Geography and Urban Research

Investigating the desirability of urban furniture with an emphasis on pedestrian routes (case study: Malekan city)

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Omid Mobaraki

Associate Professor, Department of Geography and Urban Planning, Faculty of Humanities, University of Maragheh, Maragheh, Iran.

https://doi.org/10.22130/gur.2025.721109
Abstract
Improving and upgrading the landscape and the quality of the urban environment is one of the goals of urban planning and one of the factors that improves the quality of the urban environment. But in recent years urban furniture has received less attention from urban planners and managers. Lack of special design, disregarding ergonomics, design, suitable color, and lighting and lack of fit with culture are the most important problems of urban furniture in Iranian cities. The purpose of this research is to investigate the desirability of urban furniture with an emphasis on pedestrian paths in Malekan city. The present applied research uses a descriptive-analytical method. The data were collected through the review of relevant texts and articles, field and comparative surveys, questionnaires and interviews with citizens, and data analysis in SPSS software and the use of statistical tests of the sample T-Tech test and A factor analysis model. The results of this research show that in the comparative evaluation (evaluation of furniture with standards), the state of urban furniture in properties is different from common standards in terms of construction, design, location, and in many cases the standards are not observed. Upon asking the citizens about the level of satisfaction with the furniture in the studied area, it was revealed the level of satisfaction is lower than the average. Finally, it is suggested to consider that the urban furniture plays an important role in visual appearance and urban vitality. More attention should be paid to complying with rules and standards in the design and placement of pedestrian furniture.

Keywords

Urban beautification
Desirability
Urban furniture
Pedestrian routes
Malekan city
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Geography and Urban Research
Volume 1, Issue 1
Winter 2025
Pages 31-51

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