Problem Statement: Historic urban fabrics, as settings of cultural and social identity, have experienced weakened residents’ emotional bonds and declining quality of life as a consequence of rapid urbanization. Under these circumstances, place attachment has emerged as a key component in preserving identity and sustaining social life. However, the mechanisms underlying the formation of place attachment, particularly within the lived experiences of residents in historic urban fabrics, have received limited attention through integrated qualitative investigations.
Research Objectives: This study aims to analyze the mechanisms underlying the formation of place attachment and to identify the factors influencing it in the historic Dabbaghan neighborhood of Qazvin. Specifically, it seeks to answer how place attachment is formed in this historic context and which factors contribute to its strengthening or weakening.
Research Method: This study employed a qualitative research approach with an applied orientation. Data were collected through 45 structured interviews with long-term residents (more than five years of residence), aged between 20 and 70 years, selected through purposive and snowball sampling to ensure balanced gender representation and diverse lived experiences. The data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis and a three-stage coding process (open, axial, and selective coding) in MAXQDA software. A total of 249 open codes were extracted and organized into 23 subcategories and 6 main categories.
Conclusion: The findings indicate that place attachment in this historic neighborhood is a multidimensional phenomenon emerging from the interaction of place identity, lived memories, and social interactions. Local lifestyle, the authenticity of the historic fabric, and the cohesion of neighborhood social networks emerged as the principal factors strengthening place attachment, whereas physical deterioration, demographic changes, and economic pressures were found to weaken it. Overall, place attachment in Dabbaghan is a context-dependent phenomenon shaped by the interaction between residents’ lived experiences and the physical–social structure of the neighborhood. Accordingly, strengthening place attachment requires integrated socio-spatial regeneration strategies that simultaneously address residents’ lived experiences and the continuity of historic identity in everyday life.