Analysis of the Impact of Urban Transformation and Changes on Place Attachment

The main issue of this study is the supposition of reducing the sense of connection between inhabitants and their living environment. In fact, if the speed and amount of urban changes in various dimensions: physical, functional, social, etc. is considered, the incompatibility of these changes with human perceptual processes confirms the initial idea. Urban change causes many challenges due to various desired or unintended consequences. Researches indicate that the impact of these consequences has often been studied and planned in quantitative terms, but their impact on human social processes and interactions with the urban environment, especially place attachment has been less investigated and studied.

The present study aims to examine and introduce each of the components of transformation, urban changes and place attachment, as well as their impact and relationship with each other.

In this study, a descriptive approach based on documentary studies is employed to investigate experts' opinions in relation to urban change and place attachment. In the analysis of findings, the qualitative content analysis method and the meta-synthesis method are used. The meta-synthesis method aims to combine interpretations of selected study data in order to discover new concepts and metaphors.

In the present study, considerable insight is provided into the differences and the position of each of the concepts of transformation, transition and urban changes, and also into different kinds of the process of urban change and their relations, the factors affecting the perception of changes in the urban environment, the concept of place attachment and factors that influence and are influenced by it. In the end, a model and framework is provided for understanding the impact of these concepts.

Urban transformations and changes have influence on the relationship between people and place, particularly on place attachment. Furthermore, the changing quality, amount and speed relate to the residents’ place attachment in a special and significant way.