mashhad

Due to the accumulation of the largest population and wealth in urban areas, climate change has had the highest consequences in these areas. The most important system that manages these changes is the municipality through the urban planning system; for this reason, it should be determined whether this system has the necessary characteristics in this field or not. The descriptive-exploratory research method was chosen. In the exploratory stage, all the experts working in the departments of crisis management, municipality, environment, and regional water were the effective factors in urban planning through Delphi. Among this group, 30 of them were selected by purposeful sampling. In the second stage, the situation of Mashhad municipality was carefully evaluated with a sample of 385 people to evaluate the basic components of an efficient system through exploratory factor analysis. For data analysis, factor analysis, variance analysis, and Bonferroni post hoc test were used. The results showed that a total of 30 factors are involved in this field, the most important of which are foresight, smart management, and technological infrastructure. The results of the second stage determined that ten main groups have a clear and direct influence in this area, which are, in order of importance: strategic, organizational, technological, information, academic, cultural, social, human, competitive, and environmental dimensions. According to the evaluations conducted in this study, it was found that these indicators collectively explained 62% of the total variance, and the rest was related to factors and contexts that were not considered in this study. Of course, there are clear differences among the factors and indicators mentioned, and therefore, conditions must be created for their activity and effectiveness, considering the priorities set for each of them. To achieve cities that are environmentally sustainable, socially inclusive, and economically vibrant, urban planning must consider strategic, organizational, and technological dimensions in a way that works in tandem and reinforces each other. In this situation, while providing social platforms to reduce the consequences of climate change, the ability to adapt will also increase significantly. In this sector, cultural dimensions are the most influential. Because these conditions prepare society mentally and intellectually to coexist with such changes. Despite the fact that the managerial, informational, and competitive dimensions are in completely different positions, the results of this study showed that these dimensions can have a significant impact on the appropriate performance of the municipality in utilizing urban planning knowledge to control and manage the consequences of climate change. In order to control and manage climate change through urban planning, it is necessary to somehow create a consensus among the elites. Therefore, if these factors are carefully considered in urban management and planning, a large part of the inappropriate consequences of climate change will be controlled and managed. This study is one of the few studies that have been carried out in the field of the climate change-urban planning conundrum and corresponding responses. The findings of this research can help ensure that physical developments don't take place in flood-prone areas and buildings meet the requirements of city authorities to improve risk management and enhance response to disasters.

Bottom-up Urban Design is a novel approach in urban planning that involves direct citizen participation in decision-making and defining local projects. The "Mahalleh Ma" project in Mashhad, as an implemented example of this approach, aimed to enhance citizen engagement and improve urban management performance through surveys and public hearings. This article examines the challenges and opportunities of implementing this project in a centralized socio-political environment.Obstacles such as initial resistance from municipal managers, practical concerns about the feasibility of citizen-proposed projects, and the diverse needs of various population groups were observed throughout the project. However, with consistent support from cultural managers and the city council, as well as the use of effective communication strategies, the project achieved partial success.On the other hand, opportunities such as increased public trust, improved cooperation between citizens and local authorities, and enhanced neighborhood livability were notable outcomes of this participatory approach. This study, through qualitative analysis of data collected from interviews and questionnaires with citizens, experts, and facilitation groups, provides lessons for other cities and regions intending to implement similar models.The findings suggest that by establishing appropriate participatory structures, it is possible to achieve improved urban planning and sustainable development even in centralized environments.

The Abkooh neighborhood, once a rural village west of Mashhad, now faces critical urban challenges that have prompted various interventions aimed at revitalization. Initially, Abkooh was located seven kilometers from Mashhad, remaining a rural area until its formal inclusion within the city limits in 1972 as part of Mashhad’s comprehensive urban development plan. However, as the neighborhood evolved within the expanding city, it experienced substantial socio-economic, physical, and legal issues, largely due to its incompatibility with surrounding urban areas. Legal disputes involving prominent landowners, Astan Quds and Awqaf, have further exacerbated these challenges, deteriorating Abkooh’s quality of life and diminishing its integration with the city. Despite several development plans aimed at reinvigorating its identity, Abkooh today represents a vulnerable urban fabric, lacking essential qualities that contribute to a livable urban environment.Theoretical Framework
Deteriorated urban areas like Abkooh often evolve within a complex historical, social, and economic landscape, yet face structural and functional deficits that limit their livability. Unlike other urban spaces, improving place quality in such areas demands a context-sensitive approach with distinct intervention priorities. In this study, “place” is understood as more than a physical environment; it encompasses the lived experiences, cultural meanings, and social interactions that define it. Place quality, in this sense, refers to an amalgamation of characteristics that not only enhance the physical space but also fulfill residents' needs, improving their quality of life and fostering satisfaction.
The phenomenology of place quality emphasizes the exploration of lived experience, viewing place as a multidimensional concept shaped by social, emotional, and physical factors. Within deteriorated urban areas, this study examines place quality through five main dimensions: perceptual-semantic, physical, socio-economic, functional, and environmental. The phenomenological perspective allows for a more profound understanding of these qualities by considering the personal and collective experiences of residents.

This research begins with an extensive review of theoretical approaches to place quality in deteriorated urban areas. The secondary research phase involved analyzing relevant national and international academic works published since 2000 using MAXQDA2018 software. To ensure validity, survey methods and interviews with urban design experts were conducted. The subsequent phase employs a first-person phenomenological approach, aiming to capture the lived experiences within Abkooh.
Over five weeks, researchers conducted site visits twice daily, in the mornings and evenings, each lasting three hours. Observational field notes, semi-structured interviews, audio recordings, and handwritten accounts were used to document resident experiences, drawing upon participant-observation techniques. Qualitative content analysis, supported by MAXQDA2018, enabled the systematic exploration of interview data. Additional data collection methods, including participatory observation, photography, and sketching, were employed to create a comprehensive record of findings.

The research findings reveal significant challenges and opportunities within the Abkooh neighborhood regarding place quality. Analyzing these factors through the Abkooh Quality of Urban Life Improvement Plan underscores the limitations of conventional evaluation methods. Specifically, library-based studies or expert-driven priorities alone fail to provide a realistic assessment of place quality in deteriorated urban areas. Phenomenological approaches, which respond to the unique attributes of each location, yield more precise and contextually appropriate insights.
The phenomenological evaluation identified six key dimensions that influence place quality in Abkooh: socio-economic, legal-management, physical, perceptual-semantic, environmental, and functional. Notably, the presence of a legal-management dimension is an essential addition due to the legal complexities surrounding land ownership in Abkooh. Furthermore, findings indicated that the prioritization of these dimensions varied throughout the three phases of research, underscoring the importance of flexible and adaptable strategies in urban intervention.

Effective urban planning in deteriorated neighborhoods like Abkooh must prioritize the relationship between individuals and place, focusing on the unique qualities and challenges of each neighborhood. Understanding place quality necessitates immersing oneself in the essence of the neighborhood without preconceived notions or standardized frameworks. Therefore, each deteriorated urban context must be approached as a unique phenomenon, evaluated through the eyes of its residents rather than solely through expert-driven or theory-based models.
Phenomenological methods highlight the distinctive attributes of place quality that may differ from theoretical or authority-led approaches. Simply relying on checklists and criteria derived from theoretical models or global best practices often fails to capture the complex reality of place quality in deteriorated urban contexts. By focusing on the lived experiences of residents, phenomenological approaches yield a deeper understanding of how urban spaces are perceived and experienced, leading to recommendations that more accurately align with community needs.
Incorporating this resident-centered perspective in planning processes enables cities to develop more inclusive and livable environments that address the specific needs and desires of inhabitants. By preventing gentrification and fostering a sense of belonging, phenomenological approaches encourage long-term resident retention and community cohesion, allowing neighborhoods to evolve without losing their identity.

Cities are dynamic systems, constantly evolving under the influence of social, cultural, economic, and political factors. Urban inefficiencies, particularly in certain textures, pose significant challenges to urban planners. Inefficient urban textures represent areas where physical, functional, and social quality are severely lacking. These textures, often formed over long periods, fail to meet the needs of their residents. The city of Mashhad, Iran’s second-largest metropolis, encompasses 6688 hectares of inefficient textures. These areas are marked by inadequate housing, inconsistent land use, and poor infrastructure, among other challenges, leading to a low quality of life for residents. This imbalance in physical development and population settlement poses numerous challenges. Hence, evaluating the vulnerability and inefficiency of these textures is critical. This study aims to investigate the spatial patterns of inefficiency in Mashhad's urban textures.

Theoretical Framework:

Inefficient urban textures are sections of a city where infrastructure, buildings, streets, and other components become ineffective, causing a range of socio-economic and physical problems for residents. These inefficient urban areas can be categorized into five types:2-1-Informal settlements: Primarily house rural migrants and the urban poor.
2-2-Middle inefficient (worn-out) textures: Parts of the city developed after the 1300s without adherence to architectural or urban planning standards.
2-3-Historical city textures: These sections hold historical value in urban planning and architecture but are now inefficient.
2-4-Urban areas with a rural background

Areas within the city that have not integrated with the broader urban fabric.
2-5-Areas with incompatible urban use: Locations where the current usage contradicts urban planning needs.
Understanding the development of these textures is crucial for assessing their inefficiency and the urban planning interventions required to address them.

The study employed a descriptive-analytical approach, gathering data through extensive library research and literature reviews. The study area consisted of 6688 hectares of inefficient textures in Mashhad. To assess the level of inefficiency in these areas, the WSUM (Weighted Sum) technique was employed. Further spatial analysis was conducted using ArcGIS software, with a particular focus on spatial self-dependency patterns, analyzed through models like the Global Moran Model and the G_i statistic. Geographically weighted regression (GWR) was then used to model the spatial relationships between different factors contributing to urban inefficiency.

The results showed that informal settlements and marginal areas of Mashhad are more inefficient compared to the middle and central parts of the city. Analyzing the spatial pattern of inefficiency using the Global Moran method and G_i statistics revealed that the inefficiencies follow a cluster pattern. The Global Moran method produced a positive score of 0.1, with a z-score of 68.26 at a significance level of 99%. This indicates a significant clustering of inefficient textures.
Further analysis with the G_i statistic showed a G value of 0.000120 and a z-score of 19.14, confirming a high-concentration clustering pattern of inefficiency. The spatial correlation analysis revealed that hot spots (high-concentration clusters) are located in the eastern, southeastern, and northwestern parts of the city, where informal settlements dominate. In contrast, cold spots (areas of low inefficiency) were concentrated in the central parts of the city, including the pilgrimage area. The spatial patterns in other parts of the city showed little or no significant clustering.
The geographically weighted regression (GWR) model revealed that microlithic buildings, rented housing, and unstable structures have a greater impact on the inefficiency of urban textures than other variables. The combination of spatial patterns and socio-economic factors suggests that the areas of Mashhad most in need of intervention are informal settlements and marginal areas.

While most studies on inefficient urban textures have utilized multi-criteria decision-making methods or statistical tests, few have focused on spatial analysis. This study introduced a new approach to understanding urban inefficiency by combining WSUM, Moran’s global method, and the G_i statistic to assess spatial patterns. The findings highlight the severe inefficiency in Mashhad’s informal and marginal areas compared to central areas.
Hot spots of inefficiency are concentrated in informal settlements on the city’s eastern, northeastern, and northwestern margins, creating a cluster pattern of inefficiency. In contrast, the pilgrimage area and central parts of the city show fewer inefficiencies. The GWR model further emphasized that unstable buildings and rented houses are key drivers of inefficiency in these areas.
The study underscores the importance of spatially targeted interventions, especially in informal settlements and marginal areas. Given the diverse types of inefficiencies across the city, urban planners must adopt differentiated strategies when addressing various forms of urban inefficiency. Addressing these issues in informal settlements should be a priority to improve the overall quality of life and urban function in Mashhad.

Among the historical cemeteries in the suburbs of Mashhad, we can mention the cemetery of Tabadakan village, whose tombstones tell the mystery of the region's history and their attitude to life. Therefore, the decorations carved on stones, from motifs to inscriptions, are very important and worthy of consideration. The goal is visual and content analysis of the inscription, form and motifs of tombstones. Therefore, what is the form and role of Tabadakan tombstones and what are their themes? The research method of the article is descriptive and analytical and the information is collected based on field studies and library documents. A total of 86 tombstones were photographed from this cemetery, of which 51 tombstones were studied due to their unique characteristics. The findings show that two types of tombstones, altar and box (five stones inside the shrine) made of granite and schist are the most numerous in the cemetery of this village. All the stones are neatly and beautifully framed, and according to the position of the tombstones, engravers and calligraphers carved the desired role on the stone according to their taste and knowledge. Most of the inscriptions contain poems about the peace of the rest of the world, Quranic verses and words of Ahl al-Bayt. Beautiful motifs, including motifs of everyday objects to war tools that are specific to this region, have all given a special effect to the tombstones. The motifs are designed according to the position, personality and special characteristics of the

The Timurid era is one of the most important and influential periods in the history of Iranian architecture. During this period, architecture and its related decorations evolved and set the pattern for later periods. Schools held an important position in this era, as it can be said that it was the golden age of Iranian schools. The Timurid schools in Khorasan include a limited number of schools, with two valuable schools of this era, Dodar and Parizad, located near the holy shrine of Imam Reza. Inscriptions have always been a decorative feature used in Islamic Iranian architecture, with valuable concepts hidden in their content. In addition to the content of the inscriptions, their relationship with their placement is also noteworthy. The aim of this research is to analyze the content used in the inscriptions of Timurid schools in Mashhad, as well as their placement. Field studies were conducted for documentation and reading of the inscriptions in the buildings, and a descriptive-analytical method was used for introducing, categorizing, and finding relationships among them. The results indicate that Dodar School has 33 inscriptions and Parizad School has 8 inscriptions in their decorations, with Quranic inscriptions having the largest share. Moreover, Thuluth script was the most used in calligraphy, and more use of mosaic tiles was observed. The placement of inscriptions is mainly in the entrances, iwans, and domes of the schools, with each placement showcasing a specific theme.

One of the challenging issues in countries with a historical background such as Iran is how to properly deal with the valuable heritage of the past, which should be properly passed on to future generations. In the meantime, the architecture and especially the special function of traditional houses is much more important than other historical buildings and according to the existing conditions, it requires that by creating special spaces, understanding the relationships between spaces and contemporizing them, suitable and up-to-date uses should be given to the buildings. Therefore, to analyze this issue, the historical houses of Mashhad were selected to answer the research questions with a survey and descriptive-analytical method and collect data in the form of Delphi and questionnaires and use the multi-criteria evaluation method (MCDM) based on the analysis hierarchy process (AHP) and used the Expert Choeis software. The findings of the research show that, in order of importance, recognition of the effect and examination of the spatial condition of the sub-spaces of historical houses in the intervention stage with a weight of 0.302 has been selected as the best component in choosing the option for developing the proposed model and the component of following the written principles of protection according to the restoration charters with a weight of 0.124 ranks third. Compared to other indicators, the 0.015-weighted intervention for tourism industry development was the lowest ranked among the examined indicators.

The lines of turquoise carving and engraving on turquoise stone is one of the traditional and ornamental arts. This art is one of the sub-branches of gem carving, which is a part of Iranian artificial arts in terms of practicality and tools.  Turquoise carving has been popular in the city of Mashhad since the distant past. The city of Mashhad has been chosen as the international city of precious and semi-precious stones by the World Industries Council. The art of carving is one of the subsets of the art of turquoise carving; turquoise carving artists have succeeded in making beautiful paintings from this blue gem by carving in the form of letters using the art of calligraphy. The presence of valuable mines, including the Turquoise Mine in "Ten Mines" from the villages of Neyshabur city, and the transfer of this mineral to the city of Mashhad from the distant past have collected engravers and turquoise carvers in this city.

The engravers engrave inscriptions, images, and lines on the seals with the most complete splendor. The purpose of the research, based on the analysis and description of the cutting shapes, is to introduce the types of lines, motifs, and images carved on the turquoise gem, based on the essence of the subject. The questions that this research aims to answer are: how are the cutting shapes, types of lines, and motifs used in contemporary Mashhad turquoise carving art classified from a qualitative perspective? What tools and methods are used in the art of engraving? How to make turquoise panels? The research method in this study is descriptive-analytical. The method of collecting data is library information and field research, including photography (observation and interviews). The statistical population includes (15) prominent engravers and turquoise engraving professors as well as knowledgeable and well-informed people. The interviews were saved as audio files and analyzed as texts. In the following, interviews were carried out with turquoise carving and engraving artists who were mostly working in the upper floor of Bazaar Reza in Mashhad, using the materials that are used to expand the art. These hardworking artists proposed turquoise carving and engraving; this art was examined in terms of the subject of the study.

In the meantime, engraving and carving on seals and gems are worth attention. Ferdowsi, a high-ranking poet of Iran, writes about the carving and engraving of lines on turquoise in the story of Bijan and Manijeh: "One victorious seal of Rostam Baroi-- written with iron by the action of hair". In this verse, Ferdowsi calls the turquoise stone with the name of “Pirouze”. Rostam's name is engraved on the turquoise stone and this ring was in the hand of Iranian warrior Rostam as a seal. In that period, they used tools like iron for carving. The art of engraving is done very delicately and Rostam's name is written as thin as a hair on the gem of the ring. Khwaja Nasir al-Din Tusi writes in his book Tensukh Namah Ilkhani about turquoise’s change of color: "Engravers consider any turquoise that turns green to be dead. They turned this green turquoise and polished it again, and it was correctable. Artists and art masters have proposed different solutions for the development and prosperity of engraving art, the most important of which include: first, the cooperation of designers with engraving artists to present new designs in the design of motifs, to create new and innovative designs, and to combine designs and lines in calligraphy and its integration into each other. They can create harmony between motifs and lines in engraving and calligraphy with the poems of great poets of Iran in the form of motifs taken from Iranian literature, the icons of famous Iranian artists and poets. Second, the government and related organizations can encourage and support artists. Third, certification of high-quality turquoise gems and exquisite carvings, specifying the name of the engraver, the type of gem, can give credibility to the gem and jewel. Fourth, the introduction of advertising of this art in mass media and virtual space. Fifth, the creation of workshops within the trade union, to increase employment and entrepreneurship, can result in the employment of graduates. At last, holding domestic and foreign exhibitions can introduce this art to the world. By making certified turquoise jewelry with new designs and proper marketing, it is possible to export this product, a type of non-oil export, by connecting to global markets.

The art of engraving on turquoise stone is an ancient art, so that in the Metropolitan Museum there are rings belonging to the 11th century AD. It was made from Neyshabur turquoise gem with a "dome" (dome) cut with a circular and oval shapes. Today, the shapes of thrash include circles, ovals, cylinders, hearts, hexagons, and polygonals with angled cutting, known as "Trush Fest". Of course, sometimes it is used by young people in its natural form, after polishing. Today, tools and working methods have developed, and artists in this profession try to create original works using new tools and methods while using past experiences. These engraved images include those of Imams, the inscriptions of names, supplications, famous surahs of the Quran with naskh, thulh, nastaliq and broken nastaliq script in the form of a raised edge and togud along with the engraving of the golden dome of Imam Reza and motifs of daffodils, eight leaves. The chrysanthemum is done inside the bergamot frame on the turquoise gem. One of the innovations of the art of turquoise carving is to make a tableau by carving letters from turquoise stone. Due to new methods and new tools, the quality of lathe has increased. The art of engraving has declined in terms of quantity due to the limitation in the number of artists and the lack of coherence of the carving workshops in Mashhad.

Children's physical activity and mobility are pivotal for their overall health. This study, conducted in Mashhad City, Iran, explores children's perspectives on environmental characteristics that impact physical mobility and activity.

Theoretical Framework:

Utilizing a theoretical framework comprising 28 measures, this research aims to unveil the environmental features within neighborhoods contributing to the improvement of children's physical mobility and activity.

To accomplish this, the present study collected the perspectives of 450 children aged 9 to 13 (43.8% girls and 56.2% boys) regarding a specific set of these attributes within Mashhad City, Iran. Utilizing exploratory factor analysis, a model was constructed based on the children's responses to the survey measures.

This model identifies seven factors and 24 measures influencing the mobility and physical activity of children in their neighborhoods: 

Parents' Approval: 

Encompasses measures associated with "parents' permission and concern" and reflects "children's desire for independence and agency." Results suggest that parental concern about the autonomous presence of their children in neighborhood spaces significantly inhibits the children's mobility and independent activities.

Walking Path: 

Associated with measures conveying the concepts of "optimal and joyful mobility on paths," this factor emphasizes features like adequate width and appropriate flooring. The potential for 'playing along the route from home to school' is crucial for children's mobility. According to children, this pathway serves not only as a route for the essential journey to school but also should provide opportunities for social and optional activities, including play and enjoyment.

Social Security:

Linked to measures reflecting 'the sense of security regarding strangers and bullies' in neighborhoods. An interesting result is the association of "creating a pleasant atmosphere such as colored sidewalks" with social security. Children believe that the use of specific colors on sidewalks not only provides a fun atmosphere but also establishes spaces for local socialization, consequently reducing the threat of bullying and outsiders.

Environmental Affordance: 

Associated with activities reflecting children’s physical abilities, such as climbing trees and running in open spaces without obstacles. The results indicate that children test these capabilities through movement and exploration of their surroundings. Additionally, the inclusion of "night lighting" as a measure in this factor suggests a preference among children for exploratory play during the night.

Legibility: 

Aligned with Lynch's theory of legibility, this factor involves measures related to way-finding by architectural elements. The findings indicate that children use 'buildings' and 'stores on the ground floor' as landmarks for navigation in their neighborhoods.

Diverse Environment for Exploration: 

Associated with measures representing attractive routes, various play equipment, and nature connectedness. Children's positive assessment of the existence of winding paths in the neighborhood indicates that engaging in exploratory activities along these paths can increase their mobility in their community. Furthermore, integrating a variety of natural elements and play equipment in their neighborhood can enhance children's movement and exploration, making the experience deeper and more enjoyable.

Mobility Safety: 

The final factor is associated with measures indicating safe mobility in neighborhoods. In addition to the fear of a car accident, children's desire for age/gender-appropriate play equipment highlights their concern for their physical safety. The results indicate that inappropriate play equipment and car traffic have the least impact on children's mobility in their neighborhoods.

Interventions targeting these factors can significantly enhance children's mobility experiences, promoting not only physical activity but also social interaction and a deeper connection with their surroundings. The recurring theme of children's desire for playful activities emphasizes a fundamental need for quality movement and physical activities.

Miḥrābī design is one of the old and genuine patterns of Iranian carpet weaving. Originally, this design has probably been used to decorate prayer mats in small dimensions, and with the passage of time, especially from the Qajar era onwards it was woven in larger dimensions and with different combinations. According to the majority of experts, miḥrābī design entered the decorative arts of Iran with the influence of architectural art and the carpet manufacturers, like other handicraft artists, used it to decorate all kinds of carpets, such as gilīm (a rug made of goat's hair), namad (felt cloth), carpet, and zīlū (a hand-woven floor covering). Some researchers believe that the pattern of miḥrāb is modeled after the miḥrāb of Islamic mosques; but as per the patterns and samples of the arch designs existing in the pre-Islamic art, it can be considered to have a longer history.Carpet weaving in the Holy city of Mashhad was revived since the middle of the Qajar rule (1210-1343 AH/1796-1925 AD). Some of the weavings left over from this era, especially the pieces kept in the Astan Quds Razavi Carpet Museum testify that the designers, weavers and producers who settled in this city from different parts of Iran for the sake of the Holy Shrine of ‘Alī b. Mūsā al-Riḍā (A.S.), made great efforts in reviving the carpet weaving tradition of Mashhad. Given its type of weaving, design, and most important of all, the inscriptions it contains, the two-faced tree-curtain miḥrābī carpet is one of the significant works preserved in the Astan Quds Razavi Carpet Museum. By studying and examining it, one can obtain valuable information about Mashhad carpet history. The purpose of this research, besides collecting authentic written documents for a better understanding of the miḥrāb design in the decorative arts of Iran, is to introduce one of the distinguished works of the Qajar era and the ethnic groups who together revived the tradition of carpet weaving in the Holy city of Mashhad.The most important question in this research is, "What was the origin of the miḥrāb design and how did it enter the handicraft arts including carpet weaving?" Also, "What are the characteristics of the two-faced tree-curtain miḥrābī carpet and under the influence of what pattern was it designed and woven?" This writing is done by a descriptive-analytical method and through documentary and field study. The results obtained by studying the structure and inscriptions in the carpet imply that the artists and craftsmen from Mashhad, Tabriz and Kerman, by working together and using the old traditions of Mashhad carpet weaving, were able to revive carpet weaving in Mashhad and establish the second glorious era of carpet weaving, second to the Safavid era. Also, it is likely that the porches of Razavi Holy Shrine were the designers' model for implementing the composition of the two-faced tree-curtain miḥrābī carpet.

The challenges to citizens' health can be counted among the most important ones of urbanization in the 21st century. Since cities have always been one of the key and powerful determinants of people's health, investigating the relationship between the characteristics of the urban built environment and people's health has been the focus of research in recent decades. The review of the research background showed that most of these studies were conducted in the cities of developed countries and the number of studies related to the cities of developing countries is limited. Based on this, the aim of this research is to investigate the relationship between the characteristics of the urban built environment and mental health in Iran, one of the developing countries. The city of Mashhad, the second largest city in Iran, was selected as the study area. The research is cross-sectional and case study, which follows a descriptive-analytical approach. Land use characteristics, population density, and distance (walking distance) to service destinations are independent variables and mental health is the dependent variable of the research. Based on the results, no significant relationship between land use diversity and mental health was observed. The relationship between commercial land use per capita, green space per capita, net population density, gross population density, and distance (walking distance) to service destinations with mental health is significant and negative. The results showed that the six variables of distance (walking distance) to the grocery and fruit shop, commercial and green space per capita, and gross and net residential density explained 23.1% of the changes in mental health. The results of the path analysis showed that the green space per capita has the most direct effect, and the gross population density has the most indirect and total effects on people's mental health. Considering the lack of similar experimental research in Iranian cities and even other developing countries, it is necessary to conduct more empirical research, especially in the cities of Iran.

Contemporary urban planning knowledge has undergone significant changes, shifting from natural and engineering sciences to interdisciplinary fields with a focus on social and human sciences. Urban development plans now emphasize public and private participation. As the second-largest city in Iran, Mashhad plays a vital role within the country due to its regional centrality, large population, and diversity. It is essential to prioritize social sustainability and encourage public participation in the planning process.

Theoretical Framework:

Implementation is a critical component of the urban design process and can be interpreted in two ways: as the essence of the entire process or as an independent step within the process. Through a systematic study of various sources and analysis of urban design processes conducted by researchers, it is possible to categorize the urban design process involved in selecting the design group, defining initial objectives, assessing the existing conditions, clarifying goals, presenting design alternatives, evaluating options, optimizing, developing an implementation plan, implementing, and conducting post-implementation evaluations. Based on research synthesis, factors influencing the implementation of small-scale participatory projects can be categorized into five aspects: development stakeholders (including designers and implementers), management-planning system structures, economic considerations, public participation, and legal considerations.

This paper adopts a qualitative approach and data-based method through semi-structured interviews to identify obstacles, challenges, and factors influencing the implementation of small-scale participatory projects (specifically, neighborhood units) in Mashhad. The study focuses on stakeholders including individuals, urban management, and facilitators involved in the "Mahalle Ma" project. Theoretical sampling was employed until saturation was reached. Data analysis utilized qualitative content analysis with a summative approach and MAXQDA 2018. Open and axial coding techniques were applied to identify the foundational concepts related to the implementation of the targeted projects.

The results of this study highlight the importance of effective collaboration and communication between stakeholders, including the people, urban management, and the facilitator team. Building trust, improving public participation, and addressing financial constraints are essential for the successful implementation of small-scale participatory projects.The relationship between the people and the facilitator: The quality of real participation by the people, as the most important stakeholder group, has a significant impact on achieving the goals of the plan. Negative experiences and a lack of trust in city management can present challenges for the project. To enhance citizens' participation, the facilitator and designer can employ appropriate techniques to involve people in the process, clarify the project definition, and connect it with the needs assessment stage. Effective communication with the social council of the neighborhoods is also crucial, as the lack of it can hinder the quality of citizens' participation.The relationship between the people and urban management: Urban management has initiated this plan with long-term goals in mind, including fostering a culture of participation. However, the inadequate allocation of funds and a lack of effective inter-organizational synergy have resulted in intangible short-term outcomes for the people. This situation raises concerns about increasing mistrust and decreasing satisfaction with the municipality's performance.The relationship between urban management and the facilitator: Both urban management and the facilitator play crucial roles in promoting public satisfaction with the project. They should work towards achieving long-term goals by monitoring, improving, and maintaining a continuous planning process. This entails fostering a culture of participation through trust-building and capacity development. However, the frequent changes in design and planning approaches due to shifts in the urban management structure can affect the facilitator's authority to achieve project goals. The facilitator team should also ensure a constant connection between the needs assessment stage, design, and implementation steps.

This study highlights the crucial role of urban management throughout the various stages of an urban development project. In the pre-implementation stage, urban management plays a fundamental role in selecting an expert design and implementation team. They also prioritize goals based on the type of management system in place.Recognizing the current situation requires the collaboration of the facilitator and the people to establish a shared understanding of the problem. The facilitator acts as a mediator, identifying the real demands of the people and conveying them to management levels to define the project in subsequent stages. Verification of goals and adjustments are made in consultation with citizens, academic experts, and local institutions.The presentation of design alternatives by the facilitator team ensures alignment with the real needs of the people. Evaluation and optimization of alternatives involve active participation from the people, who contribute to selecting the optimal alternative based on their genuine needs. Urban management also considers economic and technical factors in choosing the optimal option.During the implementation stage, urban management plays a critical role in ensuring the design team's recommendations are executed properly by selecting the right contractors. The involvement of the social council, representing the people, is essential in monitoring the implementation process in line with the goals and needs assessment.In the post-implementation stage, continuous monitoring and modification are necessary, with direct input from the people through the facilitator team and urban management. This promotes the long-term continuity and success of the plan, fostering a culture of participation.

Every year, billions of rials are spent on the return of urban slum dwellers to the original villages, or efforts are made to prevent more villagers from migrating to the city. Most of the research that has been done in this regard has focused on the financial and supportive dimensions. Due to the ineffectiveness of these solutions, it was necessary to conduct more comprehensive research in this field. The present study was conducted by descriptive and correlational methods to determine a model for determining the share of each individual, social and economic factors in the frequency of occurrence from the perspective of immigrants and prioritizing these factors from the perspective of experts. The required data were collected with a questionnaire and from a sample of 300 immigrants in Mashhad and 30 experts in this field. Cronbach's alpha was used to measure the questionnaire, KMO index was used to determine the adequacy of the sample size, EFA test was used to identify the factor structure and factor factors, and the model of multiple indices and multiple causes was used to determine the relationships between variables. To evaluate the model, the calculation of fit indices such as RMSEA, TLI, CFI and Chi-square were used.The results showed that among the predictor variables, only the variable related to social institutions can affect the perspective of immigrants. For this reason, this variable was significantly related to the hidden variables in general, which was more related to the two hidden variables. However, all four fit indices were less than the desired value and thus the fit of the model was not confirmed. However, it was found that the return was mainly to the non-native villages and the family dimension, especially under the criterion of "observing the behavior of homosexuals" has the highest impact on the return of marginalized people. This finding is largely consistent with the theories of Veblen, Giddens, and System. According to the findings of this study, if the population returns and the economic and social conditions of this group are properly informed to other marginalized, the return process will accelerate.

Extensive studies show that increasing access to natural light through windows will improve the quality of the internal environment of hospitals; While from the point of view of increasing the energy efficiency of the building, with the increase in the size of the windows, the heat transfer through the glass and the need for Summer cooling load are increased and the energy performance of the building decreases. By reducing the size of the windows, besides increasing energy consumption in another way, the environmental quality of the hospital also decreases. In climatic conditions like Mashhad, where the temperature difference between outside and inside the building is large, the design of windows is more sensitive to increase the energy efficiency of the building. This research seeks to answer the question, what physical characteristics should the windows of hospitals in Mashhad have in order to increase energy efficiency in the building through the optimal absorption of solar energy in addition to creating thermal comfort? For this purpose, conventional construction methods in the design of hospitals; The methods resulting from the guidelines of the 19th topic of the National Construction Regulations of Iran, and the proposed methods of this study based on increasing insulation were compared with each other. The research was carried out by means of algorithmic simulation of building conditions, in energy and light analysis plugins (Honeybee and Ladybug), in the Grasshopper software platform, and the data were compared, described and It was analyzed. As a result; In addition to the fact that the spaces formed based on the guidelines of topic 19 are more economical than the existing buildings, the application of the proposed methods of this study has a greater impact on reducing energy consumption. The role of considerations such as insulation in reducing energy loss is decisive but limited.

The inherent duty of urban design is managing the improvement of urban design qualities in both content and procedural dimensions.Without simultaneous attention to these two, even the purest urban design theories may remain ineffective in reality.Improving the quality of landscape, in addition to the need to formulate comprehensive, clear and more or less flexible regulations, requires the definition of a precise and efficient executive structure so that it can be a suitable lever for the implementation of these rules.facade committees are one of the types of control and implementation of these approvals, which play a significant role in achieving the goal of improving facade.The city of Mashhad has been one of the main pioneers of this issue in the country by compiling approvals and forming committees to control and guide the urban landscape.The purpose of this research is to evaluate performance of facade Committee by examining its damages, challenges and achievements and providing effective suggestions to improve this performance.This research has evaluated the performance of facade Committee in two quantitative and qualitative phases by using the mixed research method and alignment research plan.The research findings state that the most important challenges of facade committees;The quality of decisions and application of individual tastes of members is the weakness of legal position and lack of standards action and lack of executive guarantee. Its most important achievements;Drawing the attention of specialized community to the importance of the public landscape, the rights and tastes of citizens and strengthening the position of architects in the development process.Suggestions improving the performance of facade committee in the procedural section, including things such as improving the organizational administrative level of the facade committee, forming a project steering committee, preparing periodical performance reports and content, including planning for participation and polls,and culture building to promote the Iranian architectural model.

In this study, municipal task and duties were divided to sovereign and non-profit operational ones. Then, using analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and Topsis technique among those 25 non- commercial tasks, 8 main tasks were determined to be devolved to neighborhood social councils. To do this, 8 parameters were defined: internal resistance of Mashhad municipality body to task devolution, incoordination and ineffectiveness of neighborhood social councils, non-coherence and inefficiency of neighborhood councils, task conflicts, non-professionalism, external actors, neighborhood special features and legal impediments. Some of these parameters are internal (related to neighborhood councils) and some are external. Questionnaires distributed to head of neighborhood councils, city council’s members and municipality employees. It is found that preparing neighborhood experiments has the highest priority. Planning and suggesting urban plazas, supervision of sport activities in municipality regions, participation in maintenance and providing social symbols and places, participation in social harms reduction, supervision and suggesting urban furniture and equipment plans, supervision and suggesting plans for city entrance and walls and participating in civics are the next priorities respectively.

Every city is made up of different elements, which cohesion, uniformity and creating harmony between them helps to increase the beauty; Textures, alleys, neighborhoods, streets, natural indicators, etc. are among these elements; in addition, every city has its own history and culture, and the harmony of the city's beauty with its history and culture increases the feeling of belonging to that city; because part of the identity of the urban landscape is linked with the past body of the city. One of these elements affecting the beauty of cities is the park. this research has been done by examining the concept of the city and then with the aim of reinterpreting and designing the landscape of Kooh Sangi Park in Mashhad in the direction of renewing its identity and its impact on the street landscape. Mashhad is the second largest and most populous city in Iran, which has unique historical, cultural and ethnic, pilgrimage and tourism characteristics, and has an important function of unifying and national and religious identity and diverse potential economic capabilities. Kooh Sangi Park is one of the most famous, most beautiful and oldest tourist places in Mashhad, and the Kooh Sangi axis is the main access to this entertainment complex, and this issue is a valid reason for the importance of this research.  One of the important questions is to examine the factors affecting space and place and to evaluate the criteria for recognizing the sense of belonging. While paying attention and precision in these concepts and examining them, the research method is practical in terms of the goal, and the research method is a descriptive analytical type, along with quoting the words of great people such as "Charles Butt" and "Proshensky". Among these people is "Stephen Kaplan" who in his evolutionary theory emphasizes people's information and the level of familiarity with the landscape, orientation and discovery of new study information on beauty preference. The statistical population of the research includes users of Kooh Sangi Park and residents and passers-by of Kooh Sangi Street. Due to the unlimited number of people in the statistical population, the number of 384 people was estimated as the statistical sample size using Cochran's formula. The most important research tools are questionnaires and guided interviews of random samples. SPSS software was used to analyze the data. The results showed that all the criteria of urban sector identity except education, social services, transportation and security and fighting crime are in a favorable condition in the studied area and are effective factors on urban identity. It was also founded that this index has the highest priority among the selected indices and the economic index has the least importance.

Housing has always been one of the main concerns of urban sustainable development. Although social sustainability is later than the environmental and economic sustainability it is considered as an inseparable part of the process of sustainable development and housing. The goal of current research is identifying the social indexes of sustainable housing and their evaluation in the 600-units residential complex in Mashhad. Therefore, firstly 20 open interviews were conducted with the residents, and then using the Grounded theory, the social indexes (participation, identity, security, environmental satisfaction and desirability) and sub-indexes of sustainable housing were introduced. Then 67 closed questionnaires were used and according to the resident’s opinion, social sub-indexes of sustainable housing were evaluated. The results show that all social indexes in this residential complex are relatively acceptable situation. The identity is more favorable than others and affected by favorable state of residents' pride and sense of place. It has a direct relationship with other indexes. Therefore, it is possible to increasing social sustainability in this residential complex by improving indexes and carrying out executive measures such as promoting social monitoring, increasing the comprehensiveness of public spaces, creating social interaction infrastructures, developing sociocultural activities, creating participation and social responsibility capacities.