An Examination of Place-basedness Indicators in the Neighborhoods of Dezful City with Emphasis on the Role of the Dez River(Case Study: Qaleh Neighborhood in Dezful)

Khorramrouei, Reyhaneh; Ghahremani, Mojgan; Saberi, Mahdis; Parsafar, Fatemeh; Sheikholeslam, Maryam

doi:10.22034/jaco.2025.520083.1473

An Examination of Place-basedness Indicators in the Neighborhoods of Dezful City with Emphasis on the Role of the Dez River(Case Study: Qaleh Neighborhood in Dezful)

https://doi.org/10.22034/jaco.2025.520083.1473

Volume 13, Issue 50
Winter 2026

Pages 6-13

Journal of Art and Civilization of the Orient

Document Type : Case Study

Authors

Reyhaneh Khorramrouei

Mojgan Ghahremani

Mahdis Saberi

Fatemeh Parsafar

Maryam Sheikholeslam

Department of Landscape Architecture, Faculty of Architecture, College of Fine Arts, University of Tehran, Iran

Abstract

In the structure of historical Iranian cities, the formation of neighborhoods has always been closely linked to natural elements and defensive necessities. Dezful, as a prime example, developed through interaction with the Dez River and the surrounding topography, resulting in a defensive, self-sufficient, and identity-forming urban structure. The Qaleh neighborhood, as the original core of the city, embodies this place-based structure. Today, with rapid physical and social transformations, historic neighborhoods like Qaleh are at risk of losing their semantic and identity-based connections, which underscores the importance of identifying and analyzing the components of place-basedness to help preserve them. This study, focusing on the Qaleh neighborhood and based on field studies, resident interviews, and library resources, investigates the influence of the Dez River on place-basedness indicators in this neighborhood. The findings show that place-based elements can be categorized into three dimensions: physical, functional, and semantic. In interaction with the river’s natural features, these dimensions play a crucial role in maintaining spatial cohesion, historical identity, and residential continuity in the neighborhood. Ultimately, the continued existence of place-basedness in Qaleh depends on maintaining a balance of dynamism and stability within the elements of place in relation to the Dez River—an interplay that strengthens residents’ sense of belonging and identity.

Keywords

Place-basedness

Qaleh Neighborhood of Dezful

River

Identity and Meaning

Sense of Belonging

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