66 Int. J. Architect. Eng. Urban Plan, 30(1): 66-75, June 2020 DOI: 10.22068/ijaup.30.1.66 Research Paper Collective Memory as a Measure to Evaluate the Infill Architecture Innovations in Historic Contexts (Case Study: Historic Context of Imamzadeh Yahya in Tehran) E. Parvizi * Assistant Professor at Art and Architecture Faculty at Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran Received: December 2019, Revised: May 2020, Accepted: June 2020 Abstract Historic contexts remind us of an era when cities were built based on the needs, goals, and preferences of their inhabitants. In other words, the mental world of both the builders and the inhabitants was closely interrelated. But by ignoring citizens' memories and interests and their mental needs, today's interventions with rapid developments within historic contexts have led to amnesia and the destruction of cities' identities. Hence, architecture as a major part of the urban fabric experiences disruption not only within the urban context but also through the collective memory of the inhabitants of the texture. Since identity is an important criterion of endogenous developments, in addition to clarifying the importance of collective memory in infill architecture design approach in historic contexts in the conducted analyses, this paper has sought to answer this question “Given the different approaches in terms of their innovation in infill architecture, how can one explain the architectural approach in infill spaces by referring to collective memory?” The research methodology is case study. By collecting data through library and digital resources, this paper concentrates on the process of architectural approach in historic contexts as well as identification of historic contexts. Then, through an interview with the older inhabitants of Imamzadeh Yahya neighborhood, their shared memories were identified. Then, the result was distributed as a questionnaire among the Imamzadeh Yahya locals. By analyzing the results through Spss software, the collective memory was identified within the historic context and the criteria for infill design were extracted. According to the results, the architecture in historic contexts depends on the land use, the proximity to valuable units, shared intangible events, etc. that can all be extracted from collective memory of texture. The obtained indices can be invoked in architectural design within historic contexts to enhance their physical identity. Keywords: Collective memory, Infill architecture, Historic context, Architectural identity. INTRODUCTION 1 Until recently, the buildings formed within urban contexts, were founded next to each other with sincere affinity. However, today's interventions in the historic contexts of the city, aimed at increased heterogeneity and lack of awareness of the narratives that lie within the city and of what creates the sense of place, except for meeting basic needs, have achieved nothing but amnesia and the destruction of cities’ identities. Also, following new developments to meet the physical needs of the cities, building streets, introduction of new materials, the arrival of architects educated in the West, Corresponding author: parvizi.e@khu.ac.ir * and the lifestyle changes after the 60's in twentieth-century Iran, this process accelerated, leaving historic contexts at the heart of cities. The old city plazas, which were a place for citizens to gather, interact and create memories and urban identity, were replaced by parking lots. As such, the integrity and uniformity of the homebuilding system were undermined within the organic and balanced context of historic cities. These events have led to a decrease in the inhabitants’ sense of belonging and attachment toward preserving these spaces, and as a result, many of the original local residents of these areas left their homes to settle in new neighborhoods, and especially in modern apartments, and gradually, low-income people occupied their previous living place; the people who did not have a sense of belonging to their living places. Hence, as a result of physical decay, the