Identifying the Factors Contributing to Happiness Based on the Features of Mixed-Use Urban Centers

Document Type : Original Research Article

Authors

1 Department of Architecture, Islamic Azad University, Central Tehran Branch, Tehran, Iran.

2 Department of Architecture, Islamic Azad University, Central Tehran Branch, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Happiness is a broad and complex concept, which has numerous definitions in cognitive sciences. Such definitions have been developed based on human perceptions of this concept in different periods. Many studies have been carried out on the definition of happiness in different fields of study such as philosophy, economics, and especially social sciences. The present study attempts to identify the factors resulting in happiness in mixed-use urban centers based on social studies, which have been conducted in recent decades. Accordingly, urban spaces are described as important places for social relations. One of the reasons for the promotion and development of mixed-use urban centers is the formation of social interactions. Since the number of these centers has been considerably increasing in recent years, it seems necessary to pay attention to them as a place promoting people’s interaction and happiness. The main goal of the present research is to identify the features of mixed-used urban centers contributing to users’ interaction and happiness. The content analysis and observation method were used to investigate the relationship between happiness and social interaction. Further, the development of mixed-use urban centers was investigated by focusing on the case studies in Tehran and examining the fusion of diversity, density, and interactive space design in the form of the building types such as cinema complexes, playgrounds, various stores, restaurants, and food courts; as well as features such as vertical connection, voids, indoor/outdoor connection, security, and shared spaces. In conclusion, based on the happiness criteria set for spaces and by identifying the characteristics of mixed-use urban centers based on past studies, the study found that mixed-use centers play an important role in the improvement of happiness and social interactions for citizens.

Keywords

References

Bahrami, B. & Khosravi, A. (2015). Assessment factors in improving the quality of pedestrian circulation in and out of urban shopping centers; case study: Kurdistan Commercial Complex, Sanandaj. HONAR-HA-YE-ZIBA MEMARI-VA-SHAHRSAZI, 20(1), 91-100.
Bentham, J. (1996). An introduction to the principles of morals and legislation: The collected works of Jeremy Bentham. UK: Oxford University.
Bjørnskov, C. (2007). Economic growth: a social capital survey. HANDBOOK OF SOCIAL CAPITAL, Gert Svendsen, Gunnar Svendsen, eds. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar. 
Chang, W.-C. (2009). Social capital and subjective happiness in Taiwan. International Journal of Social Economics, 36(8), 844-868.
Chapman, D. (2015). Creating Neighbourhoods and Places in the Built Environment (S. Faryadi, Trans.). Tehran: University of Tehran.
Croucher, K., Wallace, A. & Duffy, S. (2017). The influence of land use mix, density and urban design on health: a critical literature review. UK: The University of York.
Dideban, M., Momeni, K. & Niknam, S. (2017). Afarinesh-e Fazaye-ye Sarzendeh Dar Marākez-e Tejāri: Nemune-ye Moredi Markaz-e Kharid-e Triangle. The first international conference and the second national conference on identity-oriented architecture and urban planning. Mashhad: Mehraz, International Institute of Architecture, Urban Planning.
Easterlin, R. A. (2006). Life cycle happiness and its sources: Intersections of psychology, economics, and demography. Economic Psychology, 27(4), 463-482.
Filion, P., McSpurren, K. & Huether, N. (2000). Synergy and movement within suburban mixed-use centers: The Toronto experience. Urban Affairs, 22(4), 419-438.
Foroutan, M., Sanatgar Kakhaki, M. & Rezae, M.K. (2013). Ravesh-e arzyabi-ye sarzendegi-ye mohiti dar mojtama’-ha-ye tejari va marakez-e kharid [Method of assessing environmental vitality in commercial complexes and shopping malls]. Haft Hesar Journal of Environmental Studies, 2(6), 65- 76.
Glatzer, W. (2000). Happiness: Classic theory in the light of current research. Happiness Studies, 1(4), 501-511.
Golkar, K. (2007). The concept of quality of vitality in urban design. Soffeh, 44, 66-75.
Gong, X., Marklund, L. G. & Tsuji, S. (2009). Land use classification proposed for SEEA. 14th Meeting of the London Group on Environmental Accounting, (April), 18. Retrieved from http://unstats.un.org/unsd/envaccounting/londongroup/meeting14/LG14_10a.pdf 
Grant, J. (2007). Encouraging mixed use in practice. Incentives, regulations and plans: The role of states and nation-states in smart growth planning, 1(10), 57-76.
Grant, J. & Perrott, K. (2011). Where is the café? The challenge of making retail uses viable in mixed-use suburban developments. Urban Studies, 48(1), 177-195.
Growiec, J. & Growiec, K. (2010). Social capital, well-being, and earnings: Theory and evidence from Poland. European Societies, 12(2), 231-255.
Han, S. (2015). Social capital and subjective happiness: Which contexts matter? Happiness Studies, 16(1), 241-255. 
Hoppenbrouwer, E. & Louw, E. (2005). Mixed-use development: Theory and practice in Amsterdam’s Eastern Docklands. European Planning Studies, 13(7), 967-983. 
Izadpanah, M. & Habibi, M. (2019) Analysis and Evaluation of the Status of the Malls as a Public Space (Case Study: Tehran Palladium Shopping Center). Sustainable City, 1(4), 37-56.
Jacobs, J. (2016). The death and life of great American cities. New York: Vintage.
Kazemi, A. & Abazari, Y. (2005). Zendegi-ye rozmare va marakez-e kharid dar shahr-e Tehran [The Everyday Life and Shopping Centers in Tehran City]. Iranian Journal of Anthropology, 3(6), 97-116.
Khademi, S. & Alipour, S.  (2017). Malls: a Modern Revelation of Public Space in Tehran. MANZAR, 9(40), 42-53.
Khastoo, M. & Saeidi Rezvani, N. (2010). The Effective Factors on Urban Spaces Vitality (Creating a Lively Urban Space with Emphasizing the Concept “Pedestrian Mall”). Hoviat-e Shahr, 4(6), 63-74.
Leung, A., Kier, C., Fung, T., Fung, L. & Sproule, R. (2013). Searching for happiness: The importance of social capital. Journal of Happiness Studies, 12(3), 443-462.
Montgomery, C. (2016). Happy City: Transforming Our Lives Through Urban Design (S. Najmoddi, M. Ahmadi & E. Darban Rezae Trans.). Tehran: Arad Ketab.
Nabil, N. A. & Abd Eldayem, G. E. (2015). Influence of mixed land-use on realizing the social capital. HBRC Journal, 11(2), 285-298.
Nahavandi, E., Zabetian, E., Pour Ahmad, A. & Kheyroddin R. (2017). Spaces’ Livability in Modern Commercial Centers. MANZAR, 9(40), 54-67. 
Nazari, J. & Mokhtari, M. (2010). Jame’e shaenasi-ye keyfiat-e zendegi [The Sociological Quality of Life]. Tehran: Jame’e-Shenasi.
Rahimi, L. & Jafari, F. (2018). The measurement of livability of historical and modern commercial spaces in the city of Tabriz (Case Study: Tabriz Historic Bazaar and Crystal Tower). Spatial Planning, 7(4), 41-56.
Ryan, R. M. & Deci, E. L. (2000). Self-determination theory and the facilitation of intrinsic motivation, social development, and well-being. American Psychologist, 55(1), 68-78.
Samburu, P. M., Hayombe, P. O. & Owino, F. O. (2019). Influence of Circulation Space Configuration Attributes on Location of Economic Enterprises in Obunga Informal Sattelment, Kisumu City. Architectural Research, 9(3), 63-73.
Sarvar, H., Salahi Sarikhanbiglou, V. & Mobaraky, O. (2017). Analysis of the Role of Commercial Land Uses in Urban Dynamics and Creation of New Urban Spaces, Case Study: Laleh Park Complex of Tabriz. Urban Ecology Researches, 8(15), 29-42.
Shirmohamadian, Sh. & Azizi, Sh. (2020). Evaluating the Effective Factors on the Quality of Women Leisure from Interactionist Approach in Urban Mixed-use Centers (Case study: Kourosh mixed-used center). Hoviat-e Shahr, 14(2), 95-108.
Veenhoven, R. & Hagerty, M. (2006). Rising happiness in nations 1946–2004: A reply to Easterlin. Social Indicators Research, 79(3), 421-436. 
MANZAR, the Scientific Journal of landscape
Volume 14, Issue 58
March 2022
Pages 40-51

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics