Tarbiat Modares University Naqshejahan- Basic studies and New Technologies of Architecture and Planning 2322-4991 15 3 2025 12 22 Interpreting the Semantic System in the Public Spaces of Ekbatan Residential Complex, Tehran, Based on the Lived Experiences of Its Residents Interpreting the Semantic System in the Public Spaces of Ekbatan Residential Complex, Tehran, Based on the Lived Experiences of Its Residents 1 22 1024 10.48311/bsnt.2025.1024 FA Hamed Abedini Department of Architecture, Faculty of Art and Architecture, Khatam University, Tehran, Iran. 0000-0003-0926-5518 Simon Ayvazian Department of Architecture, Faculty of Art and Architecture, Khatam University, Tehran, Iran. 0000-0002-5071-8446 Darab Diba Department of Architecture, Faculty of Art and Architecture, Khatam University, Tehran, Iran. Journal Article 2025 07 13 Aims: Ekbatan Town in Tehran, recognized as one of the prominent legacies of contemporary Iranian architecture, has consistently attracted attention for its distinctive network of public spaces. This study seeks to offer an interpretive analysis of the semantic system embedded in these public spaces, drawing on the lived experiences and meaning-making practices of its residents. Methods: This study adopts an ethnographic approach within the interpretive-constructivist paradigm. Field observations and interviews with residents of Ekbatan Phase 1 were conducted to explore their lived experiences, which were subsequently analyzed to interpret the semantic constructs they had developed. Findings: The semantic system within Ekbatan's public spaces is shaped by meaning-making elements such as language, context, history, and symbols. These elements were analyzed through semantic units, which led to identifying initial and core themes, ultimately culminating in extracting semantic constructs. Key constructs identified include spatial identity distinct from the city, narrative and spatial experiences, urban civility and social activism, as well as the historical characteristics of the space and its architecture in daily life. Conclusion: The lived experiences of Ekbatan residents underscore the critical role of public spaces in residential complexes in shaping social and cultural semantics. This research illustrates that attention to the semantic systems of public spaces can enhance the quality of life, strengthen urban identity, and promote the long-term well-being of residents in social housing projects across the country. Aims: Ekbatan Town in Tehran, recognized as one of the prominent legacies of contemporary Iranian architecture, has consistently attracted attention for its distinctive network of public spaces. This study seeks to offer an interpretive analysis of the semantic system embedded in these public spaces, drawing on the lived experiences and meaning-making practices of its residents. Methods: This study adopts an ethnographic approach within the interpretive-constructivist paradigm. Field observations and interviews with residents of Ekbatan Phase 1 were conducted to explore their lived experiences, which were subsequently analyzed to interpret the semantic constructs they had developed. Findings: The semantic system within Ekbatan's public spaces is shaped by meaning-making elements such as language, context, history, and symbols. These elements were analyzed through semantic units, which led to identifying initial and core themes, ultimately culminating in extracting semantic constructs. Key constructs identified include spatial identity distinct from the city, narrative and spatial experiences, urban civility and social activism, as well as the historical characteristics of the space and its architecture in daily life. Conclusion: The lived experiences of Ekbatan residents underscore the critical role of public spaces in residential complexes in shaping social and cultural semantics. This research illustrates that attention to the semantic systems of public spaces can enhance the quality of life, strengthen urban identity, and promote the long-term well-being of residents in social housing projects across the country.

https://bsnt.modares.ac.ir/article_1024_021bbc7ee20b71134d53e20206bd6feb.pdf