Public spaces, as urban social arenas, play a role in promoting social vitality and improving the quality of urban life. However, empirical evidence shows that many of these spaces in Iran's urban context meet the requirements to perform this function. The research aims to explain the requirements for preparing happy urban public spaces by studying the city of Shiraz. The research method of this study is based on a mixed-methods (qualitative-quantitative) paradigm. Qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews with experts and citizens, and quantitative data were collected by administering a standardized questionnaire to random samples of public space users in Shiraz. The population of Shiraz in 1400, 1,955,500, was determined using the Cochran formula. The research population comprised 400 people from the regions aged 18 or older, with a 5% error level. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software and Pearson, Friedman, and regression correlation tests. The findings of the study show that the requirements of a happy urban space can be classified into four main categories: physical-environmental requirements (including security, accessibility, urban furniture, and green space), socio-cultural (social inclusion, participation, place identity, and holding events), economic-management (including transparency, investment, and maintenance, and sensory). In addition, statistical analyses show a positive, significant relationship between fulfilling these requirements and the level of social activity across regions. By adopting a local and systematic approach, this study offers urban planners and designers conceptual tools to create sustainable and enjoyable public spaces in cities with similar cultural backgrounds.
Ghazanfarkhani et al. (Sat,) studied this question.