اولویت‌بندی پروژه‌های بازآفرینی پایدار در بافت تاریخی کاشان با رویکرد ترکیبی

A B S T R A C T
Historic urban fabrics, as cultural and architectural treasures, are increasingly confronted with challenges arising from modernization and physical deterioration. Managing regeneration projects within these areas requires decision-making tools aligned with the principles of sustainability. This study seeks to present a hybrid approach for prioritizing sustainable regeneration projects in the historic fabric of Kashan. The aim of this research is to develop a combined SWARA–Fuzzy SAW approach for prioritizing sustainable regeneration projects in the historic context of the city. In this study, multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods, including SWARA and Fuzzy SAW, were employed. First, the effective criteria for sustainable regeneration were identified and screened using the Delphi technique. Subsequently, the SWARA method was applied to determine the weight of each criterion. Finally, the Fuzzy SAW method was used to prioritize regeneration projects in the historic fabric of Kashan. The findings indicated that the social criterion, with a weight of 0.54, ranked first in importance, followed by the economic and environmental criteria with weights of 0.29 and 0.17, respectively. Moreover, the project titled “Education and Development of Local Skills” received the highest score and thus was ranked as the top priority. The combined SWARA–Fuzzy SAW approach can serve as an effective tool in the decision-making process for selecting and prioritizing sustainable regeneration projects in historic urban fabrics. By considering both quantitative and qualitative criteria and utilizing fuzzy logic to handle uncertainties, this approach can assist decision-makers in selecting projects that align with sustainability goals and the needs of local communities.
Extended Abstract
Introduction
Historic urban fabrics represent invaluable cultural, architectural, and identity‑based assets that have increasingly faced physical deterioration and functional decline in recent decades due to rapid urbanization, unbalanced spatial development, changes in residential patterns, out‑migration of native residents, and the weakening of social capital. The historic core of Kashan, with its organic urban structure, traditional neighborhoods, and significant architectural heritage, stands as one of the most prominent examples of such fabrics in Iran. Despite its historical richness, the area has experienced pressures arising from incompatible land‑use changes, infrastructure inefficiencies, and economic stagnation. Sustainable urban regeneration seeks to revive historic identity, improve residents’ quality of life, strengthen local economic foundations, and enhance environmental performance. Achieving these goals requires the careful selection and prioritization of intervention projects that best address the needs and capacities of the area. This necessitates a transparent multi‑criteria decision‑making approach capable of integrating the three pillars of sustainability—social, economic, and environmental. With this goal in mind, the present study focuses on the historic urban fabric of Kashan to demonstrate how a hybrid methodology can be employed to prioritize sustainable regeneration projects based on validated criteria and expert judgment.
 
Methodology
This applied research adopts a descriptive–analytical framework. First, a systematic review of theoretical and practical studies on sustainable urban regeneration, particularly in historic contexts, was conducted to identify a preliminary set of social, economic, and environmental criteria. Next, the criteria were refined using the Delphi technique through three structured rounds of consultation with 15 experts in urban planning, urban design, urban regeneration, and cultural heritage. To determine the relative importance of the criteria, the SWARA method was applied, which relies on experts’ sequential comparisons to calculate criterion weights. The evaluation of regeneration projects under uncertainty was conducted using the Fuzzy SAW method, allowing experts’ linguistic assessments to be translated into fuzzy numbers. Following normalization and incorporation of SWARA-based weights, a final aggregate score was computed for each project. The projects assessed included: “Education and Development of Local Skills,” “Entrepreneurship and Employment Development,” “Restoration and Revitalization of Historic Buildings,” “Public Space Enhancement and Promotion of Walkability,” “Environmental Infrastructure Improvement,” and “Establishment of Local Cooperative Networks.”
 
Results and discussion
The results show that the social dimension, with a weight of 0.54, is the most influential dimension in achieving sustainable regeneration in the historic urban fabric of Kashan. It is followed by the economic dimension with a weight of 0.29 and the environmental dimension with a weight of 0.17. These results underscore the centrality of social capital, residents’ participation, local empowerment, and cultural identity continuity as prerequisites for successful physical and environmental interventions. Based on the fuzzy SAW evaluation, the project “Education and Development of Local Skills” achieved the highest priority, reflecting its capacity to enhance human capital, transfer traditional skills, strengthen employability, and promote community engagement. The project “Entrepreneurship and Employment Development” ranked second, emphasizing its role in generating income, strengthening the local economy, and increasing social presence in the historic area. “Restoration and Revitalization of Historic Buildings” ranked third; although essential for heritage conservation and environmental improvement, its sustainability depends on strong social and economic foundations. Overall, the findings reveal that social–economic empowerment is a crucial prerequisite for physical and environmental improvements in the historic fabric.
 
Conclusion
The study demonstrates that prioritizing regeneration projects in the historic urban fabric of Kashan requires a structured multi‑criteria approach that accounts for expert judgment and uncertainty. The hybrid SWARA–Fuzzy SAW model effectively integrates qualitative and quantitative expert assessments, enhances transparency in decision‑making, and optimizes resource allocation. The results emphasize the primacy of the social dimension, highlighting the importance of community participation, social capital, capacity‑building, and the preservation of cultural identity. Strengthening the local economy through entrepreneurship and skill‑based initiatives is crucial for sustaining physical and environmental interventions. From a policy perspective, the proposed model can serve as a decision‑support tool for urban management and heritage organizations. Future research should incorporate sensitivity analysis, scenario-based planning, and alternative MCDM methods such as Fuzzy TOPSIS or VIKOR. In sum, sustainable regeneration of Kashan’s historic urban fabric requires integrated attention to spatial justice, heritage preservation, environmental quality, and community empowerment, and precise prioritization of regeneration projects is key to achieving these goals.
 
Funding
There is no funding support.
 
Authors’ Contribution
Authors contributed equally to the conceptualization and writing of the article. All of the authors approved thecontent of the manuscript and agreed on all aspects of the work declaration of competing interest none.
 
Conflict of Interest
Authors declared no conflict of interest.
 
Acknowledgments
We are grateful to all the scientific consultants of this paper.