Analysis of Bazaars and Shopping Centers as Urban Spaces Via Space Syntax Software (Case Studies: Iranian Bazaars and Tehran Shopping Centers)

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to investigate the bazaars and shopping centers as public spaces. Given the<br />weakness of public places and consequently the weakness of social interactions, today's societies are in dire need of<br />social spaces to increase social interactions. Therefore, the review of these two as then and now's urban spaces could<br />help solve some problems. Bazaars are among the oldest Iranian urban spaces, which are deemed to be the palpitating<br />heart of the Iranian cities, playing different social, economic, and other roles. Shopping centers are adopted from the<br />20th Century's models and are considered as an appropriate alternative for Bazaars for the modern human of the 21st<br />Century. Descriptive-Analytical research method is of the case study model, and Space Syntax Software was used<br />for collection of data by library method and analysis. The results show that shopping centers cannot be appropriate<br />alternatives for Bazaars and can be considered as centers for meeting economic needs. Therefore, these centers could<br />not be considered as appropriate collective spaces and as appropriate places for meeting social and recreational needs.