Analysis of the human-centric approach in urban public space design and its role in improving citizens' quality of life (Case Study: Mosallas Square, Dezful)
Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 20 July 2026
Fereshteh Tahmasebi, Vahid Sarafraz
Abstract Background and Purpose: Shifting from the car-centric paradigm to a human-centric approach in designing public spaces is a critical prerequisite for enhancing citizens' quality of life. This study aims to assess the impact of human-centric urban design on the quality of life of users at Mosallas Square in Dezful. In this model, the mediating role of "satisfaction" and the direct effects of "perceived quality" and "sense of belonging" were analyzed within the structural equation modeling framework to examine how the physical characteristics of the space are perceived by users and translated into quality of life.
Methodology: Applied in purpose and descriptive-survey in nature, this study adopts a correlational approach. Data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire from a sample of 384 users selected through random sampling. This instrument measured components of human-centric design and quality of life across physical and perceptual dimensions. To analyze the structural relationships between variables, Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) using the Partial Least Squares (PLS) method was employed in SmartPLS software.
Results and Findings: Descriptive findings indicate that while the square possesses a high capacity for fostering a sense of belonging (mean = 3.54), the environmental comfort index is at the lowest level (mean = 2.62), reflecting weaknesses in infrastructural and climatic facilities The results demonstrate that human-centric urban design has a positive and significant effect on user satisfaction, and this variable plays a mediating role in enhancing quality of life. Additionally, 'sense of belonging' and 'perceived quality' exert a direct and significant impact on quality of life. The findings suggest that in identity-based public spaces, such as Mosallas Square, the impact of physical weaknesses on quality of life and user satisfaction can be neutralized by the power of 'sense of belonging' and collective memories. Therefore, it is proposed that urban interventions in this square, alongside physical modifications, should focus on improving the lived experience and psychological satisfaction of the users.