Measurement of the Superior Criteria in the Quality of Urban Public Space in Historical Districts (Case Study: Kashan Historical Districts)

Urban spaces as the context of civic life and urbanism are still unknown in terms of nature despite their semantic simplicity. We can define urban space in a broader sense: "Urban space is one element of urban space construction that is always formed and transformed by the history of a nation that emerges in different eras". Urban spaces have always been one of the most essential elements in the city's structure since they are home to all the different cultural, economic, social, and political activities that have been going on throughout the history of the city. 
The historic districts of each city have a fundamental role in preserving the recognition and culture, attracting tourists and capital, and creating vitality and continuous effort in the city. These districts form the main character of the city. The quality of urban space, both to attract capital and tourists and improve the quality of citizen’s life, will play a significant role in the economic and social situation of nations. Paying attention to public spaces that are used by everyone means paying attention to the quality of life of all the people who live in the city.
Urban spaces as a context for the emergence of civil life, despite the simplicity of the meaning, are still unknown in terms of nature. However, the issue of urban space in a broader sense can be defined as follows: "Urban space is one of the elements of the spatial construction of the city, which is always formed and transformed by the history of a nation that comes into being in different periods". This element that different activities Cultural, economic, social, and political have always flowed in it, it always beats with the heart of the city's history and shapes the history of the city, and it has always been important as one of the main elements in the city's structure.
When the idea of ​​the active and modern use of historic districts and monuments in cities is introduced, they must be prepared in time to meet the new needs and adapt to the requirements of modern life. Today, in historic districts, many spaces have lost their function and are inactive, ruined, and abandoned buildings scattered throughout the district. Most space openings have been turned into parking, and there is no longer a place for social interaction. Many passages have inactive business units that used to be the center of the neighborhoods in the past. Historic districts often suffer from the evacuation of residents, and many units of the neighborhood have become dilapidated or abandoned, which has reduced the quality of public spaces. Some of the historic houses in the district have been renovated by the residents and the service uses are provided in them, but these services are scattered and these attractions must act as continuous and coordinated routes.
In the past, urban spaces in Iran were often formed based on the needs of residents and had good efficiency for the life of citizens. Therefore, in the historic cities of Iran, the characteristics of public spaces, the main of which is to create a connection between the components of space, are still visible. Today, although the role and importance of urban public space as an integral part of urban development programs in improving the quality of urban spaces is undeniable, relying on functionalism in public spaces and the dominance of movement and flow in it, has led to a declining trend. With the creation of cross-shaped streets, public spaces have lost their connection due to fragmentation, and with the transfer of activities to the edges of the streets, neighborhood centers have often been deactivated. This has caused many buildings to be abandoned, inactive, and ruined in the historic districts, and on the other hand, due to the neglect of their needs over the years, their quality is lost.
The core aim of this study is to identify the importance of quality criteria in urban public spaces and to measure and rank them according to the needs of residents and improve the quality of the historic district of Kashan to provide the necessary basis for more presence of citizens in public spaces. The research has been conducted with a quantitative method. Data were collected through literature review, library documents, and field studies, and the S.W. Kendall and Spearman tests were used to rank and correlate the criteria.
Findings of the research, which are obtained by assessing the status of the case study, reviewing successful internal and external experiences, statistical data, and testing hypotheses, indicate that there is a significant correlation between the two criteria of cognition - mental image, diversity - performance and vitality - social dynamics.