NAZAR Research Center MANZAR, the Scientific Journal of landscape 2008-7446 17 72 2025 09 23 Urban Landscape Reading Approaches: A Systematic Review of Conceptual Model Development Urban Landscape Reading Approaches: A Systematic Review of Conceptual Model Development 28 39 224100 10.22034/manzar.2025.497158.2325 FA Mahdi Hoseinzadeh Department of Landscape Architecture, Faculty of Architecture, College of Fine Arts, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran 0000-0002-4702-7126 Seyed Amir Mansouri Department of Landscape Architecture, Faculty of Architecture, College of Fine Arts, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran 0000-0002-2865-6859 Journal Article 2025 01 02 The urban landscape, as a multidimensional (holographic) phenomenon, emerges from the simultaneous interaction of the city’s physical form and the observer’s (citizen’s) perception. Professional reading of the landscape relies on landscape knowledge and requires a holistic understanding of the city. This study systematically reviews various approaches to reading the urban landscape, analyzing them along a spectrum from reductionist to holistic. Reductionist approaches focus on the detailed examination of urban components and either the objective or subjective space features. In contrast, comprehensive approaches integrate both objective and subjective dimensions to achieve an integrated understanding of the urban environment. Holistic approaches, however, perceive the urban landscape as a unified entity shaped by human spatial perception. The aim of this study is to investigate different approaches to reading urban landscapes through a systematic process of searching, selecting, analyzing, and evaluating scholarly sources. This study employed a qualitative methodology to identify relevant sources from reputable national and international academic databases. The approaches toward key concepts and models of urban landscape reading were categorized and evaluated through content analysis. Findings reveal that the evolution of urban landscape reading approaches is closely linked to the advancement of landscape knowledge. Holistic approaches, particularly those employing integrated methodologies, provide the most comprehensive frameworks for studying the urban landscape. Furthermore, the interrelation of these approaches highlights the necessity of multidimensional analysis. Ultimately, reading the urban landscape as a multilayered process requires the application of precise scientific models and tools. Integrating various methods within a systemic and holistic framework contributes to a meaningful and enduring understanding aligned with the city’s identity, essential for effective planning, management, and place-based urban interventions. The urban landscape, as a multidimensional (holographic) phenomenon, emerges from the simultaneous interaction of the city’s physical form and the observer’s (citizen’s) perception. Professional reading of the landscape relies on landscape knowledge and requires a holistic understanding of the city. This study systematically reviews various approaches to reading the urban landscape, analyzing them along a spectrum from reductionist to holistic. Reductionist approaches focus on the detailed examination of urban components and either the objective or subjective space features. In contrast, comprehensive approaches integrate both objective and subjective dimensions to achieve an integrated understanding of the urban environment. Holistic approaches, however, perceive the urban landscape as a unified entity shaped by human spatial perception. The aim of this study is to investigate different approaches to reading urban landscapes through a systematic process of searching, selecting, analyzing, and evaluating scholarly sources. This study employed a qualitative methodology to identify relevant sources from reputable national and international academic databases. The approaches toward key concepts and models of urban landscape reading were categorized and evaluated through content analysis. Findings reveal that the evolution of urban landscape reading approaches is closely linked to the advancement of landscape knowledge. Holistic approaches, particularly those employing integrated methodologies, provide the most comprehensive frameworks for studying the urban landscape. Furthermore, the interrelation of these approaches highlights the necessity of multidimensional analysis. Ultimately, reading the urban landscape as a multilayered process requires the application of precise scientific models and tools. Integrating various methods within a systemic and holistic framework contributes to a meaningful and enduring understanding aligned with the city’s identity, essential for effective planning, management, and place-based urban interventions. http://www.manzar-sj.com/article_224100_03e6eae72fc9f8f2b7d310138d3980f4.pdf