Role of Physical- Spatial Plan of Urban Neighborhoods in Improving Social Wealth: A Comparative Study of a Traditional Neighborhood (Mesgar-ha) and a Modern Neighborhood (Golshahr) in Zanjan, Iran

Concept of social wealth includes social relations in the way of improving resident’s mental health, strengthening their solidarity, reducing social dilemmas and development of settlement; But despite of identifying indicators of social wealth, the influence of physical- spatial pattern of urban neighborhoods on this field, has been analyzed less. According to the hypothesis of this research, there is a meaningful relation between the physical- spatial plan of urban neighborhoods and amount of social wealth of neighborhoods. In theoretic part of the research, analytical method of content of texts and in practical part, analytical- descriptive method have been used to explain and test the hypothesis. At first indicators of social wealth in two neighborhoods of Zanjan city have been explained in seven axes and physical- spatial indicators (access network, variety and mixture of functions, equipped pedestrian path, spirited neighborhood center, local outdoors and green spaces) identified by field and documentary studying. For analyzing the social wealth, the seven above indicators with thirty six secondary indicators were weighed by random cluster sampling method and participation of 305 people from the residents of Mesgar-ha traditional neighborhood and Golshahr modern neighborhood, by statistical model and influence of the indicators in neighborhoods was examined. Results show that levels of safety indicators and public awareness are close together in two neighborhoods; But Mesgar-ha traditional neighborhood is at a higher level in terms of trust, participation, coherence, being a member of group, and sense of belonging to the neighborhood.