25 The Concept of Quality in Public Courtyards: Explanations and Analyses Case Study: Mausoleum of Shah Ni’mat-Allah Vali Elham Khajehpour a , Djavad Rasooli a, * Saba Faculty of Art and Architecture, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran Received: 24 October 2019 - Accepted: 21 July 2020 Abstract Quality is a highly esoteric concept which compels theorists to offer different explanations. Based on library resources, quality can be defined as an interaction between individuals and their environment, which is caused by a set of environmental components differing in each environment. This paper studied the concept of quality in public courtyards. The Mausoleum of Shah Ni‟mat -Allah Vali, which provides a reasonable setting with four distinguished public courtyards was selected as the case study. Owing to traditional patterns and frameworks of Iranian architecture, these courtyards are immensely popular amongst Iranian scholars and architecture students, and a formal imitation of this pattern is prevalent, while the qualities of such spaces are often neglected. By employing a wide literature review, the different theories regarding dimensions and components of quality in public open spaces were categorized based on the year and author. In the Delphi panel, experts narrowed down the literature review and suggested that the main dimensions are Functional, Visual and Morphological, Experiential and Perceptual, Social and Ecological, each of which has several components. These components were achieved using the Delphi method. Moreover, the authors used the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) method to understand the importance and to prioritize the dimensions and components. Furthermore, by using questionnaires and interviews, this research analyses the public courtyards of the case study. Based on the results, individuals could perceive all the proposed components and dimensions of the research and consider them while labeling a place as a high-quality environment. This highlights the fact that individuals‟ minds recognize the role of these components in the real-world, and consciously or unconsciously evaluating with the aim of discovering a place more pleasant, attractive, and with higher qualities. Keywords: Public Courtyards, Architectural Quality, Public Open Space, Built Environment, Shah Ni‟mat -Allah Vali Mausoleum 1. Introduction Built environment as a part of mankind‟s living space is comprised of qualities that establish an interrelation between people and spaces in architecture and urban design. People and their surrounding environment usually influence each other so that there are various types of mutual interaction therebetween (Saadati, 2019). The designers configure and integrate these distinctive environmental qualities into a method to fulfill individual needs (Lang, 1987), which are highly effective in the level of human satisfaction as these fundamental attributes can influence the quality of life (Sirgy et al., 2000). Therefore, the reason that individuals consider a place to be more desirable, and hold to them for a considerable time is interpretable through the qualities offered by spaces. It is noteworthy that, the physical built environment has a constitutive role in everyday experiences (Iranmanesh & Rasooli, 2018). therefore, contemplation on the concept of “quality” in the built environment could be beneficial in the design of different projects. The concept of “quality” has a plural and multi-dimensional nature with various interpretations (Golkar, 2001:3). It is necessary to study theorists‟ quotes, viewpoints and introduced criterions in the very first step to achieve a meaningful and comprehensive framework for the concept of quality. This structure is crucial both for analyzing an existing place or for constructing a high-quality one. Quality is the consequence of a set of attributes which differs in each environment. Quality and environment are an inseparable pair that are only interpretable through each other. For instance, the attributes which build up qualities of a private place is different than those of a public place, in some cases going as far as being in contradiction. This paper is authored with particular focus on public spaces. Legal ownership and boundaries can define spaces physically. some open spaces are exclusively used by one person or a few individuals, while other spaces are shared with more people, being available, or belonging, to everyone (Woolley, 2003). Public places offer tremendous value for the community and civic environments and are created for their use, benefit and enjoyment (Tibbalds, 2001). Broadly defined, public space (relates to all those components of the built and natural environment, public and private, internal and external, urban and rural, where the public has free, although not necessarily unrestricted, access (Carmona et al., 2008). The term “public” refers to the presence of individuals of different ages and cultures in a space where numerous community activities can take place (Rafieian et al., 2013). Social life is often formed in these spaces, and they are accessible to all citizens. Public interrelation and confrontations occur inevitably in public *Corresponding author Email address: javad.rasooli91@gmail.com