Cultural Landscape And Urban Identity: A Case Study Of Yazd City, Iran
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Date
2016-01
Authors
Behnoosh, Shamsollahi
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Universiti Sains Malaysia
Abstract
Today, local landmarks are declining as a result of the diffusion of Western Culture
in the cultural landscape of cities especially in developing urban societies. Hence,
this process leads to the shaping of homogenous and non-distinguishable urban
landscapes. Accordingly, if this situation persists, this would lead to the shaping of
alien and meaningless cities in the future which will not be able to respond to their
residents with regard to their original historical and cultural identity. Hence, this
study emphasizes the importance of preserving and reviving local landmarks in the
cultural landscape of cities, particularly historical cities, as cultural capital of each
nation, and the factors and features that make cities distinguishable from each other.
This study is designed based on case study strategy as a qualitative strategy in social
sciences. The data collected is based on, interview, observation and documentary
studies. In this study, 35 respondents (18 men and 17 women) participated in the
interviews. The respondents were chosen based on purposive sampling and in
coordination with the research questions. Based on the findings of this research, there
are meaningful differences between the cultural landscape of the historical and new
urban textures of Yazd which are the results of using different patterns and
ideologies in the formation and development of each texture. Climatic conditions
were also a key factor in the formation of the historical urban texture of the city, but not in the formation of the new urban texture. Hence, it is not possible to perceive the
spatial coherence between these two different textures of the city of Yazd. The
findings also suggest that, the historical texture of the city forms Yazd's urban
identity while the new texture of Yazd not only does not contribute to the formation
of the urban identity of the city, but is also a threat to Yazd's urban identity in the
future. In addition, the study reveal that, not only material (physical) characteristics
of the city, but also spiritual characteristics have meaningful roles in the formation of
the image of the city in the citizens' minds. In addition, the determination and
attenuator factors of urban identity of Yazd were identified in this study. The
historical texture and its specific structures (Yazd Jame Mosque, Amir Chaqmaq
Complex and Dolat Abad Garden), desert climate, religiousness of the people, safety
and calmness were identified as determination factors while shortage of green
spaces, lack of attention to the city's cleanliness by urban authorities and application
of inappropriate urban furniture were recognized as attenuator factors.
Description
Keywords
cultural landscape, urban societies