Analyzing the Effect of Urban Space Design on Happiness in the Global City of Yazd: A Quantitative Approach Based on Alain de Botton's Architectural Philosophy

Abstract

Objective: The historical city of Yazd, as a global city with a unique architectural and cultural context, has significant potential in promoting the happiness of citizens and tourists. This research aimed to analyze the relationship between urban space design and happiness based on the architectural philosophy of Alain de Botton.

Methods: The research method was quantitative and descriptive-analytical, and data were collected in 2025 through a standard questionnaire. The samples were determined using the Cochran formula and the questionnaires were completed by 120 citizens and 100 tourists in the historical context. The reliability of the instrument was confirmed with a Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.87, and the content validity was also evaluated by architecture and urban planning professors. The data were processed using SPSS software and descriptive and comparative statistical analyses.

Results: The results showed that the components of "history and cultural identity" play the greatest role in promoting the happiness of both groups, and the citizens' scores in this component were slightly higher than those of tourists. Other components such as “social interactions”, “aesthetics of space”, “green spaces” and “function and accessibility” had a lesser impact, although social interactions were more important for citizens than for tourists.

Conclusion: These findings indicate that preserving and exploiting Yazd’s historical and cultural values, especially in historical contexts and public spaces, is of fundamental importance for promoting citizens’ happiness and positive tourist experiences, and can be used as a guide for urban policy-making and the design of public spaces in similar historical cities.