An Analysis on the Nature of Public Space in Large-scale Urban Tourism Projects based on "Social Production of Space" Theory (case study: Tehran)

In recent years, One of the challenges facing contemporary public spaces, is the privatization of public space, which its consequences have affected the urban tourism; However, one of the most striking examples of this challenge is the emergence and development of large-scale urban tourism projects. In this paper, with the aim of understanding the production and characteristics of this type of public space, two large-scale projects of Tehran Book Garden and Velayat Park were studied. In this regard, the theory of social production of space as a Theoretical research support model was tested experimentally. Data collection was carried out based on the documentation method, observation, dialogue and questioning. The statistical sample of the study included documents, reports, lectures and texts on the two projects, as well as 100 users of the public space of each site. For analysis, statistical methods and qualitative content analysis method based of Grounded Theory have been used. The results showed that the representation of the public space in the intellectual environment of the Book Garden project builders was based on three discourses: the "instructive space", "project durability", "the human scale of design and architecture" and in the Velayat Park project, including "development of south city", "control of Public space", "making recreational public space" and "attention to Islamic ideology in the design of public space". Each of these discourses has somehow led to the formation, guidance and control of spatial practices in these two projects. Due to some negative features, these spatial practices have caused users to be discontented from the experience of these spaces and ultimately lead to the exclusion of users and the lack of their continued and persistent use of public space.