An Investigation of the urban shrinkage phenomenon and the effect of unused spaces on its occurrence; Case study: Isfahan's Risbaf factory district

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 M.A in Urban Design,, Department of Urban Planning, Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning, Art University of Isfahan

2 Associate Professor of Urban Planning Department, Architecture Faculty, Art University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran

Abstract

Urban shrinkage is a type of structural crisis in the city associated with population decline and economic depression leading to the formation of abandoned or unused spaces in the centers or peripheral areas.Abandoned and unused spaces are one of the factors and at the same time examples of urban shrinkage. Spaces that are not connected to their surrounding environment and social-spatial disintegration in their surrounding context is one of the most important indicators of urban shrinkage. Among these spaces are the peripheral unused old factories, being located in the inner part of the cities due to the urban development. It is necessary to study such abandoned sites to find ways to integrate them in the surrounding urban contexts. In Isfahan, once known as the Manchester of the East due to the abundance of textile factories; following economic changes and deindustrialization of cities, old factories including Risbaf have lost their connection with the city by losing their main functions and have emerged as large abandoned plots in the inner part of the city. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the impact of unused factories on urban shrinkage with reference to Isfahan Risbaf factory in order to come up with the urban design strategies to respond to the challenges caused by this phenomenon. For this, the concept of shrinkage in the city was analyzed first and then the effect of the studied sample on the occurrence of urban shrinkage was investigated through measuring the spatial indices of shrinkage using mixed (quantitative-qualitative) methods. In order to analyze the data, space-syntax technique, cognitive and behavioral maps were used. Findings of this research indicate the spatial disintegration of Risbaf factory. Therefore, this valuable industrial heritage in its current situation portrays an example of the urban shrinkage in the form of a complex without use being isolated from the city fabric. In order to strengthen the relationship between the part and the whole, along with the considerations related to its architectural preservation and revitalization, it is necessary to adopt urban design strategies responding to this challenge, including urban connector and place patchwork strategies.

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History

  • Receive Date: 06 October 2022
  • Revise Date: 23 December 2023
  • Accept Date: 20 May 2025

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