The Impact of Cultural Components on the Vitality of Urban Spaces

The vitality of urban public spaces is a critical and essential subject that is influenced by numerous micro and macro factors. Among these factors, "culture" as a determining concept in human societies can significantly impact the presence and behavior of individuals in urban public spaces. The objective of this study is to identify the dimensions and degree of influence of cultural components on the vitality of urban public spaces. Cultural components include language, values, norms, beliefs, constant activities, material outputs, and more. This research was conducted using field and survey methods. Three prominent urban spaces within a specific area in Qazvin were selected and evaluated for their levels of vitality. Then, the cultural components were analyzed through a survey method, and their relationship with the vitality of urban spaces was examined. The findings of this study indicate that the three selected urban spaces vary from each other in terms of their vitality score. Through appropriate statistical analysis, it was concluded that there is a significant relationship between cultural components and the vitality of urban spaces. The most important component of material culture was found to be "social interaction," while the least important was "space design." Among immaterial factors, "religion and belief" were identified as the most important, whereas "linguistic" was the least important effective element. In conclusion, culture plays a crucial role in shaping the vitality of urban public spaces in Qazvin. The outcomes of this study suggest that urban planners and policymakers need to prioritize cultural components when designing and planning urban public spaces, which can help create more vibrant and attractive urban environments.