The Role of Historical Persian Gardens as Urban Green Spaces: Psychological, Physical, and Social Aspects

Historical Persian gardens serve as highly utilized urban green spaces, offering significant psychological, physical, and social benefits to residents. A study of four renowned gardens in Shiraz—Eram, Hafeziyeh, Jahan Nama, and Afifabad—revealed that visitors primarily seek connection to nature, relaxation, and refreshment over social or physical activities. Key factors influencing garden visitation include emotional attachment to the place, aesthetic appeal, accessibility, and perceived safety. Notably, bonding with the location and feeling safe were stronger predictors of garden use than aesthetics or accessibility. Safety also mediated the effects of other attributes on visitation, underscoring its critical role in enhancing park utilization. These findings suggest that urban planners should prioritize affective components, infrastructure, and activities that foster social benefits to increase engagement with green spaces.

Aliyas, Z., & Masoudi Nezhad, S. (2019). The Role of Historical Persian Gardens as Urban Green Spaces: Psychological, Physical, and Social Aspects. Environmental Justice, 12(3), 132–139. https://doi.org/10.1089/env.2018.0034