The Explanation of Iranian Historical Plazas Function in Past and Present

Historical studies of plazas show this fact that nowadays, compared to past, plazas have a more important role in structure of cities. And also they influence more on shape and organization of a city’s environments. Studies show that plazas are considered in two ways, according to the aesthetics and according to their functions. Each plaza in case of its roles in individuals lives has social, religious, sport, political and etc functions. Since every plaza’s function and usage is altered in time, the purpose of this research is to study both historical and contemporary function of plazas. The assumptions are that functions are defined according to needs so they are changed in different times.
The method of this research is as follow: first seven principal functions of plazas are considered the base of studies, and by study of documents the function of each plaza in past is found. Then survey and comparative method is used to determine the level of satisfaction of plazas functions. In this survey 1000 persons are asked, 100 persons in each plaza. Each plaza is checked regarding 7 principal functions. By use of t-test, anova and spareman tests 28 hypotheses are examined. First the relations between age, sex and cause of presence with level of satisfactions in 7 principal functions are considered and then the level of satisfactions is examined.
Conclusions show highest correlations between age of persons and the level of financial satisfaction of plazas; And between sex of persons with cultural satisfaction. Other conclusions show that highest financial and sport satisfaction levels are in Tajrish plaza in Tehran. Also most cultural and social satisfactions are found to be in Naghshejahan plaza in Isfahan, highest satisfaction related to religious and traffic functions are in Imam-Khomeini plaza in Hamedan, for tourist-related functions the best is found in Khan plaza in Yazd and highest political satisfactions in Amirchakhmagh plaza also in Yazd.