Phenomenology of the Production of Urban Spaces Based on the lived Experience of Tehran Citizens in Public Cultural Places

In Tehran, which is a city born in the modern era and is always open to immigration, establishing a meaningful relationship between the urban space/architectural bodies and citizens has been one of the most important design and planning challenges. The demographic structure and buildings undergo dramatic changes at a high speed, and citizens find fewer points of support to recreate themselves and their memories with them.

Research paradigm is interpretive and the approach is quantitative. The collected data through a survey study is analyzed with statistical tests. Data analysis is done through descriptive-analytical research design and the validity of the research model has been measured thorough exploratory factor analysis.

In the dimension of “spatial practice”, “physics and the structure of space” followed by “the structure of signs”, have gained the most points. The respondents are able to understand the relationships of the components and the language that conveys the meanings in experienced spaces. In the dimension of “representation of space”, “ideology and mental preconceptions” has the highest score, which means that the respondents interfere their mentalities in judging the qualitative values of the space. In the “representational space”, the “social perception” has the highest average which means that people have given importance to their psychological needs in the experience of the public space alongside other citizens.

The phenomenological dimensions of space in the realm of cultural uses can be counted and evaluated in a way that is concreted in people's lived experience of space. This can significantly affect the planning of urban spaces and the design of architectural bodies.