Mental mapping of the first-material space of the city(A Comparative Study of Formal and Informal Settlements Residents of Rasht)

The first urban space is the material or physical space of the city, or, in the mental mapping studies, the perceptual space of the city. This space is the first dimension in the mental mapping studies which was brought to the attention of urban researchers from 60s. The perceptual space analysis of the urban residents is an important approach in the spatiality studies of the mental maps, which was performed in the present study among the formal inhabitants of the District 1 and informal residents of the District 4 of the City of Rasht. In this research, the sample size was 60 inhabitants of the formal settlements of District 1 and 60 residents of informal settlements of District 4 in the City of Rasht. The theoretical sampling method was used. Data collection was carried out by “interview and observation” methods and included sketch mapping, note taking and photographing. Finally, for the data analysis, the geo-visualization of 3D Density Surfaces in the Qualitative GIS (QGIS) was used. The results of this study indicated that: in the analysis of the first-material space of the city of Rasht in the mental map of the two social classes studied, the space could meet the needs of the urban middle class and the formation of new physical, commercial, recreational, cultural spaces etc, were the requirements of the modern living conditions of this class. However, low-income residents do not have any role in the formation, persistence or degradation of these spaces.