H. Alizadeh - Department of Architecture and Planning, University of Kurdistan, Sanandaj, Iran

Historical sites are special places not only due to the cultural heritage that they house, but also due to their natural resources. Many such sites are in a danger of losing their historical character if relevant measures are not put in place to ensure the continuity of this character. This paper is concerned with the character of place in historical site of Sanandaj considering two main factors of physical substance and pattern of material which were recognized as basic aspects contributing to the character of place[1]. The paper also proposes the SWOT analysis as an effective framework for identifying and assessing the qualities of place to derive an appropriate decision-making in conservation plan of historic site. The outcome of the case study is that the historical site of Sanandaj has the potential for natural and cultural resource-management plans, but this has not been explored as of yet.

Urban character, SWOT analysis, Sanandaj, cultural and natural heritage