Abstract
Introduction
Urban development is a necessary process, but it is essential to implement policies that include revitalizing historical contexts. Contemporary urban strategies emphasize development-driven initiatives to enhance transformation in these areas, focusing on physical-environmental and socio-economic revitalization. Isfahan, like many other cities, must address the revitalization of its historical context, an issue that has garnered significant attention from specialists and experts. Authorities have initiated several projects in the city's historical neighborhoods.
This research evaluates three design projects in Isfahan’s historical district of Baba Qasem: the "Urban Space Expansion Plan of Agha Noor Mosque," "Saheh Shahshahan," and "Saheh Amin." The study employs the concepts of "infill development" to respect the existing context and "development-driven initiatives" for revitalization.
The research team defines the key concepts of "infill development" and "development-driven initiatives," providing both theoretical and conceptual frameworks. The study then assesses the integration of these concepts into the selected plans, focusing on physical aspects and the extent to which the designers have considered relevant indicators.
Methodology
This applied research utilizes a mixed-method approach for data collection.In quantitative part, a 19-question questionnaire was developed for each of the three projects, focusing on the "physical dimension of development-driven infill design." The sample was drawn from universities with restoration programs, as listed in the 2024 graduate admission guide, including Shahid Beheshti, Iran University of Science and Technology, Tabriz Art University, Isfahan Art University, Tehran Art University, Qazvin Islamic Azad University, Tehran University, and Kerman Bahonar University. Faculty emails were collected, yielding a list of 32 active restoration professors. Using Cochran's formula with a 0.05 confidence level, a sample si