Analytic Hierarchy Process for Assessing Sustainability of Bazaars: the Case of Tajrish Bazaar in Tehran

Original Article Analytic hierarchy process for assessing sustainability of bazaars: The case of Tajrish bazaar in Tehran

Halleh Nejadriahi* and Mukaddes Fasli

Department of Architecture, Eastern Mediterranean University, Mersin 10, Famagusta, North Cyprus 99628, Turkey. *Corresponding author.

Abstract Throughout history, shopping and social interaction in bazaars had been among the most important traditions in the lifestyle of Iranian people. Owing to this fact, the continued sustainability of Bazaars needs to be ensured. This article adopts Analytic hierarchy process (AHP), as a multi-criteria decision making method, for assessing the sustainability of the Tajrish Bazaar in the capital city of Iran; Tehran. In this study, an examination of the environmental, social and economic dimensions of sustainability in the Tajrish Bazaar reveals that the social dimension is the most sustainable one, followed by the economic and environmental dimensions respectively. As research for assessing sustainability of bazaars in a systematic way is rare, this article offers a signiﬁcant contribution through the use of AHP method. URBAN DESIGN International advance online publication, 22 June 2016; doi:10.1057/udi.2015.15

Keywords: AHP; MCDM; sustainability; bazaar; Tehran

Introduction In multi-criteria problems, hierarchical models help the evaluators to analyze problems in a Sustainability integrates three fundamental dimen- systematic manner. The priority ranking to such sions: environmental, social, and economic, which problems as sustainability assessment is effectively makes its measurement a complex issue. Analytic handled by AHP (Bhatt et al, 2010). Hierarchy Process (AHP) is a multi-criteria deci- Currently, there is a steady increase in the sion making (MCDM) method which assists in the usageofAHPinresearch.Itisextensively decision making of such complex problems by applied to construction fields such as resources employing multiple and subjective criteria. AHP allocation, project design, planning for urban is a method that was developed by Saaty (1980); development, maintenance management, policy it is a tool which is widely used by researchers for evaluation and so on (Saaty, 1980; Cook et al, MCDM (Vaidya and Kumar, 2006; Bhatt et al, 1984; Shen et al, 1998; Banai, 2005; Cheng et al, 2010). 2005; Lee and Chan, 2008). Moreover, as stated AHP is a reliable tool to facilitate logical deci- by Ishizaka and Labib (2011), it is also used in sion making processes and determine the signifi- different disciplines such as site selection (Onut canceofasetofcriteriaandsub-criteria.TheAHP et al, 2010), construction method selection (Pan, method is particularly suitable for assessing com- 2009), route planning (Niaraki and Kim, 2009), as plex issues (Lee and Chan, 2008). This complexity well as environmental resources planning and dictates that the problem be divided into smaller management (Panthi and Bhattarai, 2008). Further- ones, where the different groups determine how more, AHP is also applied on some sustainability each sub-problem affects the overall problem studies such as sustainability management (Javadi (Saaty, 1990). One of the most significant advan- and Dambatta, 2008), regional sustainable devel- tages of AHP is group decision making where opment (Xiongwei et al, 2009) and sustainable results are more reliable. building assessment (Bhatt et al, 2010), and so on.

It is considered that AHP is a suitable method for In general, bazaars are located in open or cov- assessing sustainability. ered street, usually linear passageways, which are Bazaar is one of the irreplaceable social and surrounded by shops on two sides. As is stated by cultural elements that highly contribute to the Ardalan and Bakhtiar (1973, p. 89) ‘the bazaar’s social and cultural sustainability of the Iranian main component is a center as a single point in cities. In the Iranian city, Bazaar is not something space with all its spatial attributes, but a center like market; it does not have only an economic which moves in time through its expansion and function, but its social and cultural dimensions thus creates a line or the linear element of the have the same importance as its economic one. bazaar’ (Figure 1). In other words, bazaars in the Iranian cities are Commercial activities are one of the most impor- ‘authentic places’ providing cultural identity, tant reasons that people come into the city memory, and history of the local community (Mahmoudi and Fanaei, 2009). Generally, bazaars through the repetition of everyday activities and are located in the heart of a city close to most of the interactions. This study applies AHP in order to important public buildings. In traditional Iranian assess the sustainability of the Tajrish Bazaar cities, the bazaar usually defined the main street of which is one of the significant traditional bazaars urban fabric, and could connect the two major in the capital city of Iran, Tehran. entrances of the city (Moosavi, 2005). Moreover, it is mentioned that traditional bazaars were mostly linked to the mosque, it being the spiritual head of Bazaars the body (Arjomand Kermani and Luiten, 2009). In traditional Iranian cities, bazaars are known ‘Bazaar’ is an old Persian word that is highly as characteristic symbols and well-established ele- integrated in the Iranian culture. Historical docu- ments with historical precedents, cultural, scarcity ments verify that bazaar has existed in the Iranian and resource values. Accordingly, sustainability of cities since 3000 BC (Moosavi, 2005). Bazaars have the bazaars plays an important role in the sustain- played an important role in the survival and able development of the Iranian cities. development of the Iranian cities, since they enrich Similarly, from viewpoint of users bazaar is not economic power of the cities through their com- only a place for maintain and develop the city’s mercial activities. A bazaar is a kind of public economy (Pourjafar and Pourjafar, 2009, p. 36), but space with multi-functional characteristics that also is a place for increasing social interactions in has a significant role in the environmental, social the City (Soltanzadeh, 2000, p. 45). Purchase, and economical aspects of cities. Bazaars are used spending leisure time, taking part in celebration not only for commercial purposes, but also for and mourning, religious activities, presence for the social, cultural and religious activities, as Khaksari notice from public hearing, being informed of mentions: ‘in fact the assembly of economic, social, events and daily news in the city (Pirnia, 1991, religious and cultural centers under a tent called p. 39), all are represented in the minds of citizens as the Bazaar is a phenomenon which has always social demands that can be supplied in bazaar occurred in the Iranian city formation’ (Khaksari (Tavassoli, 1992, p. 41) Therefore, in addition to and Ghorbanian, 2006, p. 76). the city’s economy that is highly dependent on Bazaar is a place that people from different bazaar, Bazaar has extra power on city and urban classes of society could gather and communicate. life. Moreover, it provides opportunities for people from different cultures to meet and exchange cultural values. Owing to this fact, it is realized that bazaars have great impacts on the urban life of people. The bazaar of the traditional Iranian city was a concentrated complex of craftsmen, retailers, and wholesalers. It was the commercial centre of the city for shopping, business and economic activities; therefore, it had a high social status and the spatial fl position of the bazaar had an important in uence Figure 1: The movement pattern of the bazaar and its on urban structure of the traditional Iranian city centrality. (Azimzadeh, 2003). Source: Ardalan and Bakhtiar (1973, p. 89).

Sustainability major dimensions of sustainability as environmental, social and economic. Sustainability is a well-known term which can be Assessing the sustainability of bazaars needs to understood in many ways depending on the con- be done in accordance with the social, economic text. It refers to ‘long-term economic, environmental and environmental aspects of bazaars, which are and community health’ (Bauen et al, 1996, p. 4). also the fundamental dimensions of sustainability. A generally accepted deﬁnition of sustainable Considering these issues, sustainability evaluation development is put forward by the Brundtland of bazaars turns to a multi-criteria problem, which Report as follows: ‘Sustainable development is can be solved by developing a set of criteria and development that meets the needs of the present sub-criteria and structuring a hierarchical model to generation without compromising the ability of assist the evaluators to evaluate the problem in a future generations to meet their own needs’ most systematic way. (WCED, 1987). It is also related to quality of life; balancing economic and social development with environmental protection (Doughty and Sustainability of Bazaars Hammond, 2004). There are three major dimensions related to the concept of sustainability: environmen- The sustainability of bazaars as one of the main tal, social and economic (Khalfan, 2002) (Figure 2). components in the urban fabric of traditional Environmental sustainability deals with different Iranian cities, contributes to the sustainability of aspects of environmental quality. It relates to the the city. For assessing the sustainability of a physical environment and the natural resources that bazaar, the three dimensions of sustainability each contributes to environmental sustainability by together with the 6 main criteria and 21 sub-criteria its own characteristics and quality. Social sustain- can be utilized for developing the hierarchical ability is related to social satisfaction in terms of model. The dimensions are the environmental, cultural issues, health and safety, variety of uses social and economic; each dimension has two main and facilities, in addition to the aspects such as criteria; physical and natural for environmental income level and employment opportunities. Eco- sustainability, socio-economic and socio-cultural nomic sustainability is related to economic gain by for social sustainability, and building economy means of saving time and energy together with the and accessibility for economic sustainability reduction of the costs in various aspects such as and each main criterion has various sub-criteria maintenance cost, infrastructure and future (Table 1). developments. Sustainability assessment is an important tool to aid in the shift toward sustainability (Pope et al, Environmental sustainability 2004). It assists the decision makers to decide on the necessary actions to contribute for achieving a The Environmental sustainability of bazaars has more sustainable environment. Sustainability two main criteria – physical and natural. The assessment could facilitate evaluation of the three physical aspect has ﬁve sub-criteria. They are space quality, location, circulation, products and materials. Space quality deals with the open and semi- open spaces in bazaars and the arrangement of the closed spaces in relationship to them, which increase the physical quality of bazaars. The location of bazaars close to important public buildings such as mosques, schools, government buildings and so on is another physical quality of bazaars which enriches a public district. Circula- tion deals with the physical organization of the movement path inside bazaars. Products which are produced or sold in bazaars should be non-toxic, healthy and neatly organized so that the environment is kept clean and tidy. As discussed by Figure 2: Three basic themes of sustainable development. AboulNaga and Elsheshtawy (2001), buildings Source: Khalfan (2002, p. 7). have a direct impact on their environment, both

Table 1: Dimensions, main and sub criteria of sustainability in bazaars

Sustainability Main criteria Sub-criteria Explanation dimensions

Environmental Physical Space quality Types of spaces (open, semi-open and closed) Location To be close to the important public buildings (school, mosque, governmental buildings and so on …) Circulation Physical organization of the movement path Products Non toxic and healthy Materials Vernacular and environmental friendly materials Natural Climate Responding to the local climate Greenery Uses of greenery Water Uses of water inside-outside Resources Using renewable and recyclable resources; air, land and water Social Socio-economic Economy Satisfy every income level of people Promotion Employment opportunities (for locals) Economic stability Encouraging tourism Socio-cultural Public health Safety and security Culture & Cultural activities and sense of belonging Attachment Uses Types of uses Economic Building Form of building Compactness, linearity economy Construction Material Locally available materials and techniques Flexibility Flexible design Maintenance Maintenance necessities Accessibility Transport Public transportation, pedestrian and vehicular access to the bazaar Car parking Car parking spaces and location of the car park during the construction process and its use. With stability. In bazaars, it is important to meet and regard to the type of construction material used to satisfy all income levels. Bazaars also help to create construct bazaars, it is highly beneﬁcial to use local employment and earning opportunities for local building materials as they will help to reduce the people who can produce and sell their artifacts. environmental impact and increase efﬁciency. Tourists support the economic stability of bazaars The natural aspect has four sub-criteria; climate, by spending money in them and promoting them. greenery, water and resources. In a bazaar, it is Bazaars are one of the primary attractions for important to ensure that there is natural ventila- tourists, some of which only survive because the tion; also the existence of semi- open spaces can main customers are tourists (Arjomand Kermani provide protected and shaded areas that respond and Luiten, 2009). Nowadays, tourism is an to climatic needs. Greenery and water elements increasing economic activity that can also promote help sustainability by adjusting the micro-climate and create an interest in the preservation of historic and improving spatial quality. Using renewable buildings (ICOMOS, 2005) and recyclable resources also helps reducing The socio-cultural aspect has three sub-criteria; the use of resources; air, land and water. As public health, culture and attachment, and the Fricker (1998) discusses, reducing the use of nat- types of uses in bazaars. When public health is ural resources and the production of waste serves considered in respect of bazaars, it is important to to maintain standards while simultaneously mention the issue of the safety and security of the improving the environmental quality. users. People should be able to move about freely inside the bazaar and feel comfortable while shopping there. ‘Security is one of the keys to Social sustainability sustainable tourism as well’ (Prashyanusorn et al, 2010). Different cultural activities such as public Social sustainability has two main criteria. They events or meetings, social, religious and recrea- are the socio-economic and socio-cultural aspects. tional activities, and so on held within the bazaar The socio-economic aspect includes three sub- help to meet the needs of the local cultural criteria: economy, promotion and economic expectations and/ or traditions. In order to

4 © 2016 Macmillan Publishers Ltd. 1357-5317 URBAN DESIGN International 1–14 The case of Tajrish bazaar in Tehran attract and encourage people to stay in a place, that place should provide a sense of security, familiarity and belonging (Oktay, 2002). Integrat- ing the mixed uses of a bazaar serves to attract a variety of users to bazaars for different purposes.

Economic sustainability

Economic sustainability also has two main criteria; building economy and accessibility. Building economy is related to the form of the building, the construction materials used, the flexibility of design and maintenance as sub-criteria. When a bazaar is designed, it is recognized that a compact organization requires the use of less infrastructure, which, in turn, supports the economy. A linear form is more effective and easier to expand in Figure 3: Location of Tehran province on Iran map. respect of possible further developments; this is an important issue from an economic point of in the country. The roots of economic and demo- view, that is to gain the most benefits with the least graphic concentration in Tehran go back to the cost (Andalib, 2006). Using locally available mate- time when it became the capital of Iran, 200 years rials and techniques in the construction of a bazaar ago. Tehran has grown to be one of the largest cities also decreases costs. As is stated by Ding (2005), in the world; it has attracted a large population and the utilization of local building materials and has become a node or centre of considerable impor- construction methods not only protects the envir- tance in the global economy (Madanipour, 1999). onment but also encourages the economic devel- According to the Statistical Centre of Iran, Tehran opment of a community. A flexible design had a population of almost 12 million in 2005 (SCI, supports the easy adaptation of spaces for a variety 2005). Tehran houses a considerable number of of uses. With reference to the maintenance of traditional buildings and its bazaars have an impor- bazaars, it is also clear that appropriately selected tant place amongst them. Traditional bazaars in the materials and designs supports cost saving. city of Tehran likewise the other Iranian cities play ‘Accessibility is the key to spatial interaction’ an important role in maintaining and developing the (Rastogi and Rao, 2003, p. 383); it is related to the public economy of the city as well as promoting the two sub-criteria of transport and car parking. High social and cultural relationships of the citizens. levels of accessibility to a bazaar can be achieved Bazaars possess important economical features by use of public transportation as well as pedes- mainly as: being a place for the presentation of the trian and vehicular accesses, which results in produced goods to be sold and its role in determin- economical gain through time and energy saving. ing the prices because of their financial and commercial power. The Tajrish bazaar is one of the most attractive Tehran and Tajrish Bazaar traditional bazaars in the city of Tehran, which has been selected in this study because of its physical, Tehran functional, socio cultural and historical characteristics; as it is located in the main commercial/ Tehran sits on the southern slopes of the Alburz shopping district on the northern part of Tehran Mountains (Figure 3). It has a semi-arid climate; it and it is identifiable as the main street and well can be described as mild in spring and autumn, hot known as popular shopping area; it is located in and dry in summer, and cold in winter. The city is the context of diverse economic activities and located in a strategic and symbolic place, at mixed use developments; and receive high con- the intersection of the historic east – west (Silk sternation of pedestrians, shoppers and tourists; it Road) and the north – south trading routes. is located within a historic area with a socio Tehran has the largest concentration of most cultural stronghold and the holly shrine that exists forms of economic activity and the largest market in this shopping area, which all together make this

© 2016 Macmillan Publishers Ltd. 1357-5317 URBAN DESIGN International 1–14 5 Nejadriahi and Fasli bazaar special to be studied (Tehran Municipality, The Tajrish bazaar is a traditional bazaar in the District No: 1: Tajrish). Shemiran District and was renovated in 2009. The bazaar accommodates a concentrated number of shops that sell a variety of products such as, Tajrish bazaar vegetables, herbs, handcrafts, clothes, fabrics, cot- ton and linen goods, shoes, bags, watches, plastic, ‘Retail activities and retail spaces have changed glass and metallic goods, and so on … and serves a drastically across different parts of the world over large number of people. the past 50 years. Among the causes for these changes are profound transformations in the economic, social and physical structures of cities Method of the Study under the influence of globalization’ (Arslan and Cahantimur, 2011, p. 361). However, bazaars have AHP is a theory of measurement that uses pairwise remained the heart of Iranian townships and cities comparisons derived from priority scales (Saaty, throughout history until today. They are the highly 2008). It is one of the MCDM methods that demon- organized commercial and financial centers of the strate excellent performance while dealing with city. various criteria related to both quantitative and Tajrish is a neighborhood located along the qualitative issues (Lee and Chan, 2008). The AHP northern periphery of Tehran and is situated in process consists of the following steps: the Shemiran District (Figure 4). It is an important (i) Identification of the problem and solving it district in Tehran, as it offers a great variety of with the AHP method – AHP is a suitable different shopping centers and facilities. This decision making method for dividing the pro- neighborhood is located in one of the oldest parts blem into constituent parts through a hierarch- of Tehran. ical decision model; fi Tajrish has a signi cant bazaar and a mauso- (ii) Structuring the hierarchical decision model – a leum called Imam Zadeh Saleh, both of which are hierarchy, consisting of several levels is popular tourist focal points (Figure 5). The Tajrish needed. The problem is assessing the sustain- Bazaar is an urban bazaar, which is a covered ability of bazaars, has to be positioned in the public passageway surrounded by shops in two topmost level of a hierarchy that is broken sides that provides shopping, social and cultural down into different levels in which the first interaction of the people. Tajrish bazaar is located between two important squares, the Tajrish and the Qods Squares. However, the bazaar closest to Tajrish Square is one of the most important and busiest in Tehran. The bazaar is located near the bus terminal, taxi and metro stations, which provide access to various other districts throughout the city. There is also a new bazaar known as the Ghaem Bazaar, which is attached to the Tajrish bazaar and there is direct access between them (Figure 6).

Figure 4: Location of Tajrish in Shemiran district, Tehran City. Figure 5: Tajrish Bazaar, main entrance view.

level belongs to the dimensions, the second (v) Calculation of the priority weights of each level focuses on to the main criteria and criterion – a pairwise comparison matrix culminating with the various sub-criteria at should be formed. The data is summarized in the third level; the absolute priority weights on the basis of (iii) Determination of the priority scales – AHP Saaty’s eigenvector method; applies expert’s judgment; (vi) Calculation of the eigenvector – Initially, the (iv) Collection of the data from the experts – AHP pairwise matrix should be converted to determines the relative priorities of different decimal values, then the matrix should be dimensions, main and sub criteria in every squared, following that each row should be level of the hierarchy by employing a pairwise summed, and then the rows’ total are summed comparison. During the process, each expert is as well; finally, it is normalized by dividing required to make judgments on the relative the row sum by the row totals. The result is importance of sub-criteria in relation to the the eigenvector values of the matrices. main criteria and dimensions at the higher (vii) Measuring the consistency ratio (CR) – to levels with reference to a 9-point scale as check the accuracy of the calculations and to shown in Table 2; prove that the experts are consistent in rating the relative importance of the criteria; AHP does not demand perfect consistency but a Table 2: 9-point scale for pairwise comparisons in AHP judgment is only considered acceptable when Intensity of Definition Explanation CR is 0.10 or less, otherwise, it is necessary to sustainability make the judgments again. 1 Equally sustainable Two indicators/ This study adopts the AHP to assess the sustain- criteria/sub-criteria ability of the Tajrish Bazaar through a hierarchy are equally contribute to the level structure model (Figure 7). In order to produce a immediately above reliable result, a group of 250 users including 3 Moderately sustainable Judgement slightly the shopkeepers, are required to answer the favours one 21 research questions and make their judgments indicator/criterion/ on the sustainability of the bazaar. The ‘users’ in sub-criterion over another thiscasearebasicallythepeoplewhoareusing 5 Strongly sustainable Judgement strongly the bazaar as well as shopkeepers that have favours one direct involvement in the presence of that. The indicator/criterion/ number of the users in this bazaar is about 5000 sub-criterion over people in one day (Tehran Municipality, District another 7 Very strongly One indicator/ No: 1: Tajrish), which for this study the sustainable criterion/sub- sample has been taken as 5 per cent that equals criterion is favoured to 250 users. The sample size drawn for this very strongly over survey is based on the calculation by De Vaus another (2001). 9 Extremely sustainable There is evidence affirming that one In order to assess the sub-criteria of the environ- indicator/criterion/ mental sustainability, the following questions are sub-criterion is posed to be answered in terms of their level of favoured over contribution to sustainability of the bazaar in the another scale 1–9: 2,4,6,8 Immediate values Absolute judgement between above scale cannot be given and a 1. What is the contribution level of the space types values compromise is and their organizations in environmental sus- required Reciprocals If element i has one of A reasonable tainability of the bazaar? of above the above non-zero assumption 2. What about the location of the bazaar? numbers assigned on 3. Does the circulation in the bazaar contribute to it when compared it? with element j; j has 4. Does the product types used, contribute to its the reciprocal value when compared to i environmental sustainability? 5. What about the types of construction materials Modified from Saaty (1980) used?

Figure 6: Schematic plan of Tajrish bazaar.Modiﬁed by Authors, from Tehran Municipality, District No: 1.

Figure 7: A hierarchy structure model for assessing sustainability of a bazaar.

6. Does the bazaar respond to the local climate, and 2. What about the employment opportunities? does it support its environmental sustainability? 3. What is the contribution level of bazaar to its 7. Does presence of greenery contribute to it? social sustainability in terms of the touristic 8. What about the water elements? attractions? 9. Does the use of resources support its environ- 4. What about the impact of safety and security? mental sustainability? 5. What is the contribution level of cultural activities to its social sustainability? Subsequently, in order to assess the sub-criteria 6. What about possessing a variety of uses and its of the social sustainability of the Tajrish Bazaar, contribution level to its social sustainability? the following questions are asked: Finally, in order to evaluate the sub-criteria of the 1. What is the contribution level of bazaar to its economic sustainability of the Tajrish Bazaar, social sustainability in terms of catering various the following questions are posed and answered. income levels?

1. What is the contribution level of bazaar to its As judged by the users, the relative weights of economic sustainability in terms of the bazaar’s the five sub-criteria – space quality, location, circu- formal organization? lation, products and materials – of the physical 2. What about the construction materials and criterion of environmental sustainability determine techniques used? that the location of the Tajrish bazaar is rated as the 3. To what degree does the flexibility of the most sustainable. Particularly, as the bazaar is bazaar’s space organization contribute to its located between two important public squares, economic sustainability? and is attached to a famous religious building 4. What about the regular and efficient mainte- called the Imamzadeh Saleh. Furthermore, there nance necessities and its contribution level to its are many public buildings around the bazaar. economic sustainability? The sustainability of the products and materials 5. What is the contribution level of transportation? are positioned at a lower weight. The bazaar 6. What about car parking availability and its stocks and sells a huge variety of products; the contribution to the economic sustainability of vegetables and fruits are generally fresh every day, the bazaar? so people can buy good quality, healthy products. However, in reality, the presentation and distribu- The judgments of all users are then unified sepa- tion of these products create both visual and rately into a single judgment using a geometric physical pollution of the environment. The bazaar mean in order to obtain a general estimation of the is mainly constructed from locally available brick priorities for each criterion at each level of the (21×10×5 cm). Brick has always been a common hierarchy. The following equations were used to material for construction of bazaars. However, the establish the geometric mean. roof of the main alley is constructed from a steel !1 Yn n space frame; steel is not a locally available material. ðÞ¼; ; ; ¼ ; a1 a2 a3 an ai (1) The space quality and the circulation in the bazaar i¼1 are rated as the least sustainable sub-criteria of the 1 physical criterion of environmental sustainability. Thus; GaðÞ¼; a ; a ¼ a ðÞa ´ a ´ a ´ ´ a n 1 2 3 n 1 2 3 n The bazaar does not have any designed public (2) open space in front of it or around it. There are Where G=Geometric mean, a=Pair-wise comparison only two types of semi-open spaces in the bazaars. scale given by a user, n=Number of users One is the main circulation alley in the bazaar and As Saaty (1980) established the proof and the the other is a linear arcade in front of the shops mathematical calculations of AHP, in this study, where product sellers exhibit their products and it the complicated mathematical algorithm of the is also used for circulation. In the closed spaces the fi method is explained briefly. AHP computer soft- rows of shops exist, which de ne the main circula- ware is used to calculate the consistency ratios and tion alley. However, these shops are not organized the relative weights of the sub and main criteria of according to the type of their products. The main – the sustainability dimensions of the bazaar. circulation alley is only about 3 4 m in width (Paydar and Said, 2009) and people are constantly passing up and down through it. Since the majority Findings and Discussion of the merchandising products are exhibited in the alley, it becomes narrower. Accordingly, it is diffi- The findings and discussion of the study are cult to stand still and look at the goods on display carried out through the judgment of the users on on the stalls and in the shops for any length of time. the sub-criteria in each column at the third level of Therefore, most people do not have the opportu- the hierarchical model (Figures 8–13), then the nity to examine properly what they wish to buy judgment of the main criteria on its row at the (Figure 8). second level of the model (Figure 14) and finally, The overall judgments on the relative weights of three dimensions of sustainability at the first the four sub-criteria –climate, greenery, water and level of the model by rating them pair by pair resources – of the natural criterion in respect of (Figure 15). In the Figures 8–15, the eigenvector environmental sustainability agreed that the value indicates the absolute priority weight of each responsiveness of the bazaar to the local climate is rated dimension, main and sub criteria. Moreover, the most sustainable one. Since, the bazaar’s main the CR values of all the matrices are less than 0.10, circulation alley houses various apertures, people which is acceptable based on Saaty’s method. feel the cross ventilation of the air inside the bazaar

Figure 8: Comparisons of the ﬁve sub-criteria of the physical criterion at the Tajrish bazaar.

Figure 9: Comparisons of the four sub-criteria of the natural criterion at the Tajrish bazaar.

Figure 10: Comparisons of the three sub-criteria of the socio-economic criterion at the Tajrish bazaar. throughout the year; this is beneficial during the and sell them in the bazaar. The Tajrish bazaar is a hot summer months. Furthermore, the semi open very traditional bazaar, and it is one of the attrac- space over the alley also provides a shaded and tive points for some tourists; they can find local protected area. However, greenery, water and foods and goods and some special souvenir shops resources are rated as the least sustainable. Since, in the bazaar. The bazaar, therefore, can provide there are no greenery or water elements either economic support to both the local and govern- within the bazaar itself or in its immediate sur- mental authorities, thus supporting the economic roundings. In addition, currently, there is no active stability in general (Figure 10). system for the collection and recycling of waste The overall judgments on the relative weights of water and products (Figure 9). the three sub-criteria: public health, culture and The overall judgments on the relative weights of attachment, uses of socio-cultural criterion prove the three sub-criteria – economy, promotion and that the variety of the uses in the Tajrish bazaar is economic stability – of the socio-economic criterion the most sustainable one. The bazaar fulfills a in respect of social sustainability, determine that variety of functions and uses of shopping, cultural the public’s satisfaction with the Tajrish bazaar and religious activities – offering Tekiye (praying from an economical perspective is rated as the space) and being located very close to the Imamza- most sustainable. As, as mentioned previously, deh Saleh – and social or leisure facilities with cafes the bazaar customers are offered a wide range of and shops that serve drinks and traditional foods. varying prices for all foodstuffs and other products On the other hand, the culture and attachment sub- sufficient to accommodate every income. On the criteria is rated slightly lower than the uses. other hand, the other two sub-criteria –the promo- On religious days some cultural and religious tion and economic stability – of the bazaar are activities take place in the Tekiye that greatly rated slightly lower than the economy. The bazaar attract the interest of tourists and local people alike. provides job opportunities for some of the local Furthermore, these cultural and religious activities people; the shopkeepers and the ones who prepare increase the feeling of place and belonging for the food at home or the farmers who grow vegetables local population. Moreover, the presence of the

Figure 11: Comparisons of the three sub-criteria of the socio-cultural criterion at the Tajrish bazaar.

Figure 12: Comparisons of the four sub-criteria of the building economy criterion at the Tajrish bazaar.

the economy. On the other hand, the construction material used and the issue of maintenance are rated slightly lower. The bazaar was renovated in 2009, so currently it does not need much maintenance. However in future, considering that the main construction material is brick, which is dur- Figure 13: Comparisons of the two sub-criteria of the able and locally available and does not require accessibility criterion at the Tajrish bazaar. frequent maintenance that will help to save maintenance / renewal costs and energy. Lastly, the flexibility sub-criterion is weighted as the least bazaar itself is important in respect of the transfer- sustainable one, in view of the fact that the main ence of cultural heritage for future generations alley of the bazaar does not offer flexibility or lend because it has been the custom for Iranian people to itself to any type of reorganization (Figure 12). do their shopping in the bazaar throughout history, The overall judgments on the relative weights of and this custom contributes to the people’s attach- the two sub-criteria – transport and car parking – ment to a place. The public health sub-criteria is in respect of the accessibility criterion of economic weighted as the less sustainable one, since, the width sustainability, determine that transport is the most of the main circulation path is not adequate for the sustainable one and car parking the least sustain- number of people who are using the bazaar. There- able. AS it is located between two main squares fore, people may not feel comfortable because of the and close to the metro and bus station, taxi overcrowding in the bazaar (Figure 11). ranks and many public buildings, the Tajrish The overall decisions of the users in respect of bazaar is accessible to both vehicles and pedes- the relative weights of the four sub-criteria – the trians. Furthermore, the bazaar itself has numerous form of the building, the construction material pedestrian accesses. The high level of accessibility used, the flexibility and maintenance of the build- of the bazaar helps cut costs and energy use. ing economy criterion of the economic sustainabil- However, the Tajrish Bazaar does not possess a ity show that the form of the building is the most specific car parking area for itself; therefore, if sustainable one. The Tajrish bazaar has a linear people come with their private cars, they have form and compact organization; it is approxi- to park far away and this is not convenient. mately 450 m long (Paydar and Said, 2009). Instead, people mostly tend to park close to the All the shops are attached to each other along the bazaar along the street sides and this causes traffic alley. The linear form of the bazaar provides an jams which waste time and energy (Figure 13). opportunity for extension in the future which, in When the main criteria are measured by the turn, could positively affect its economic standing. users at its level – the second level of the hierarch- Besides, the compact organization requires the ical model – in accordance to their sub-criteria, it use of fewer infrastructures, which also supports shows that the socio-economic criterion of the

Figure 14: Comparisons of the six main criteria of sustainability at the Tajrish Bazaar.

Figure 15: Comparisons of the three dimensions of sustainability at the Tajrish bazaar.

Figure 16: Finalized AHP decision model for assessing sustainability of the Tajrish bazaar. social sustainability weights higher than all of the one, the economic dimension is rated slightly other main criteria, while the socio-cultural, acces- lower and lastly, the environmental dimension sibility, physical and building economy criteria are has the lowest weighting (Figure 15). rated lower than the socio-economic criterion. Finally, according to the findings of the matrices Subsequently, the natural criterion is weighted as shown in the figures 8–15, the finalized hierarchy the lowest one (Figure 14). Accordingly, the structure model is provided, which shows the final dimensions are also compared at its level – first weighting of the dimensions, the main and the sub level of the model – and this comparison reveals criteria that clarifies their sustainability level in the that the social dimension is weighted as the highest Tajrish bazaar (Figure 16).

Conclusion References

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