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Traditional versus Modern? Perceptions and Preferences of Urban Park Users in Iran

Author

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  • Fariba Bahriny

    (Landscape Architecture, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 56/3, 51006 Tartu, Estonia)

  • Simon Bell

    (Landscape Architecture, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 56/3, 51006 Tartu, Estonia
    Edinburgh School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, University of Edinburgh, 74 Lauriston Pl, Edinburgh EH3 9DF, UK)

Abstract

This study involved four parks in Iran—two modern ones located in Tehran and two historical, traditional examples, one in Kashan and one in Esfahan—in order to ask what are the key factors contributing to the satisfaction of visitors to the two types of park and also to compare user’s perceptions and values of the different types. An extensive questionnaire survey was conducted in each park, with a target of 300 responses, using a random sampling technique. Respondents were asked to rate the importance of a number of factors, while thinking about the park they were visiting, using a 5-point Likert scale. Descriptive and inferential statistical analysis was undertaken. The results of the scores revealed differences between the two types of park. A factor analysis of the pooled results revealed that the key aspects contributing to a visit were named as ‘ having fun and enjoying oneself ’, in a place with ‘ no barriers to using the park’ and ‘ leaving one’s cares behind’ followed by ‘relaxing in the presence of natural beauty’. A further Nonmetric Multidimensional Scaling analysis was undertaken to determine the main factors affecting the differences in preference for each type of park in relation to the key demographic variables. This revealed that the modern parks were preferred over the traditional ones for three significant sets of factors—recreation, accessibility and culture—and that there was a tendency for the historical parks to been favoured by more educated people. The conclusions are that the modern parks support the main preferred activities to support the quality of life of the population—not through their design per se but because they offer many more recreational opportunities. There is potential to include traditional elements such as water features more into parks. Park planners can take the findings and use them to help improve the quality of the parks over time.

Suggested Citation

  • Fariba Bahriny & Simon Bell, 2021. "Traditional versus Modern? Perceptions and Preferences of Urban Park Users in Iran," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-27, February.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:4:p:2036-:d:499050
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Raheleh Rostami & Hasanuddin Lamit & Seyed Meysam Khoshnava & Rasoul Rostami & Muhamad Solehin Fitry Rosley, 2015. "Sustainable Cities and the Contribution of Historical Urban Green Spaces: A Case Study of Historical Persian Gardens," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(10), pages 1-27, September.
    2. Fariba Bahriny & Simon Bell, 2020. "Patterns of Urban Park Use and Their Relationship to Factors of Quality: A Case Study of Tehran, Iran," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-33, February.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jun Li & Melasutra Md. Dali & Nikmatul Adha Nordin, 2023. "Connectedness among Urban Parks from the Users’ Perspective: A Systematic Literature Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-20, February.
    2. Pritam Ahirrao & Smita Khan, 2021. "Assessing Public Open Spaces: A Case of City Nagpur, India," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-24, April.

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