Living in a Historical Neighborhood: Challenges, Opportunities and Threats, Case Study: Oudlajan Neighborhood in Tehran

Regarding Iranian old cities, neighborhood has been a real place to live, a space for social interaction as well as economic activities. The concept of neighborhood has always been accompanied with senses of well-being, security and identity. In parallel with urban developments and changing lifestyles, neighborhoods have also faced the significant changes. In Tehran as the capital, the changes are more pronounced and deep. The Oudlajan neighborhood – located in the historic core of the city- had been one of the most desirable neighborhoods to live until the 1960s. However, due to subsequent expansion of Tehran, formation of new neighborhoods, penetration of bazaar in this neighborhood and urban policies, Oudlajan has undergone fundamental changes. Regarding the process of population displacement and settlement of immigrants and low-income groups rather than the original inhabitants, the behavior and the modality of habitation in this neighborhood have undergone many changes. The purpose of this research is to detect the modality of habitation in this neighborhood as well as factors affecting it. Regarding the results of studies conducted on the neighborhood, it is clear that the modality of habitation and behaviors of the residents are affected by their mental image of their neighborhood. On the one hand, this image is dependent on individual characteristics of residents such as age, education level, ethnicity, culture, and socio-economic profile. On the other hand, this is influenced by external factors such as the physical characteristics of the environment, attitudes towards the neighborhoods and urban policies thereof.