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A Research Synthesis on the Physical Indicators of Territorial Formation in Public Spaces | ||
| مطالعات ساختار و کارکرد شهری | ||
| Volume 13, Issue 3, September 2026, Pages 109-134 PDF (851.28 K) | ||
| Document Type: Articles from PhD & Master Dissertations | ||
| DOI: 10.22080/usfs.2026.29479.2530 | ||
| Authors | ||
| elham shahabi* 1; yaser shahbazi2; Azita Balali Oskoyi3 | ||
| 1Ph. D. Candidate, Department of Architecture, Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism, Tabriz Islamic Art University, Tabriz, Iran | ||
| 2Associate Professor, Department of Architectural Technology, Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism, Tabriz Islamic Art University, Tabriz, Iran | ||
| 3Full Professor, Department of Architecture, Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism, Tabriz Islamic Art University, Tabriz, Iran | ||
| Receive Date: 23 June 2025, Revise Date: 18 November 2025, Accept Date: 08 June 2026 | ||
| Abstract | ||
| The well-designed built environment is intelligently aligned with the needs of all citizens and can enhance user satisfaction and elevate the quality of life. Exploring the transformation of space into a meaningful place necessitates identifying the indicators of spatial territory formation. However, the objective and subjective indicators of territory formation in public spaces have rarely been systematically studied. This research seeks to address this knowledge gap by developing the physical dimensions of the environment to facilitate the formation of spatial territory, providing a framework for designing environments responsive to human needs. For space to be desirable, it must provide a well-defined territory for humans, so they do not struggle to establish their own territory within it. The built environment should be designed to serve as a cradle for human presence and to transform space into a meaningful place. The study is applied in purpose and qualitative in method. The research method is a systematic synthesis with a descriptive-analytical approach, designed to integrate scattered findings in the field of spatial territory. Among the various types of spaces, public spaces were chosen as the research context due to their minimal user intervention and personalization. The MAXQDA-Excel software was used for data analysis. This study demonstrates that territory is not only a physical-spatial concept but also a socio-cultural phenomenon shaped by the complex interaction between environmental factors and human perceptions. The findings of the systematic synthesis reveal that territory in public spaces is a multidimensional phenomenon shaped by the active, meaningful interaction among four dimensions: physical, visual, functional, and perceptual-psychological. Each of these dimensions encompasses a set of independent indicators that collectively form the subjective foundation of territory for the user | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Proxemics; Territoriality; Environment; َUrban Space; Research Synthesis | ||
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