Walking and Time! The Style of Walkability in Urmia Old Town

This paper analyzes the spatial evolution and walkability of Urmia’s historic Bazaar, applying space syntax theory to support heritage-sensitive urban planning. Three temporal configurations (1933, 1948, 2018) were reconstructed from georeferenced maps and field surveys and analyzed in Depthmap X using syntactic measures (NACH, NAIN, Entropy). Results indicate that modernization expanded network connectivity and introduced linear patterns, yet the Bazaar continues to function as the primary configurational hub driving socio-economic interaction. Findings empirically reinforce natural movement theory and offer practical guidance for planning strategies that enhance spatial permeability while sustaining historic fabric integrity and cultural continuity.