A Landscape Reading of Urban Bazaars in Relation to Rivers (The Case of Dezful and Shush)

Mirzahossein, Saba; Rajab Bojani, Negin; Jabbari, Soheila; Ramezani, Fatemeh; Mostafavi, Mehrnoush

doi:10.22034/toc.2025.520809.1198

A Landscape Reading of Urban Bazaars in Relation to Rivers (The Case of Dezful and Shush)

https://doi.org/10.22034/toc.2025.520809.1198

Volume 6, Issue 21
Summer 2025

Pages 48-55

Document Type : Original Research Article

Authors

Saba Mirzahossein ¹

Negin Rajab Bojani ²

Soheila Jabbari ²

Fatemeh Ramezani ²

Mehrnoush Mostafavi ²

¹ Department of Fine Arts, Aras Campus, University of Tehran, Iran.

² Department of Landscape Architecture, School of Architecture, College of Fine Arts, University of Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

In river-based cities, urban spaces like bazaars often transcend their physical and economic roles, becoming meaningful places shaped by their natural surroundings and users’ lived experiences. However, the specific mechanisms through which rivers influence the spatial, functional, and semantic dimensions of bazaars—and their subsequent impact on social and cultural structure remain underexplored. This study aims to analyze the place-based characteristics of the bazaars in Dezful and Shush, situated along the Dez and Shavur rivers, by examining how their interaction with these waterways has contributed to their socio-cultural and spatial identity. Using a descriptive-analytical approach, the study integrates field observations, historical documentation, and geographical data to identify the spatial, functional, and semantic factors of the bazaars. The analysis focuses on their relationship with rivers and their role in shaping social vitality and cultural meaning. The findings reveal that in Dezful, the bazaar’s historical and vernacular architecture has fostered a dynamic space with economic, social, and cultural functions, deeply tied to the Dez River. In Shush, the bazaar’s proximity to the Shavur River and the shrine of Daniel the Prophet has imbued it with a religious-commercial identity, elevating its role beyond mere commerce. In both cases, rivers serve as active agents in meaning-making, spatial experience, and identity formation. The study underscores the importance of recognizing bazaars as “places” socially vibrant and culturally significant spaces that, through their riverine context, strengthen the connection between people and their urban environment.

Keywords

River-city

Khuzestan

Bazaar

Place-based

Development

Subjects

landscape

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