Between Diversity and Disconnection: Cultural Mismatch and Urban Isolation in Parand New Town, Iran

Urban isolation has emerged as a critical challenge in contemporary city-making, particularly in rapidly planned environments where spatial design has outpaced social integration. This study examines the case of Parand, a new town developed under Iran's Mehr Housing Project, to investigate how state-led urbanism can inadvertently produce fragmented social landscapes. Drawing on a mixed-methods approach that combines survey data, spatial observations, and literature synthesis, the research explores the interplay between urban form, cultural heterogeneity, and social disconnection. Findings reveal that despite achieving quantitative housing goals, Parand suffers from weak civic participation, diminished social trust, and a lack of symbolic attachment to place-conditions that collectively contribute to a pervasive sense of isolation. The absence of inclusive public spaces, participatory planning, and shared cultural references has hindered community formation, particularly among vulnerable populations such as women and youth. The study concludes by advocating for a paradigm shift toward human-centered urban design that emphasizes social infrastructure, cultural integration, and place-based identity as essential components of sustainable urban development.

کلیدواژه ها:

Urban Isolation ، New Town Planning ، Civic Disconnection ، Social Infrastructure ، Cultural Integration ، Place-Based Identity