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Purpose In the early 2000s, a wave of new practices concerning the adaptive reuse (AR) of historic buildings into boutique hotels began in Yazd, Iran. This study presents the findings of a postoccupancy evaluation (POE) of adaptively reused historic buildings into boutique hotels. It aims to explore and prioritize the main factors of architecture's physical aspects in the adapted buildings. Design/methodology/approach In order to carry out a POE, hotel guests' written reviews from online international and national travel platforms were analyzed. According to this preliminary analysis, a questionnaire was designed and randomly distributed among 300 hotel guests. The data obtained from the questionnaire were analyzed using SPSS software. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to reduce a set of indicators into the main components. Findings The findings revealed that “preliminary physical feasibility study and evaluation of building's functional potential” is the most important component with a weight of 0.709. Then, “adaptive reuse design” and “quality of building conservation” are placed with a weight of 0.232 and 0.058, respectively. The results show the mere attention of practitioners to architectural restoration rather than adapting historic buildings into boutique hotels in Yazd. Also, the lack of a specific framework for this purpose is felt in Iran. Research limitations/implications Future research could evaluate the architectural aspects of historic buildings that have been converted into various functions from the main users' views. Practical implications This research's main contribution is to recommend guidelines for more user-friendly boutique hotels. This includes principal components and their sub-indicators that should be considered in the AR process of historic buildings by conservators, investors and hoteliers. Also, the extracted factors can be implemented for boutique hotels' improvements in operation because they determine the order of priority from the users' viewpoint. Originality/value This study introduces a new application of POE in the field of conservation of heritage assets and the hospitality industry; it focuses on the evaluation of the users' feedback regarding the architectural aspects of adaptively reused historic buildings into boutique hotels based on original empirical data.

Since the 1970s, the components of the modern urban conservation apparatus in Iran have been arranged based on international mainstream models. Taking this background into consideration, this contr...

The poststructuralist approach, assemblage thinking, appears less commonly in urban conservation literature. This article aims to trigger a dialogue regarding the implementation of this app...

The main focus of this dissertation is the critical investigation of the bazaars in the commercial cities of Iran. This work deals with the challenges that the bazaars in Iran have been exposed to over the past century in economic, political and social terms. The work explains how an Iranian bazaar is structured and functions as a public space in a modern city. The methodology of this research is designed based on a qualitative approach, with a single case-study strategy. A combination of literature review and spatial ethnographic research techniques are used for data collection. To understand the bazaar as a public place, its cultural, legal, physical and functional dimensions are documented and mapped. This mapping method with the ultimate aim of re-integrating the bazaar with the modern city is the core of this dissertation. Die grundlegende Intension der Arbeit ist die kritische Untersuchung der Basare in wirtschaftlich prosperierenden Städten des Irans. Sie setzt sich mit den Herausforderungen auseinander, denen die Basare im Iran in wirtschaftlicher politischer und sozialer Hinsicht im letzten Jahrhundert ausgesetzt waren. Ziel der Forschung ist es, zu erklären wie ein iranischer Basar strukturiert ist und als öffentlicher Raum in einer modernen Stadt funktioniert. Die Methode basiert auf einer Fallstudie des Basars in Täbriz, welcher der größte intakte Basar in sozialer wie baulich räumlicher Hinsicht im Iran ist. Der qualitative Untersuchungsansatz schließt eine Literaturanalyse sowie räumliche Untersuchungstechniken, Interviews, und Kartierungen ein. Zur Plausibilisierung der qualitativen Erkenntnisse werden auch quantitative Untersuchungsmethoden eingesetzt. Zum Verständnis des Basars als öffentlicher Raum werden dessen kulturellen wie rechtlichen, physischen, und funktionalen Hintergründe dokumentiert und kartiert. Diese Kartierungsmethode mit dem Ziel, den Basar als öffentlichen Ort zu behandeln und mit der modernen Stadt neu zu integrieren, ist der Kern der Dissertation.

The current literature on public space reveals the significant role of public space in enhancing social sustainability. Nevertheless, in empirical research and practice a more comprehensive methodological framework is required, which takes into account the complexities of local understandings of public space and social sustainability. The aim of this paper is to discuss how urban heritage research can contribute to solving questions regarding conflicts in interpreting social sustainability in relation to the local culture. The findings are mainly a result of a qualitative research based on literature review. For applying the results on the example of Tabriz Bazaar, a combination of literature review and spatial ethnographic research techniques are used. The paper presents a culture-based method for mapping historic public places, designed with the bases of incorporating the four factors of use, physical accessibility, ownership and local culture of territory-defining. This method is modified specifically for and applied on the case of Tabriz Bazaar. The paper suggests that the urban governance system needs to be flexible regarding the publicity–privacy spectrum of the place indicating the current power relations of different actors in it. It offers a tool to understand the current levels of responsibilities, rights and vulnerabilities of public and private actors in different zones of the studied place. Through providing a place-based and a culture-based model of the historic public place, the method can facilitate the negotiation and management process, and accordingly, contribute to the enhancement of social sustainability of the place.

In this paper, through a literature review, I clarify the meaning of public space and reflect on theoretical approaches to and methods of assessing the ability of historic public spaces to enhance social sustainability. I explain how the definition of public space and approaches to urban planning share concepts with social sustainability. Finally, reflecting on examples of empirical research that attempt to link physical and social components of public spaces, I point out the methodological strengths and weaknesses in the field.

Public spaces play an important role in creating opportunities for interpersonal communication as a basis for social co-existence and equality. Having been the hubs of commercial and social exchange over centuries, historical bazaars have developed a structure of inter-connected architectural spaces which have hosted active public life. Due to their historic values and architectural qualities, they can become successful public spaces in the contemporary city. However, this is only possible if they enjoy a participatory administrative structure, and if they are open and accessible to all members of public. This paper investigates Iranian historical bazaar from a critical point of view. This qualitative single case study research uses a combination of historical and spatial ethnographic research techniques. Focusing on Tabriz bazaar as the case study, the central objective of this research is to suggest rehabilitation policies to make it equally open and accessible for all public members.