International Journal of Human Capital in Urban Management
Quarterly Publication

Scenario-based study on preserving residency in historical neighborhoods with an urban acupuncture approach

Document Type : ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE

Authors

I. Ghalandarian
Z. Zavarian

Department of Urbanism, Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22034/IJHCUM.2026.01.06
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Mashhad, Iran’s main pilgrimage city, attracts numerous religious visitors every year. This status led to significant socio-economic and physical transformations, particularly around the holy shrine. The rapid growth of lodging and commercial facilities disrupted the urban fabric, reducing the quality of life for long-term residents. In the southern Samen region, the culturally rich Eidgah neighborhood suffered from neglect, poor planning, and the influx of temporary accommodations, eroding its social and cultural identity. This study aimed to identify key factors affecting residential satisfaction to encourage long-term habitation in the neighborhood.
METHODS: This research was quantitative, critical realism in approach, and grounded in the interpretivism paradigm. It was applied in its purpose, as it focuses on future studies of the Eidgah neighborhood to identify factors contributing to resident displacement and related potential issues. The data for this study were collected using library documents, environmental surveys, observations, and expert group questionnaires. The questionnaires were distributed to experts with prior experience in this urban fabric or other similar historical and deteriorated neighborhoods. The analysis of the questionnaires was conducted using MICMAC software and Scenario Wizard software.
FINDINGS: Adequate security and safety of the environmentLength of residence 478. These three variables demonstrated the highest influence on sustaining habitation, underscoring their critical role in residential stability. Based on these findings, the research identified four strategic scenarios for preserving residency in the Eidgah neighborhood.
CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that multiple factors affect residency preservation, which can vary significantly from one city to another or even from one neighborhood to another. The identified key variables primarily play a prominent role in social-cultural, functional, perceptual, and visual dimensions. Examining these key variables within similar historical contexts can pave the way for more targeted and effective interventions in urban planning, ultimately enhancing residents' quality of life and ensuring sustainability in these areas.
 

Keywords

Residency preservation
Residential satisfaction
Scenario planning
Urban acupuncture
Subjects

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  • Receive Date 18 December 2024
  • Revise Date 25 April 2025
  • Accept Date 17 June 2025

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