Introduction
Degraded urban areas in Iran—particularly in Tehran—represent some of the most complex urban challenges. These neighborhoods are marked by physical decay, poor infrastructure, overcrowding, and fragmented spatial organization, which have led to declining living standards and rising social problems.
The Harandi neighborhood in Tehran’s District 12 exemplifies this condition. Despite its historical background and central location, Harandi has undergone significant physical and social decline over recent decades and is now considered one of the most insecure areas in the city. Narrow alleys, irregular street patterns, poor lighting, abandoned buildings, and neglected open spaces—combined with concentrated social issues—have made the neighborhood feel unsafe, especially for women who tend to be more sensitive to environmental cues.
Women living in or passing through Harandi often encounter spaces that lack visibility, environmental control, and a sense of comfort. This reduces their willingness to be present in public areas, reinforcing both spatial self-restriction and gender inequality. Despite repeated urban regeneration initiatives, the role of physical design in shaping women’s perceptions of safety has received little systematic attention.
This study takes Harandi as a case study to examine how physical and environmental features—such as lighting, pathway connectivity, visibility, land-use diversity, and maintenance—affect women’s sustainable sense of safety in public urban spaces.
 
Methodology
The study adopts a quantitative, field-based approach to explore how environmental qualities influence women’s perceived safety in one of Tehran’s degraded urban areas. Because the research focuses on women’s lived experiences and environmental perceptions, direct data collection from residents was essential.
A survey method using a structured questionnaire was employed. The study population included women residing in Harandi (District 12). According to official data, the neighborhood’s population is about 32,145, of which 12,647 are women. Women aged 18 and older formed the target group. Using the Cochran formula (95% confidence level, 5% margin of error), a sample of 367 participants was determined. Respondents were selected through stratified random sampling to ensure diversity in age and spatial distribution.
The questionnaire was developed based on theories in urban safety, environmental psychology, and urban design. It included items measuring lighting quality, street connectivity, visibility, land-use patterns, street furniture, maintenance, and perceived safety—rated on a five-point Likert scale from “strongly disagree” to “strongly agree.” After pilot testing and expert review, the instrument’s reliability was confirmed with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.865, indicating high internal consistency.
Data analysis included descriptive statistics followed by structural equation modeling (SEM) using SmartPLS software. Model validity was tested through convergent and discriminant validity measures and path coefficients. The results provided a clear and evidence-based understanding of the current situation and helped identify design strategies to improve environmental quality and women’s sense of safety in degraded urban areas.
 
Findings and Discussion
The analysis shows that in degraded neighborhoods like Harandi, women’s sustainable safety results from the interaction of physical, functional, and perceptual factors. The most influential dimension was movement structure and accessibility (total effect = 0.49), demonstrating that organized, legible pathways strongly shape women’s feelings of safety.
Lighting quality ranked second (effect = 0.38). Sufficient, uniform lighting at night not only improves visibility but also signals social presence and informal surveillance, reducing the likelihood of “blind spots.”
Psychological safety ranked third (effect = 0.35), highlighting the importance of mental comfort, sense of control, and collective memory in shaping women’s perception of safety. Environmental maintenance (effect = 0.32) showed that cleanliness and well-kept surfaces are seen as indicators of active urban management and monitoring. Active land uses (effect = 0.29) enhance security by ensuring continuous presence and economic vitality. Street furniture (effect = 0.26) contributes indirectly to safety by increasing comfort and usability. Natural surveillance (effect = 0.24) and spatial legibility (effect = 0.20) also reduce anxiety through visibility and predictability.
The components ranked as follows:

Pathways and accessibility
Lighting
Psychological safety
Environmental maintenance
Active land uses
Street furniture
Natural surveillance
Spatial legibility

 
Conclusion
The study concludes that women’s sense of safety in degraded urban areas is a multifaceted phenomenon closely tied to environmental design quality. In Harandi, insecurity is not solely the result of social problems but also of physical decay, poor lighting, spatial fragmentation, and visual disorder.
The structural model shows that organized street networks and accessible routes play the most important role in creating sustainable safety. Predictable, connected, and visible spaces give women a stronger sense of control and comfort. Consistent and effective lighting—as a sign of supervision and social presence—was the second key factor. Psychological aspects, such as feelings of comfort and support, also contribute greatly to women’s willingness to be present and active in public spaces.
Conversely, poor maintenance, neglected spaces, and unsafe street furniture erode trust and increase anxiety. Overall, the findings emphasize that improving women’s safety in degraded urban fabrics cannot rely solely on policing or surveillance. A holistic approach that integrates physical, environmental, and perceptual dimensions is essential.
Sustainable safety is achieved when women can read and navigate their environment, feel visible, and recognize their presence as an integral part of the neighborhood’s social life.