Evaluation of Urban Robustness: Insights into Enhancing the Urban Efficiency of Valiasr Street, Tehran

Robustness in urban space is regarded as a central tenet of quality of life. However, the incongruity between robustness indicators and the policies governing the planning and design of responsive urban spaces has engendered significant challenges. This study examines how urban planning policies exhibit weaknesses in achieving robustness as a fundamental capacity of responsive urban environments within a rapidly transforming context, focusing on the area between Valiasr Square and the Valiasr intersection in Tehran. A mixed-method approach is adopted, combining theoretical inquiry with empirical analysis. The spatial configuration is quantitatively assessed using DepthmapX 0.80 software to measure patterns of integration and connectivity. In parallel, a structured observational approach is applied based on a 17-item checklist derived from key strength indicators and assessed through a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analytical framework. The findings reveal significant inequalities in the distribution of robustness indicators across three interrelated dimensions: physical–spatial (limited accessibility between the two sides of the street), functional–behavioral (uneven distribution of activities and land-use diversity), and environmental (ineffective and discontinuous vegetation coverage). Based on the analysis, three design determining mechanisms are identified: the allocation of diverse programs, the provision of continuous, shaded vegetation along sidewalks, and the reduction of physical barriers through street reconfiguration. This study contributes to evidence-based urban planning and design strategies that strengthen robust urban environments to promote urban quality of life. Future research could extend this framework to comparative case studies across different urban contexts, or examine the longitudinal impact of the proposed interventions on robustness indicators over time.