Dr. Mostafa Behzadfar Armanshahr Architecture & Urban Development 2008-5079 18 52 2025 11 22 Investigating the Impact of Identity on Sense of Belonging in Urban Spaces; Case Studies: Kerman Bazaar and Iran Mall Shopping Center Investigating the Impact of Identity on Sense of Belonging in Urban Spaces; Case Studies: Kerman Bazaar and Iran Mall Shopping Center 79 94 227530 10.22034/aaud.2025.464489.2897 FA Mohammad Behzadpour Assistant Professor, Department of Architecture, Hashtgerd Branch, Islamic Azad University, Hashtgerd, Iran. Saeed Azemati Assistant Professor, Department of Architecture, East Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran (Corresponding Author). 0000-0002-6410-6491 Kimia Jamshidzadeh M.A. in Architecture, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran. 0009-0004-8298-023X Ameneh Akbari Khoshkdashti M.A. in Architecture, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran. Journal Article 2024 06 24 With the expansion of societies and changes in settlement patterns, attention to the quality of collective spaces such as bazaars and commercial centers has become increasingly important. Enhancing the quality of such spaces, in addition to improving their social function, can strengthen both civic and urban identity. The deficiency of meaning and social values within space—known as the “crisis of place”—is one of the factors contributing to the inefficiency of living environments in addressing the identity-related issues of communities. This study aims to examine the level of citizens’ sense of belonging to place and the manner in which the identity formation process occurs in urban spaces. The research employs a mixed-methods (quantitative–qualitative) approach, and its statistical population comprises 32 experts in architecture, urban planning, sociology, and psychology. The sample was purposefully selected from faculty members of reputable universities in the country, active researchers in the field of urban identity, and senior specialists from organizations involved in urban design. A structured questionnaire and graphical analyses based on perceptual space were used to collect data. Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS (version 26) and the Friedman test, and spatial analyses were conducted using DepthMap. The findings indicated that the emotional component (mean = 4.75) and the cognitive component (mean = 4.36) exert the greatest influence on enhancing the sense of place attachment. In the case studies—such as Kerman Bazaar and Iran Mall Shopping Center—elements such as centrality, sociability potential, linear pathways, pause spaces, the ratio of solid to void areas, and the presence of distinctive landmarks were identified as influential factors in attracting citizens to urban spaces. Additionally, results from the DepthMap analysis showed that the centrality index in contemporary shopping centers has the highest level of integration and plays a decisive role in attracting users. With the expansion of societies and changes in settlement patterns, attention to the quality of collective spaces such as bazaars and commercial centers has become increasingly important. Enhancing the quality of such spaces, in addition to improving their social function, can strengthen both civic and urban identity. The deficiency of meaning and social values within space—known as the “crisis of place”—is one of the factors contributing to the inefficiency of living environments in addressing the identity-related issues of communities. This study aims to examine the level of citizens’ sense of belonging to place and the manner in which the identity formation process occurs in urban spaces. The research employs a mixed-methods (quantitative–qualitative) approach, and its statistical population comprises 32 experts in architecture, urban planning, sociology, and psychology. The sample was purposefully selected from faculty members of reputable universities in the country, active researchers in the field of urban identity, and senior specialists from organizations involved in urban design. A structured questionnaire and graphical analyses based on perceptual space were used to collect data. Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS (version 26) and the Friedman test, and spatial analyses were conducted using DepthMap. The findings indicated that the emotional component (mean = 4.75) and the cognitive component (mean = 4.36) exert the greatest influence on enhancing the sense of place attachment. In the case studies—such as Kerman Bazaar and Iran Mall Shopping Center—elements such as centrality, sociability potential, linear pathways, pause spaces, the ratio of solid to void areas, and the presence of distinctive landmarks were identified as influential factors in attracting citizens to urban spaces. Additionally, results from the DepthMap analysis showed that the centrality index in contemporary shopping centers has the highest level of integration and plays a decisive role in attracting users. https://www.armanshahrjournal.com/article_227530_bc026e3f5b98267d83bc5e724f018305.pdf