en Urban History Urban History Research Paper Research Paper This research aims to explore the process of modernization of the city&rsquo;s image&mdash;a topic that has not yet been critically<br> examined. The study employs an interpretive-historical method, drawing on publications, photographs, and oral<br> historiography related to both existing and lost buildings of the period. In the case of Qom, the obligatory modern<br> changes&mdash;such as cutting streets through the traditional urban fabric&mdash;could not entirely erase traditional conceptions of<br> the city image at the microscale. Revisiting the street fa&ccedil;ades of the early modern era in Qom reveals that the public<br> perception of the new phenomenon of the street was derived from the spatial logic of inner courtyards as well as the bazaar.<br> The baroque-style planning of the new city was exceptional within Reza Khan&rsquo;s urban plans and had the greatest impact<br> on turning the holy shrine into the new city center. However, about a decade after the onset of this modernization process,<br> a popular trend emerged toward adopting certain modern spatial features. Thus, in this small city at the beginning of<br> modernization&mdash;and later a large city at its peak&mdash;numerous popular adaptations between tradition and modernity can be<br> observed, not only at the microscale and in fa&ccedil;ade design but also at the urban scale, where modern detached spaces were<br> integrated through the adaptation of traditional spatial patterns. Popular architecture, Transition of modernity, Façade changes, City of Qom, Pahlavi period. 0 0 http://ijaup.iust.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-11-1948-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Masoud Nari Ghomi msnarighomi@ut.ac.ir 180031947532846008245 180031947532846008245 Yes Department of Architecture and Urban Planning, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Technical and Vocational University (TVU), Tehran, Iran. Mehdi Momtahen momtahen@kashanu.ac.ir 180031947532846008246 180031947532846008246 No Department of Architecture and art, University of Kashan, Kashan, Iran.