Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1
PhD in Architecture, Director of the specialized service center for entrepreneurship development, empowerment and sustainable rural employment - ACECR Hamadan branch, Hamedan, Iran.
2
Professor, Department of Urban Planning, Faculty of Art and Architecture, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran.
3
Assistant Professor, Department of Agricultural Extension and Education and Rural Development; Head of Hamedan Branch, Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research (ACECR), Hamedan, Iran.
Abstract
1. Introduction
With the onset of old age, significant changes occur in the physiological, psychological, and emotional characteristics of individuals. In cities, there are elderly people who, due to various problems, spend long hours at home without any form of entertainment or activity. In this regard, the present study aimed to identify the role of environmental factors in the legibility of urban spaces from the perspective of older adults. It examined the problems encountered by older adults when using parks in order to provide guidance for strategic planning and the qualitative improvement of urban spaces.
Research Questions
1. Which environmental factors, both objective and subjective, influenced the way older adults read and perceived urban parks?
2. What strategies could be proposed to enhance the legibility and improve the condition of urban parks based on the perceptual and behavioral characteristics of older adults?
2. Literature Review
Zanganeh et al. (2023) emphasized the importance of addressing the physical and social needs of older adults, improving sidewalks, green spaces, urban furniture, and access to services in urban planning. Karami et al. (2022) demonstrated that individual characteristics and spatial quality, particularly comfort, activity, and physical characteristics, influenced older adults' satisfaction. Mohammadian (2016) identified interaction with nature and green spaces as an influential factor in place attachment and the mental health of older adults, while Bamanian and Kamran (2015) found social interactions to be effective in enhancing their comfort.
International studies, including those by Garcia and Lee (2023), Ray and Park (2022), William and Martin (2022), and Kim and Lee (2020), have emphasized sustainability, accessibility, safety, green and social spaces, and designs adapted to the physical and psychological needs of older adults.
3. Methodology
The research method employed in this study was a survey method. Data were collected through questionnaires, observation, and interviews. The study area was Mardom Park in Hamedan, and the statistical population consisted of older adults. The questionnaires were administered over a one-week period at different times of the day. For this purpose, a questionnaire was designed for a sample of 350 older adults based on Cochran's formula. The respondents were older adults who used the park and represented diverse social, occupational, and gender characteristics. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS.
4. Discussion
Among the indicators of functional factors, the greatest impact was associated with the diversity of activities, while the lowest impact was related to the presence of urban furniture. Among the indicators of environmental factors, the greatest impact was associated with the presence of natural elements, whereas the lowest impact was related to the appropriate drainage of surface water.
Among the accessibility factors, the greatest impact was associated with the use of ramps instead of stairs, while the lowest impact was related to the appropriate width and length of pathways.
Regarding subjective factors, among the perceptual indicators, the greatest impact was associated with secluded and tranquil spaces, while the lowest impact was related to the presence of nodes and gathering places. Among the indicators of social identity, the greatest impact was associated with the provision of spaces for social interaction, whereas the lowest impact was related to the organization of collective rituals.
Among the indicators of perceived security, spatial visibility had the greatest impact, while lighting had the lowest impact. Among the indicators of collective memory, the greatest impact was associated with the presence of communal spaces, whereas the lowest impact was related to the organization of religious ceremonies. Finally, among the indicators of place attachment, the greatest impact was associated with the availability of diverse activities, while the lowest impact was related to the provision of spaces for meeting friends.
5. Conclusion
Successful spatial reading of a park by older adults could be achieved when physical (objective) facilities were provided in a manner that actively supported opportunities for social interaction and a sense of psychological security (subjective factors). Providing amenities that contributed to the individual and social identity of older adults was not merely a minor improvement; rather, it was a determining factor in increasing participation rates and encouraging the continued use of park spaces.
Therefore, enhancing the quality and richness of parks depended on aligning their design with these two fundamental components. In other words, design needed to actively facilitate the fulfillment of the deeper psychological and social needs of older adults. This approach proposed an inclusive, active, and meaning-oriented design model for urban public spaces.
Finally, several practical recommendations were proposed: improving and upgrading urban furniture; installing legible and easily understandable signs and symbols; creating barrier-free pathways; incorporating additional natural elements; providing gentle and appropriate lighting; increasing spaces for social interaction; strengthening the sense of belonging; enhancing spatial visibility; providing cultural programs appropriate for older adults; developing guidelines and standard design principles for age-friendly parks; and encouraging the participation of older adults in the design process.
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