Evaluating the Effects of Access to Urban Facilities and Services on the Sense of Belonging to a Place in the Worn-out Textures of Ahvāz Metropolis

Urban worn-out textures require preservation, respect, and revitalization due to their historical and cultural values. Nowadays, the restoration of these textures places a significant focus on meeting residents' needs in establishing a connection with the physical environment and concepts such as a sense of place belonging, which is of great interest to many designers. The present study aimed to evaluate the relationship between physical condition (access to urban services) and the sense of place belonging in the worn-out textures of six neighborhoods (Āmeri, Yousefi, Ākhar-e Āsfālt, Zargān, Hasirābād, and Lashkarābād). This applied study employed a descriptive-analytical research method. The Kruskal-Wallis test, simple t-test, Pearson correlation in SPSS software, and FAHP were employed to achieve the research objective. The results of the investigations indicated that the Ākhar-e Āsfālt, Yousefi, and Āmeri neighborhoods have a favorable status in terms of access to urban facilities and services, while Hasirābād neighborhood, is in a highly unfavorable condition. Furthermore, examining the relationship between urban services and the sense of place belonging to the worn-out texture with a coefficient of 0.371, signifying a direct correlation between the two mentioned variables. This implies that by enhancing urban facilities and services, as well as reinforcing public spaces and physical structures, the worn-out textures can foster an increased sense of place belonging in these areas.