Lacan's View on the Process of Giving Identity

In protection of cities and their cultural monuments، considering new requirements of citizens and preservation of their historical identity at the same time are desired and often seems contradictory. Responding to these seemingly contrasting approaches، which one regards to the present and future، and the other to the past، is very important. In this regard urban identity has at least two dimensions: the first one is the reality which is not seen، and the second one is the physical aspect of it. The renovation of the old fabrics should have a theoretical basis and framework، according to which، the physical aspects of identity along with the socio-cultural and hidden ones، should be taken in consideration at the same time، in order to preserve their identity. The authors believe that the solving the challenge between preservation of identity and urban renewal of old fabrics without consideration of process of giving identity and its layers of meaning is not possible. To achieve this framework، the theories of Jacques Lacan (1901-1981)، French intellectual of the 20th century as psychoanalysis، theoretician، lecturer and one of the most influential have been considered. Lacan''s insight into human desire، identity and belief sheds a new light on social studies. This paper has tried to demonstrate how low levels of place identity make the “literature of planning and design in global scale” and then in higher levels with richness of place identity the “language of planning and design” is formed. Finally in order to complete the process of urban renewal in historical fabrics considering the value of each product from physical، functional and meaning point of view، what aspect needs to change or has the potential and in what extend. To do so، the concept of renovation has been highlighted and its different aspects and dimensions have been explained. The fact that the “physical” and “functional” aspects were focused more than “meaning” was obvious in this part. Concerning the process of change through the time، due to the flexibility and evolving nature of “functional aspect” it has been subject of transformation more than physical aspect and especially meaning one. The theory of Lacan bridges between language، meaning and identity. He sees language as the system of difference which articulates identities. In a proposed model in two levels، the position of “signifiers” and “signified” is demonstrated. It has been tried to identify what is the place of “identity” in this regard and related to the task of urban planning and design. The sub-codes which give multiple meanings to this system could be taken in consideration in order to preserve different aspects of identity in urban renewal. This theory emphasizes on evaluative and changing nature of identity. In studying architecture and urban design two kinds of meaning could be identified: explicit and implicit. The explicit one is perceived by recipient more simply and easy because of the “one by one” relation between signified and signifier; but in implicit meaning the relation is not the same. In implicit one، receiving different meaning becomes possible and through this complicated relation “metaphor”، “symbol” and “sign” are arose.