Representation of Sacrificial Identity in the Urban Fabric

Urban landscape is the visual language of a city and reflects the beliefs, values, and historical memory of its inhabitants. Among the identity‑forming elements of the urban fabric in Iran, images and memorials of martyrs occupy a key position in the semantic structure of cities as supreme symbols of sacrifice and resistance. The metropolis of Arak, as one of the country’s industrial hubs and a city that played a significant logistical and sacrificial role during the Iran‑Iraq War (Sacred Defense), possesses a distinctive urban character in which the connection between industry, tradition, and martyrdom is clearly visible. The present study aims to examine the position of martyrs’ images in the urban landscape of Arak, drawing upon practical experiences gained within the Urban Landscape and Visual Affairs Department of the municipality. The central issue of the research concerns how to transition from traditional and temporary methods—such as advertising banners—toward more permanent and symbolic forms of urban art that both preserve the sanctity of the subject and align with contemporary aesthetic standards and modern urban furniture. The research method used in this article is a combination of library-based studies and analysis of field observations conducted during the author’s period of managerial responsibility. Preliminary findings indicate that factors such as Arak’s air pollution and specific climatic conditions have made the selection of durable materials—such as modern tilework, concrete reliefs, and metal relief sculptures—a necessity. Furthermore, the results suggest that the strategic placement of these images at traffic nodes and major entrances to the city not only enhances urban legibility but also creates a “semantic atmosphere” that contributes to the reproduction of revolutionary identity among younger generations. Finally, the article proposes strategies for integrating the visual management of martyrs’ images into Arak’s comprehensive and detailed urban development plans.