will the findings provide for their future planning?

Research Objectives: a)To achieve the structural and content logic of World’s Fairs through a fundamental understanding of the running themes in each period, b) to examine the evolution and historical course from the beginning to the present, c) to present the evoltionary path and explain generations in such a way that show their continuity in the future can be explained through a perspective.

Research Method: To understand the history and logic behind the emergence of the World’s Fairs, the study adopted a genealogical approach and a descriptive-analytical method. The data were collected from literature review, historical documents, scientific articles, and databases, and analyzed using a comparative approach. The inductive reasoning was used for description, content analysis, and categorization of the collected data and the evaluation of that genealogy and typology.

Conclusion: Despite the differences of fairs, they share an inherent essence and a tendency towards growth that set the groundwork for multiple flows, such as development in subsequent periods and evolutions of their following themes. Various flows affect their nature, but the end and change of each generation don’t mean a fundamental transformation, and sometimes themes are repeated in an overlapping manner. Therefore, it can be planned in such a way that future fairs, regardless of regional organization in several places simultaneously, follow the path of the new generation and complete its process.

Keywords

World&‌‌‌‌‌‌rsquo
s Fair
International Exposition
Expos
Genealogy
Arvin, M., Faraji, A., & Ghane, M. (2018). Evaluation of the Dimensions of Vitality of Urban Walkways from Point of View of Citizens (Case of study: Rasht Cultural Walkway). The Journal of Community Development (Rural-Urban), 10(2), 253-276. https://doi.org/10.22059/jrd.2019.71201
Bahreini, H. (2011). Analysis of Urban Spaces. University of Tehran Publications.https://www.gisoom.com/book/1279096
Benassai-Dalmau, R., Borge-Holthoefer, J., & Solé-Ribalta, A. (2025). Exploring pedestrian permeability in urban sidewalk networks. Chaos, Solitons & Fractals, 194, 116114.‏ https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chaos.2025.116114
Cao, J., & Kang, J. (2019). Social relationships and patterns of use in urban public spaces in China and the United Kingdom. Cities, 93, 18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2019.05.003
Chuang, I.-T., & Chen, Q. (2024). Urban street dynamics: Assessing the relationship of sidewalk width and pedestrian activity in Auckland, New Zealand, based on mobile phone data. Urban Studies, 62(1), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1177/00420980241293659
Farajzadeh, M., Valizadeh, R., Babaei Aghdam, F., Panahi., & Azar, A. (2021). Identifying the constituent elements of urban sidewalks based on the sensory perceptions of citizens (Case study: Tarbiat and Valiasr sidewalks in Tabriz). New Perspectives in Human Geography, 13(2), 43-59.https://journals.iau.ir/article_680420.html
Gehl, J., & Svarre, B. (2015). How to study public life (S. Khobiri, M, S, Izadi & S. Mohammadi, Trans).  Publisher: First and Last. (Original work published 2013)
Ghahramani, N. (2024). Investigating environmental quality measurement indicators in urban sidewalks; (Case study of Jannat sidewalk in Mashhad). Mehrimatshenali, 7(31), 1-15. https://civilica.com/doc/2043361/
Godet, M. (1994). From anticipation to action: A handbook of strategic prospective. UNESCO Publishing.
Guo, Xiangmin. Yang, Yanwen. Cheng, Ziyuan. Wu, Qi. Li, Chenjing Li. Lo, Tiantian. Chen, Fukai. (2022). Spatial social interaction: An explanatory framework of urban space vitality a nd its preliminary verification. Cities, 121, 103487. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2021.103487
Habibi, D., Latifi, Q. R., Rezaei, M., & Ahmadian, R. (2024). Investigating the role of walking on sustainable urban development (Case study: Chaharbagh Abbasi pedestrian street of Isfahan). Geography (Regional Planning), 14(57), 208-230. https://doi.org/10.22034/jgeoq.2024.359768.3901
Hosseini, A., Abbasnejad Jelogir, M., Akhavan Anvari, A., & Sajjadi, S. A. (2021). Analysis of pedestrian in the central district of cities: The study of the Saf (Sepahsalar) pedestrian and Si-Tir Street in Tehran. Geographical Urban Planning Research (GUPR), 9(2), 335-359. https://doi.org/10.22059/jurbangeo.2021.322769.1512
Kanoni, R., & Rezvian, M. (2019). Social and Economic Effects of Pedestrianization in Tehran From the standpoint of citizens (Case Study: 17 Shahrivar Pedestrian path). Hoviatshahr, 4(12), 19-34. https://sanad.iau.ir/en/Journal/hoviatshahr/Article/793975
Kashani Hamedani, M., Sajadzadeh, H., & Izadi, M. S. (2021). Explaining the Role of Temporary Retail Shops in the Environmental Quality of Urban Walkways. The Monthly Scientific Journal of Bagh-e Nazar, 18(99), 91-104. https://doi.org/10.22034/bagh.2021.236465.4580
Moeini, M. (2011). Pedestrian-oriented cities. Azarakhsh Publications. https://parhambook.com/product/detail/3308
Nassirpour, F. Z., & Molaei Birgani, N. (2021). Principles and criteria for designing urban public spaces with the approach of strengthening the social interactions of space users (Case study of Kianpars beach park). Geography and Human Relationships, 4(1), 330-349. https://www.gahr.ir/article_134685.html?lang=en
Nathvani, R. S., Cavanaugh, A., Suel, E., Bixby, H., Clark, S. N., Metzler, A. B., Nimo, J., Bedford-Moses, J., Baah, S., Arku, R. E., Robinson, B. E., Baumgartner, J., Bennett, J. E., Arif, A. M., Long, Y., Agyei-Mensah, S., & Ezzati, M. (2025). Measurement of urban vitality with time-lapsed street-view images and object-detection for scalable assessment of pedestrian-sidewalk dynamics. ISPRS Journal of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, 221, 251–264. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isprsjprs.2025.01.038
Pissaia de Souza, H., & Mulaski, P. P. (2018). Curitiba Walk City: Revitalization of city center by making the city walking friendly, and sustainable. European Journal of Sustainable Development, 7(4), 445–456. https://doi.org/10.14207/ejsd.2018.v7n4p445
Pourahmad, A., Zenganeh shahraki, S., & Safaie Reyneh, M. (2016). Analysis the urban walkway role in promoting the vitality of urban spaces (Case study: 17 Shahrivar walkway of Tehran). Geographical Urban Planning Research (GUPR), 4(2), 175-195. https://doi.org/10.22059/jurbangeo.2016.59159
Salaripour, A., & Beheshtizadeh, Z. (2025). Investigating the impact of the quality of third places on the Vitality of urban spaces (Case Study: Isfahan Chaharbagh Abbasi pedestrian). Journal of Geography and Planning, 28(90), 87-63. https://doi.org/10.22034/gp.2023.57516.3166
Wang, A. H., & Eldemerdash, N. (2022). National identity,willingness to fight, and collective action.Journal of Peace Research, 60(5), 745-759. https://doi.org/10.1177/00223433221099058

Home

Submit Manuscript

Contact Us