Determining the factors affecting the enhancement of “place identity” in housing; Study case: Residential fabrics of Ardabil

Place identity is the symbolic-emotional aspect of belonging to a place, often associated with positive emotions. It reflects an individual’s emotional attachment to a place where they perceive it as integral to their identity. Studies related to place identity include different scales of human habitation from house to neighborhood and city. Among these, living in a house holds significant influence over human identity. The emotional connection fostered by the house can shape an individual’s sense of place identity. Since the provision of human ideals in various fields arouses positive emotions, paying attention to the ideals of place can also be considered as the basis for creating an emotional attachment. As the house represents a significant place, its essential components can be analyzed to understand the factors influencing place identity. Thus, this study aims to identify and explore the components that contribute to place identity within the context of the house. By viewing the house space as a “place” and recognizing the importance of emotional attachment, the research seeks to explain how each component influences an individual’s sense of place identity.

In this study, in order to investigate the effective components of place identity, based on the basic concepts and by reviewing the literature, a theoretical model has been developed and analyzed during various stages. So, in the first step, a measurement scale was developed to measure the hypothetical model, and its validity and reliability were evaluated using data from a cross-sectional survey, alongside confirmatory factor analysis. The participants of the research are residents of different residential of Ardabil urban fabric, including old fabrics (historical areas), newly built settlements and peripheral regions. Subsequently, the relationships proposed in the hypothetical model were examined through structural factor analysis to assess the model’s fit. In the final stage of the experimental process, the final structural model was formulated by eliminating non-significant relationships. The model’s fit indices were then evaluated, and the factors influencing place identity, along with their mode of influence, were determined based on the finalized model”.

In the final structural model, all relationships were found to be significant, with the chi-square ratio (78.011) to its degree of freedom (45) equating to 1.734. Additionally, the fit indices indicated a good fit for the model, with RMSEA at 0.050, GFI at 0.959, AGFI at 0.959, CFI at 0.982, NFI at 0.958, TLI at 0.973, and SRMR at 0.0489. These results collectively suggest the model’s suitability. Furthermore, the model explained 24% of the variance in place identity, with significant proportions of variance explained for various aspects of house conformity with ideals, including beauty (46%), facilities (41%), social status (39%), family relationships (38%), beliefs and values (29%), and spaciousness (12%). Also, according to the findings, “compliance with ideals in terms of family relationships” and “compliance with ideals in terms of social status” have direct and positive effects on the level of “place identity” respectively. The biggest indirect effect on the level of “place identity” are caused by the “compliance with ideals in terms of facilities”, and the “conformity to ideals in terms of Spaciousness” respectively. Also, the greatest effect on the level of “place identity” was attributed to the “compliance with ideals in terms of family relationships”, which was significantly influenced by the “compliance with ideals in terms of facilities” and through that, by “compliance with ideals in terms of spaciousness.

In conclusion, the analysis suggests that alignment between residents’ ideals and various aspects of the house’s physical structure, activities, and concepts (substantive components of the house) significantly impacts their place identity. Achieving satisfactory family relationships and favorable social status emerged as particularly influential factors. Improving these factors requires meeting residents’ ideals in terms of facilities, thereby enhancing functional satisfaction, which, in turn, is dependent on the house’s conformity with ideals regarding spaciousness”.