Maremat & Me'mari-e Iran

Sense of belonging to place as a growing sense between place and people with common goals contains interests and attachments of individuals to the place. Places with these qualities have distinct atmospheres that remain on the individuals mind and lead them to return to the place. It is obvious that these distinctions are trying to illustrate physical and social spaces of life, containing meanings and activities. Trying to give sense of belonging to settlements is a relatively new method in managing public urban spaces which aims to transform boring and abandoned spaces to vibrant and high quality places. Lack of smart and coherent thinking for a comprehensive guide in planning and design of urban historic areas is a threat to conserve identity and heritage of a city.

Old quarter of Gorgan as one of the most important economic hubs of the city is facing with many challenges. part of these challenges are because of declining in sense of belonging to place in this area. The results of this declining are forming disease visual landscapes, incongruous buildings comparing with historic identity of place, population displacement and presence of immigrant and unfamiliar populations. to assess the sense of belonging, some questions can be regarded: What are the constituent factors  of the sense of belonging? And what are the conditions of Gorgan’s old neiborhoods in this sense?

The aim of this paper, therefore, is assessing sense of belonging in traditional neighborhoods of  Gorgan to compare the results between neighborhoods and find weaknesses and strengths of them in this field. Using library studies, criteria affecting sense of belonging are gathered by the view of urban professionals. Then normes and criteria are weighted by fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP). In the next step the assessed statements through questionnaires, observation and interviews in the neighborhoods analyzed in TOPSIS  method.

Between examined norms of sense of belonging to place, most important criteria were vitality, place attachment, satisfaction of place and collective memory in order. The results of rating by TOPSIS model indicate neighborhoods of Sarcheshme (0.681), Naalbandan (0.662), Pasarve (0.625) and Dabaghan (0.553) have got the most final scores, on the other hand, neighborhoods of Baghepalang and ShazdeGhasem, Mirkarim and Chaharshanbeyi have got the least final scores. Sarcheshme is located nearby Naalbandan and Pasarv where the main old Bazzar is located and It is in the center of old Gorgan where are relatively lively. Generally in the three dimensions of sense of belonging, subjective (durability, place attachment and dependency) and functional (Social interactions and vitality) dimensions had the most influences in assessing and rating of neighborhoods.