The Impact of Business Centers on the Development and Urban Identity of Baneh city

Facades and physical elements of the city in urban space are the best options to know the city and its identity. Citizens and visitors face common occurrences and same experiences fill their minds by interacting in these spaces. Markets and complexes are also one of the most important factors in developing and identifying a city. Baneh is also one of Iran s important border cities which due to its strategic positioning on the western border neighboring Iraq has turned into an important trading area, and various commodities being exported and imported in the area have given the city the title West Negin of the Country .The purpose: this paper aims to study the impact of high-rise construction of commercial centers and malls and complementary spaces such as services, amenities, accommodation and recreation, and the factors that alter the development and layout of the city and even give the city a distinctive identity. Therefore, the purpose is to identify the factors that contribute to the creation of a city with a commercial identity and its impact on the development of the city.Research method: in this qualitative study, data collection metrics such as documentary and library resources, field surveys such as non-participatory observation were used to collect information and data at the city level. The map has been used to illustrate the spatial change trend of commercial spaces in the last two decades.Results: in Islamic cities, markets are located at the main entrance and route of the city, this has been affective in the formation of commercial core of Baneh city, which has been associated with a shift from the south (with the east-west directions) to the west and northwest. Development of commercial land uses in this part of the city also dramatically increased the price of land and housing, resulting in the emergence of land-based stock exchanges and the creation of unauthorized retailers. Therefore, since the eighties, the city continued to expand radically along the city s exit roads, and the city due to the topographical conditions and the limitations of the elevations around the city, the city ap became a relatively complete ellipse.

Keywords:

Urban Development , Market , Passage , Business Centers , Urban Identity , Baneh city