Numerous plans have sought to enhance the quality of place in declining urban areas so far. However, reviewing a number of such plans reveals that they have remained fairly focused on a general improvement of place quality or on enhancement of functional and physical qualities of space. while disregarding the invisible and intangible dimensions of space that venture beyond the basic dwelling requirements. This research entails a deep phenomenological study of the Abkooh neighborhood in Mashhad, Iran. By Observation and in-depth semi-structured interviews with neighborhood trustees, this research shows how context-oriented approaches such as phenomenology may reveal place qualities quite different from those in formal authoritative plans. Finally, this paper seeks to highlight the downsides of Abkooh’s approved plan as a case study which is a product of authoritative mapping and which disregards the intangibles of social life in urban planning and design.

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