Extended Abstrat

1. Introduction

The human environment is a complex interplay with nature that establishes ecological balance. Urban green spaces, particularly in unsustainable cities, play a fundamental role in fostering ecological equilibrium. From a sustainable development perspective, cities are inconceivable without green spaces and gardens. These elements, in addition to fulfilling ecological and environmental necessities, significantly contribute to reducing noise and air pollution. Urban gardens directly impact the urban economy by increasing vegetation cover, decreasing energy consumption, and promoting sustainable tourism. The Persian Garden, as a sustainable archetype in Iranian architecture, has played a crucial role in urban development. The design principles of Persian gardens emphasize symbiosis with nature and resource optimization. In Mashhad, the Astane Quds Razavi Gardens, representing one of the largest urban green spaces, possess the potential for developing novel functions. This initiative can not only preserve these gardens but also stimulate the urban economy and improve the city's visual landscape and ambiance. Leveraging these capacities for sustainable urban development will lead to increased resilience and an improved quality of life for citizens. Astane Quds Razavi, as a religious-social institution with substantial social capital, can play a pivotal role in preserving and redefining the function of endowed gardens (Vaqf gardens). These gardens, if purposefully utilized and aligned with Islamic-Iranian values, can contribute to promoting the Razavi lifestyle, enhancing citizens' physical and mental health, and creating sustainable employment. Specifically, if Astane Quds' management perspective shifts from a traditional ownership-centric approach to one of social and environmental responsibility, these endowed gardens can become a crucial tool for achieving spatial justice and sustainable urban development. This research aims to investigate and identify existing opportunities within the endowed gardens of Astane Quds Razavi to propose practical solutions for developing public-benefit activities. It proposes suitable methods for revitalizing endowed gardens to attain a green economy and promote sustainable development. The research questions addressed in this study are:

·        What strategies exist for the sustainable and public-beneficial utilization of Astane Quds Razavi's endowed gardens?

·        How can Astane Quds Razavi's capacities be leveraged for synergy and the development of functions within the endowed gardens?

2. Materials and Methods

The study area for this research encompasses the endowed gardens (Vaqf gardens) of Astane Quds Razavi in Mashhad. The research scope was precisely defined, given the potential for planning and designing these endowed gardens to allow public access and use. The selected area is located in District 2 of Mashhad Municipality. This research falls into the category of applied research because it aims to identify existing opportunities within the Astane Quds Razavi endowed gardens, ultimately leading to an improved quality of the urban environment. Overall, this study utilizes a descriptive-analytical method with a mixed approach (quantitative and qualitative). The researcher's primary focus is on identifying existing opportunities within the Astane Quds Razavi endowed gardens, with an emphasis on their preservation. This information was gathered through scientific texts and library documents.

3. Results and Discussion

The grounds for the formation of the Razavi Garden City idea can be summarized in two points. First, the existence of extensive areas of gardens among residential lands. Second, the complete ownership of the Astan-e-Quds-e-Razavi complex over garden lands, which allows for integrated planning and allows for various functions to be considered for the gardens with a network approach. Razavi Garden City provides a large complex for residence and social interactions centered on gardens. This complex begins from the Razavi Nursery and ends at Foroudi Square. Razavi Garden City creates the possibility of promoting a pious life through gardening and paying attention to God's verses and blessings. It gives meaning to the concept of an Iranian garden on a city scale. Based on the findings, three development scenarios were defined for the Astan Quds Gardens: "Green Neighborhood" with an emphasis on local use and neighborhood participation, "Green Tourism" with an urban and regional scale, and "Razavi Garden City" as a comprehensive option that combines social, cultural, environmental, and economic functions in the form of an integrated green network. Among them, the third scenario, with the greatest compliance with the studied indicators, was recognized as the selected scenario. Then, goals, policies, solutions, and strategies were presented to create the Razavi Garden City. Improving presence, strengthening the economy, improving the physical condition of the area, improving the accessibility of the area, improving the readability and attractiveness of the complex are among the proposed goals for implementing the Razavi Garden City.

4. Conclusions

The results of this study showed that urban gardens can play a key role in reducing pollution, improving air quality, promoting the mental health of citizens, and increasing the biological resilience of cities. In a case study of the gardens of Astan Quds Razavi, the analysis indicated that many citizens do not have adequate access to these spaces, and the use of these gardens has been limited to institutional ownership rather than public social use.

The idea of “Baghshahr Razavi” by focusing on the physical and functional connection of various gardens through greenways, increasing citizen participation, creating educational, cultural, and recreational spaces, and paying attention to diverse uses such as animal husbandry, agriculture, and horticulture, provides a platform for reviving the concept of the Iranian garden in today’s urban context. With an Islamic urban planning and social participation approach, this plan seeks to improve the quality of urban life, strengthen social capital, and achieve spatial justice.

In conclusion, the revitalization of garden cities requires a comprehensive, integrated, and participatory approach. Only by opening the doors of these spaces to citizens, combining tradition with innovation, and utilizing the opportunities inherent in urban nature can actual sustainable development be achieved. The present study can serve as a basis for decision-making by policy-making and planning institutions in the field of urban planning and environment.

5. Acknowledgment & Funding

The authors are grateful to the respected experts and administrators of the Astan-e-Quds-e-Razavi who fully cooperated in conducting this research.

6. Conflict of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.