Quarterly Journals of Urban and Regional Development Planning

Neighborhood Community Gardens and the Cultural-Economic Resilience of Migrants: Yazd and Melbourne in Comparison

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Farzad Mohammadi 1
Mahdi Zandieh 2

1 Postdoctoral researcher, Department of Architecture, Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism, Imam Khomeini International University, Qazvin, Iran

2 Professor, Department of Architecture, Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism, Imam Khomeini International University (IKIU).

10.22054/urdp.2026.91728.1778
Abstract
approach to examine the functions of these spaces in two distinct contexts: Fahadan in Yazd (an informal model) and CERES in Melbourne (a formal-institutional model). A mixed-methods approach (quantitative and qualitative) was employed, involving 101 participants (54 in Yazd, 47 in Melbourne). Data were collected using standardized questionnaires (Likert scale and WHO-5) and thematic analysis. The mean resilience scores were high in both sites (Yazd: 4/48, Melbourne: 4/46), but significant differences were observed: in Yazd, "access to traditional food" was more prominent, while in Melbourne, "participation despite barriers" and "psychological well-being" were more pronounced. Qualitative analysis revealed four main themes: economic survival (42% in Yazd), preservation of traditional identity (31% in Yazd), learning sustainability and intercultural integration (38% in Melbourne), and reduction of isolation (29% in both sites). Psychological well-being emerged as the strongest predictor of resilience (β = 0/58, p < 0/001). The findings underscore the necessity of localizing formal models of community gardens in Iran with an emphasis on climatic and cultural contexts. The results can inform the development of urban regeneration policies centered on social participation and the strengthening of local economies in Iran's historical and migrant-receiving neighborhoods.

Keywords

cultural-economic resilience
migrants
neighborhood community gardens
comparative study
social capital
Subjects
Quarterly Journals of Urban and Regional Development Planning

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 12 September 2026

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