Place-Making in Tourism Precincts

A Guide for Place-Making

This is a collaborative master thesis research project between Kashan municipality and my university, SBU. 

Kashan is a city in central Iran with a lot of potential in the tourism business. It is most known for its old mansions and mosques, which are attractive for tourists.
The majority of these tourism spots are concentrated in two interconnected districts known as a “tourism precinct.”

Tourists frequently want to walk between these historical landmarks to get a sense of the city’s authenticity. This neighborhood, however, lacks a network of active places and paths. This problem has a negative impact on the city’s tourism and, as a result, the city’s economy.
It also discourages physical and social activity, both of which are important for urban viability.

In this investigation, I had two main questions:

1. How may local communities impact the tourism precinct’s place-making process?
2. What are the key concepts that should be considered when shaping tourism precincts?

Location:
Kashan city center, Kashan, Iran

Supervisor:
Dr. Kamran Zekavat

Timeline
6 Months

Date Completed
April 2018