APPLICATION OF PLACE ATTACHMENT THEORY IN COASTAL PLANNING

One of the current key issues in coastal planning and design is the specific human emotional approaches toward environment at psychological perspective. The question of how and in what framework one individual finds him/herself in an emotional link with the coastal environment is what urban researchers have been always trying to find an appropriate answer for. Identifying the main structure of the process of creating emotional bonds to places would reveal a lot of crucial questions which by answering them, coastal planners or designers would be able to apply proper strategies to their design practices which may be leaded to improved urban areas by sustaining the effective components of this structure. Many researches emphasize on the role of place attachment in making social ties and personal and public identity [1]; [2]; [3]. Moreover, studies have shown open urban spaces are most important contexts in shaping place attachment because of their various desirable physical especially coastal areas. (Natural and Man-made) and their activity features [4], [5], [6]. Therefore, identifying the real structural essence of interactions and inter relationships between coastal environment and individuals is indispensable for the researchers in the context of coastal planning and design.