Recognizing the components of street vitality as promoting the quality of social life in small urban spaces Case study: Chamran Street, Shiraz

Vitality is one of the main components of providing the desired quality of urban space. Lively urban environments are the basis for the creation and increasing the social capital. Since it has seen a decline of vitality in public areas, and consequently reduce the voluntary presence of people in urban areas; it seems necessary to focus on building livelier urban environments. The purpose of this study is to recognition the components affecting vitality and confirmation of components in Shahid Chamran Street in Shiraz.

In general, the present research is descriptive-explanatory, practical and quantitative in terms of purpose, application of results methodology, respectively. The correlational research method is regression analysis as well as factor analysis. In this research, first by studying the theoretical foundations and background of research, the affective dimensions and components in the vitality of urban streets were identified and explained in the form of a comprehensive model. Then, the model was evaluated by using of a questionnaire and AMOS software in Shahid Chamran Street of Shiraz.

Based on the present study’s results, it can be stated that the recognized components of urban vitality include a functional physical component with performance, safety, collective monitoring, accessibility, physical readability and climate comfort variables; an aesthetic component with diversity, lighting, permeability, readability and visual attractiveness variables; environmental components with environmental shading, vegetation, and pollution-free variables  and sociocultural component with social and psychological, prominent and unique identity, cultural values and social interactions ones. The results of the study of the recognized components in Shahid Chamran Street of Shiraz showed that there is a significant relationship between the research components and their variables as well as a significant relationship between the research components. According to the results presented in the first category, the relationship between performance, safety, collective monitoring, accessibility, physical readiness and climate comfort variables with the physical-functional component has been investigated. Considering that the significance level is less than 0/01 it can be stated that there is a significant relationship between these variables at 0/01 level. It can also be expressed that 0/552% of the performance variable variance, 0/558% of the safety variable variance, 0/538% of the collective monitoring variable variance, 0/375% of the accessibility variable variance, 0/482% of the physical readability variable variance and 0/379% of the climate comfort variance is explained by the functional physical component. In the second category, the relationship between the diversity, lighting, permeability and readability and visual attractiveness variables with the aesthetic component has been examined. Considering that the significance level is less than 0/01 it can be declared that there is a significant relationship between these variables at 0/01 level. It can also be explained that 0/380% of the diversity variance, 0/529% of the lightening variance, 0/341% of the permeability variance, and 0/88% of the readability and visual attractiveness variance are interpreted by aesthetic component. In the third category, the relationship between environmental shading, vegetation and pollution-free variables with environmental component has been investigated. Considering that the significance level is less than 0/01 it can be stated that there is a significant relationship between these variables at 0.01 level. It can also be exposed that 0/685% of the environmental shading variance, 0/355% of the vegetation variance and 0/723% of the pollution-free variance are explained by environmental component. Finally, in the fourth category, the relationship between social and psychological well-being, prominent and unique identities, cultural values, and social interactions variables with sociocultural component has been examined. Considering that the significance level is less than 0/01 it can be explained that there is a significant relationship between these variables at 0/01 level. It can also be descripted that 0/430% of the social and psychological well-being variance, 0/484% of the prominent and unique identity variance, 0/675% of the cultural values variance, and 0/417% of the social interactions variance are explained by the sociocultural component. The results also show that the highest standard weight relates to the relationship between aesthetic and functional physical components, which indicates a high correlation between these two components. Overall, it can be said that the model fits well for Chamran Street in Shiraz. 

Generally, it can be stated that the model presented in this study can be used to vitalized of urban streets by city managers, designers, and planners. In addition, according to the results of this study, it can be said that one of the effective factors for successful implementation of vitality is the integrated attention to the elements of vitality (place, people, plan) with emphasis on the presence of people. Because people are recognized as the core of vitality, in this regard places by developing and balancing the plans, not only increase the people attending but also stimulate their initiatives and subsequently promote vitality. Also, to ensure the correct use of the results by public and private organizations and decision-makers, researchers must seek to establish communication channels that link scientific findings to policy goals.