Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
M.A. in Urban Planning, Department of Urban Planning, Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning, Imam Khomeini International University, Qazvin, Iran.
2
Assistant Professor, Department of Urban Planning, Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning, Imam Khomeini International University, Qazvin, Iran.
10.30480/agm.2026.6555.1077
Abstract
Introduction: Contemporary cities, shaped by car-oriented planning and functional zoning, have experienced growing distances between places of living, working, and daily needs. The "15-minute city" model, emphasizing proximity, density, diversity, and digitalization, seeks to redefine the space-time relationship in citizens' everyday life. Qazvin, with its historic organic fabric alongside newly planned neighborhoods, provides a suitable setting for comparatively examining adaptability to this approach.
Research Objective: This study comparatively examines pedestrian accessibility and the adaptation capacity of two morphologically distinct neighborhoods in Qazvin—Aghakabir (old, organic fabric) and Mollasadra (new, planned fabric)—against the principles of the 15-minute city, and develops context-specific strategies and operational projects for each.
Methodology: Grounded in a positivist paradigm and deductive strategy, the research is applied in purpose and descriptive-explanatory in method. Pedestrian accessibility to 13 service land-uses was assessed through network analysis in ArcGIS at distances of 200, 400, 600, and 800 meters (equivalent to 5, 10, 15, and 20 minutes round-trip). SWOT analysis and the QSPM matrix were then applied to determine each neighborhood's strategic position and strategy priorities.
Findings and Discussion: Due to fine-grained parcels, mixed land-use, and capillary distribution of services, Aghakabir shows faster and broader time-based accessibility than Mollasadra, though constrained by lower pedestrian infrastructure quality and vehicle intrusion. Mollasadra, with a more regular street network, has greater physical capacity for active transport development. Aghakabir was positioned in a conservative (WO) strategic quadrant, while Mollasadra fell into an aggressive (SO) quadrant.
Conclusion: Neighborhoods' adaptation capacity to the 15-minute city is not uniform, and "existing accessibility" and "intervention capacity" are two complementary concepts. In Aghakabir, improving pedestrian infrastructure quality and safety is prioritized, while in Mollasadra, completing the walking and cycling network takes precedence—indicating that the 15-minute city should not be treated as a fixed, uniform standard for all neighborhoods.
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