From Sense of Place to Place-Making: A Study of Tehran Railway Square Focusing on the Perspectives of Local Vendors and Workers

Document Type : Original Research

Authors
Saeid Yadollahi 1
Azadeh Lak 2
1 M.A. in Urban Design, Department of Urban and Regional Planning and Design, Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
2 Associate Professor, Department of Urban and Regional Planning and Design, Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
10.48311/udd.2026.112487.0
Abstract
Introduction: Tehran Railway Square, one of the capital’s most important transportation hubs with a long history, holds great potential to become a vibrant and memorable place. However, despite efforts to renovate and improve its physical quality, it has yet to transform into a genuine place with a deep sense of place.
Objective: This article aims to examine the sense of place in Tehran Railway Square from the perspective of Vendors and local workers, seeking to answer the questions: From their viewpoint, how effective have the renovation interventions been in shaping and enhancing the sense of place? And how can a place-making approach be applied to create a better space in this square?
Methodology: To achieve this objective, a qualitative research method was used, including semi-structured and visual interviews.
Findings: The findings indicate that physical interventions have not positively impacted the sense of place, and in some cases, have had the opposite effect. This was also evident in identifying users’ environmental preferences, revealing that aesthetic interventions failed to meet the core needs of space users, who in fact had different preferences and requirements.
Conclusion: As a result of the findings, the study proposes an improved place-making model to enhance spatial quality and sense of place in Tehran Railway Square, emphasizing the necessity for urban interventions to adhere to the principles of “true functionalism”.
Keywords
Sense of place
Place, Place-Making
True Functionalism
Subjects
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Urban Design Discourse
Volume 7, Issue 3
Summer 2026
Pages 111-124

  • Receive Date 03 June 2025
  • Accept Date 18 April 2026
  • First Publish Date 18 April 2026
  • Publish Date 23 September 2026