Reading Spaces Based on Focult’s Theory of Power-Space (Case Study of Naghsh e Jahan Square in Safavid Era)

Space is a multi-dimensional concept that is at once economic, political, semiotic and experiential, and in this sense it is an integral component of social interaction and an indispensable vector for critical theories. After 1980’s knowledge of space has become critical to understanding the production and transformation of power relations, and in this regard the built environment is an important concept for any endeavor in social analysis. This paper explores the possibilities for development of social theories of space-power based on the theories of Michelde Foucault, coupled with methods of content analysis of urban spaces.The aim of this article is to explore how political poweris constructed in urban spaces, and how these construction processes might be conceptualised and analysed. The paper begins by exploring the Foucault theories of power-space to analyse and interpret the relationship between urban space and political power: how political powers implement to shape urban spaces, and improve their authority and legitimacy through spaces, in turn. These strategies can be defined in spatial technologies through founding of spatial structural and functional principles.Grounded on this analythical and interpretative study of Foucault theories of space and power relations, this paper seeks to demonstrate a conceptual framework which can be adapted to urban spaces content analyzing. The achievement of this research is to develop an appendant analysing method to elaborate a tool for the meaning analysis of spaces in architecture and urban design studies. This methodology is applied in a case study sample. The main strategies which are explored in the theoretical-based part of this study are tested in Naghsh e Jahan Squere’, a historic squerein the city of Isfahan, during Safavid era, specially the reign of Shah Abbas.