the Sustainable Approach
Urban-Environmental Design for Sustainable Urban Development
(Safeguarding, Revitalization and Responsibly Utilizing the Natural Assets of the City)
Preface:
Our country lies in an arid, low-rainfall region with a vast desert at its center. The survival of many of our cities depends on one or more natural treasures, in mutual interaction with them.
Our wise ancestors, with deep knowledge of effective systems, structured the relationship between humans, cities, and the surrounding nature in an intelligent and forward-thinking manner—safeguarding natural assets while allowing for their use in line with ecological capacity, thus avoiding gradual degradation.
Until the past century, this balanced and sustainable relationship between city, people, and nature endured across our land. However, in recent decades, urban development plans have prioritized physical expansion, neglecting foresighted strategies to protect cities’ natural treasures. Especially in the last four decades, due to shortsighted and profit-driven management, the destruction of these valuable resources has accelerated.
Examples include:
Mountains and hills: For urban expansion, these were designated for military, recreational, educational, and residential uses. Their slopes were carved for ease of construction, with excavated soil dumped into valleys and lowlands.
Foothill lands: Absorbed into the expanding urban fabric.
Valleys and their surroundings:Due to fertile soil and water access, initially transformed into private gardens, then into garden-villas, and ultimately apartment complexes.
Waterways: Filled with debris from hill excavation or eroded into instability.
River-valleys: Replaced with concrete channels under legislation that ignored environmental considerations. These became waste disposal zones and the remaining land was sold off.
Rivers:Without complete urban wastewater systems, sewage was discharged directly into rivers, turning them into polluted conduits to lakes and seas.
Springs: Legal and illegal upstream construction has degraded water quality and polluted spring sources.
Seas and shorelines: Shores lost their natural purity and value, and the sea was turned into an urban wastewater basin.
Lakes: Unprincipled dam construction has led to the drying of lakes.
Qanats (underground aqueducts): Construction within their buffer zones, illegal water extraction, and sewage contamination have destroyed this invaluable engineering heritage.
Groundwater: Highways and tunnels built without accounting for natural underground water paths have blocked or destroyed them.
Gardens: As key cultural assets of our cities, gardens are losing their resilience due to disrupted water supply routes, destroyed qanats, pollution, and over-construction—and are now rapidly vanishing.
Conclusion:
The above examples demonstrate how, after centuries of resilience, natural resources and environmental heritage are now facing destruction by our generation. In response, experts and nature advocates have worked to propose solutions to halt this destructive trajectory and restore balance. In this spirit, I have—alongside fellow committed colleagues and drawing on experience with nature-based projects—proposed the theory of Urban–Environmental Design. A theory that, by interrupting the current course of degradation, enables responsible use of natural treasures and supports sustainable development of our cities and country. It is hoped that this effort will play a positive role in achieving its intended goals.
Definition of Urban–Environmental Design:
Wherever a city influences—or is influenced by—a natural element within or around its boundaries, all planning must prioritize rules, regulations, and guidelines rooted in environmental studies, landscape design, and related sciences—these must form the foundation for urban development plans in the domains of urbanism, urban design, and allied disciplines.
Achievements of the Urban–Environmental Design Theory in Iran:
Over the past four decades, I have had the honor of directing the planning and design studies of several valuable natural assets in cities across the country. These projects were prepared and proposed based on the theory of “Urban–Environmental Design” and could have simultaneously protected and enhanced the environmental quality of these natural assets—resources that are the wealth, heritage, and foundation for continued healthy urban life—while enabling equitable, capacity-aligned, and sustainable use by citizens, improve people’s attitudes and relationships with nature, and contribute meaningfully to sustainable urban development.
However, fundamental changes to the plans, their incomplete implementation, or execution without the involvement of the original designers and under non-expert directives, often lead to deviation from the original vision, potentially causing harm, and distancing the project from its core objectives of natural resource protection and sustainable use.
The reports for these projects have been compiled over the years across various cities, amounting to several hundred volumes, and were developed through national funding and the dedicated efforts of experienced, committed professionals.
While it is not feasible to present all these reports here, summarizing the strategies, approaches, and recommendations of these projects for each city’s residents especially students and younger generations can raise awareness about the unique natural and historical values of our cities and nation, and foster their engagement in preserving these natural treasures and priceless generational heritage.
A Few Important Notes Regarding These Projects:
Some proposed strategies—such as enhancing human-nature-city interaction—are generalizable and applicable to similar urban contexts. In many of these cities, other relevant plans exist that are not covered here. Some plans were not executed—or only partially realized—due to funding gaps or changes in administration. In Section 8 of this website, information is provided on 42 urban–environmental design projects across 18 cities in Iran.
ARAK
Urban – Environmental Design of Arak Ring Roads
Background:
Arak is one of the major industrial centers in Iran, and the presence of numerous factories has led to severe air pollution, resulting in a rise in respiratory illnesses among residents. City officials and the provincial government initiated a joint effort to expand urban green spaces wherever possible and requested collaboration from the consultant. Taking into account all constraints and opportunities, the following plans were prepared and approved:
1. Urban–Environmental Design of the Southern Ring Road Corridor
2. Urban–Environmental Design of the Northern Ring Road Corridor
3. Urban–Environmental Design of the Four Main Gateways to the City
4. Urban–Environmental Design for Mount Mostofi
5. Urban–Environmental Design for Mount Gerdoo (Stone Quarry)
6. Urban–Environmental Design of the Oil Pipeline Route Within the City
Implementation Status:
Of these plans, ten kilometers of the southern ring road and Mount Mostofi have been implemented, but due to administrative changes and possible budget constraints, follow-up on the implementation of the remaining projects has not continued.
Importance and Vision of the Plan:
Implementing green corridors along the highways could have formed a continuous green belt, significantly contributing to air pollution reduction, while the greening of the mentioned mountains and the oil pipeline corridor could also aid in air purification.
Detailed explanations for projects 4, 5, and 6 are provided in the respective project profiles, while maps for projects 1, 2, and 3 are available on this same page.
Urban – Environmental Design of the Linear Paradise (Strategic)
Summary of Proposal:
Transforming a polluted industrial corridor into one of the city’s natural assets
Background:
In the city of Arak, a petroleum pipeline has passed through the area for several decades, and with urban expansion, it has come into close proximity with residential zones, causing contamination at both surface and subsurface levels in several locations.
The provincial government and municipality decided to decommission the pipeline and repurpose its corridor. Comprehensive urban–environmental studies were conducted in all relevant domains, and it was recommended that, due to Arak’s air pollution, this corridor be transformed into a Linear Green Paradise (Linear Urban Park) enabling adjacent neighborhoods to use it for walking, recreation, and exercise, with its greenery helping to mitigate urban air quality issues.
The plan involved studies in geology, soil science, environmental pollution, green space planning, urbanism, visual landscape, and connectivity, and based on existing conditions, the corridor was divided into 8 evaluated zones.
Within this framework, the following concepts and solutions were proposed and approved:
Summary of the Proposal’s Concepts and Solutions:
1. Soil remediation along the route
2. Integration of unused triangular or irregular leftover plots into the park
3. Linking fragmented urban green spaces to the corridor to form a continuous, resilient green network against air pollution
4. Increasing vegetation density in adjacent urban green spaces
5. Building football and multipurpose sports fields to reinforce the recreational function of the corridor
6. Connecting Sanjan Boulevard to the gardens of Sanjan valleys through the linear park
7. Establishing physical and functional integration between the linear park and Arak city center
8. Proposing width variation templates along the park based on land use, urban nodes, and access shifts
9. Designing areas to be annexed to the park based on land owned by the Housing and Urban Development Organization
10. Providing planting and design schemes (stone retaining walls, slope stabilization, rest zones, emergency paths, pedestrian and bicycle routes, parking areas, children’s playgrounds, foothill transitions, hospital-edge plantings, infrastructure screening, “Garden of Tranquility,” food and service zones, etc.)
ISFAHAN
Urban – Environmental Design of Polluted Southeastern Lands (Strategic)
A portion of land in southeastern Isfahan is bounded on one side by surrounding mountains and on the other by agricultural lands to the south of the city. In recent decades, this area has served as a landfill for municipal waste and debris. It is also surrounded by uses such as a compost facility, asphalt factory, Isfahan’s cemetery, and nuclear energy installations. The study area covers approximately 3,000 hectares.
The Municipality of Isfahan commissioned the consultant to conduct a strategic-scale study and propose solutions for pollution reduction, land transformation, and the optimal reuse of these lands. Comprehensive studies were carried out to assess threats, constraints, opportunities, and potentials across relevant fields—urban planning, architecture, environmental science, landscape design, urban economics, and various types of pollution and their spatial impacts on the city and its surroundings. Naturally, the most critical environmental issues in southeastern Isfahan were identified, including the impact of industrial and municipal activities on soil, water, and air quality. The project’s strategic framework was developed by aligning global best practices from other major cities with the region’s specific environmental context, proposing a phased 25-year implementation timeline.
Concepts and Strategic Directions:
These components were summarized across several strategic tables, as follows:
1. Proposed Land Uses for the Urban District within the Project Boundary
2. Environmental Policies
3. Urban–Physical Development Policies
4. Proposal of Three Planning Scenarios
5. Recommended Land Use Plan (Integrated Model)
Urban – Environmental Design of Soffeh Mountain
Preventing the Degradation of Soffeh and Transforming It into a Future Natural–Historical Landmark of Isfahan
Soffeh Mountain is located in the southern part of Isfahan and is composed of a series of interlinked elevations arranged in a circular formation.
At the summit lie the remains of a military fortress, likely dating back to the Sassanid era.
This mountain and its fortress have historically played a critical role in securing the central region of the country.
Below the summit lie Zard Spring, a grove of plane trees, and architectural remnants from the Safavid period originally built for royal retreat and hospitality, symbolizing the longstanding cultural connection between the people of Isfahan and this natural recreational area.
In recent decades, the lands surrounding the mountain have been under military control, and the mountain’s slope was reportedly used as a firing range.
The Southern Ring Highway passes between the city and the mountain, severing the traditional pedestrian access and introducing safety hazards while imposing a full spectrum of pollution—light, noise, air, and social insecurity—onto this valuable natural environment.
Key Strategies and Interventions:
1. Realign the western segment of the Southern Ring Highway, which currently disrupts safe pedestrian access to Soffeh.
2. Designate an alternative highway route south of the mountain.
3. Convert the decommissioned highway segment into a recreational corridor to facilitate safe public access between the city and Soffeh.
4. Cancel the cable car project at the contractor’s proposed site and relocate it to the former firing range.
5. Reassign the firing range for tourism and recreational development.
6. Construct the cable car terminal outside the protected zone of Shah-Dezh Fortress and at a lower elevation.
7. Implement rockfall mitigation and safety upgrades on hiking trails prone to landslides.
8. Revitalize Shah-Dezh Fortress into a 24-hour facility for hospitality, lodging, and mountaineering recreation.
9. Develop a nature-based sports complex in the northeastern lands of Soffeh.
10. Establish a protected wildlife reserve in the flatlands between the mountain ridges, covering approximately 200 hectares.
11. Create pedestrian, cycling, and tourist carriage routes connecting Soffeh to Zayandeh-Rood (Najvan) via perpendicular urban streets.
12. Restore road damage near Pachnar Spring (as the first implemented strategic measure).
Note:
The plan was approved, and item 12 was partially executed. Unfortunately, the remaining strategies were not implemented, and the cable car was constructed in an unsuitable location.
BANDAR ABBAS
Coastal Boulevard Project (Phase One)
Summary of Proposal:
Preventing further coastal degradation, protecting urban infrastructure, and enhancing environmental quality and tourism services in the city.
Background:
In the 1960s, a coastal boulevard was constructed in front of the city’s historic center to organize the shoreline. A stone retaining wall was built along part of the boulevard to reinforce it, but throughout the 1980s, it was repeatedly damaged by waves and repaired. In addition to this, the green space of the boulevard, the fish market, customs facilities, street vendors, substance users, dilapidated structures, and poor visual appearance—combined with a lack of tourism infrastructure, were among the major issues affecting this coastal section.
The client initially requested a landscape design for the coastal greenery, but it became clear that more critical problems had to be addressed beforehand. Despite a lack of reliable data on sea conditions, waves, and tides, various studies were conducted, resulting in a design proposal for a 2,500-meter coastal segment (from the fish market to Khor-e Gūr Sūzān).
Summary of Existing Conditions:
1. The existing coastal wall protects the boulevard and its green spaces from wave action.
2. The wall is continuously damaged by wave impact.
3. Ongoing destruction of green areas, disorder around the fish market and boat traffic, vagrants and substance users, visual pollution, and lack of tourist amenities are major issues.
4. Rising water levels near Khor-e Gūr Sūzān are due to blocked drainage systems.
Summary of Ideas and Solutions:
1. Design of a marina (protected basin) for boats and ships at the former Gambron Port and its integration with transport infrastructure
2. Using the marina to regulate maritime traffic and buffer wave energy affecting the shoreline
3. Building a new concrete retaining wall and installing wave breakers at vulnerable points
4. Removing the old customs buildings and dilapidated pier, and repurposing protruding land areas
5. Developing a commercial–administrative complex on the reclaimed land
6. Technical improvements to the drainage walls of Khor-e Gūr Sūzān to prevent underground water infiltration
7. Designing climate-appropriate green spaces
8. Transforming the coastal boulevard into a linear coastal park
9. Developing a coastal visual identity plan that aligns with local architecture and proposed land uses
10. Aligning the plan with upper-tier comprehensive and detailed plans, and adapting it to the local environmental context
Poladshahr
Urban – Environmental Design of the City’s Central Axis
Summary of Proposal:
Enhancing the environmental quality of the city’s central service corridor by strengthening its connection to the adjacent natural landscape (mountain).
Background:
Poladshahr is a newly planned city located 20 kilometers from Isfahan, originally designed to house employees of the Isfahan Steel Plant, and is gradually expanding. The project area is the city’s main urban axis, which extends toward the nearby hills. This project was part of an urban design competition, where the consultant secured second place by a narrow margin. The client proposed a joint effort with the first-place winner, but the consultant declined.
Summary of Core Concepts Based on Isfahan’s Climatic and Cultural Characteristics:
1. Guiding surface water flow along pedestrian walkways by transforming hazardous water channels into tranquil, stream-like features
2. Establishing strong, shaded green corridors along pedestrian paths (inspired by the historic Chaharbagh axis)
3. Extending the green corridor to the mountain summit to connect urban and natural environments via a continuous green belt
4. Reinforcing physical and functional connectivity between the city and mountain through a tree-lined pedestrian spine
5. Creating a large public terrace with cultural and recreational facilities atop the mountain as a gathering and interaction node
6. Constructing a hospitality structure next to the terrace for day-and-night use by residents and tourists
7. Designing a public linear “urban paradise” (interlinked gardens) at the junction of urban fabric and foothills
Final Vision of the Plan:
Poladshahr would feature a linear green-commercial center with a stream, an urban paradise at the base of the mountain, a green, ecologically restored mountain, and a vibrant natural space for public interaction and recreation—day and night.
tehran
Urban – Environmental Design of the National Oil Company Garden
Summary of Proposal:
Preventing the gradual destruction of a historic garden and its qanat by designing an educational–hospitality complex for the National Oil Company
Background:
This small garden, which contained a qanat (traditional underground aqueduct), mature trees, and an unstable structure, belonged to the National Iranian Oil Company.
In initial negotiations, it was agreed that the garden’s function would be redirected to activities aligned with the company’s needs. Following preliminary studies and in a meeting with the then Minister of Oil, the educational–hospitality use was selected as the most viable option to ensure the garden’s preservation.
Designated Functional Objectives:
1. Hosting guests of the National Oil Company
2. Providing training for company managers
3. Holding contract signings and official meetings
The proposal included:
1. Landscape restoration of the garden
2. Revitalization of the qanat and its emergence point
3. Structural reinforcement and architectural enhancement of the existing building
4. Construction of a new hospitality facility
5. Building a training center and conference hall
6. Provision of appropriate parking facilities
Important Note:
This project exemplifies how a compatible new use can align with the ecological and spatial capacity of a historic garden, where ownership by a stable and reputable institution enables both protection and maintenance funding.
Unfortunately:
After the plan’s completion, Tehran Metro Company constructed a station along the qanat route without coordination, disrupting the qanat’s flow and compromising its function.
Plan for the Protection and Regeneration of Gardens and Farmlands (Strategic)
Summary of Proposal:
Formulating environmental policies and planning strategies for conserving and organizing gardens and farmlands, based on ecological zoning and environmental baseline studies.
Background:
Since the 1960s, protecting urban gardens has been an ongoing challenge for municipalities in cities like Tehran, Mashhad, Tabriz, and Shiraz. Master and detailed plans, as well as thematic studies, have largely failed to address the issue effectively.
Root Cause of Failure:
The primary failure was due to offering solutions rooted solely in urban planning without adequately integrating environmental considerations.
Tehran Municipality signed a contract with the Baft-E-Shahr consultant for this project and the study was structured around baseline research in:
1. Environment and landscape
2. Urban planning and legal frameworks
3. Urban economy
4. Acquired property rights and ownership
Innovative Feature of the Plan:
Due to the vast number and dispersion of gardens and farmlands, and the difficulty of site visits, this became the first urban planning project in Iran to employ satellite image analysis as a primary environmental and landscape study method. Satellite imagery was acquired and analyzed by experts, and the outcomes informed decisions across sectors including landscape, ecology, urban planning, and more.
Summary of Ideas and Strategic Measures:
1. Dividing the 700 km² area of Tehran into 9 ecological zones
2. Defining sub-zones and special areas within each ecological zone
3. Providing zone-specific strategies for protection, improvement, and adaptive planning
Project Continuation Status:
The strategic phase of the plan was completed and approved, but its progression was halted due to a change in municipal leadership.
Additional Note:
One of the project’s lead experts, a faculty member at Tarbiat Modares University, later continued the project independently through a university contract — with the hope that it will yield beneficial results.
Special Plan for the Kan Gardens (Strategic)
Summary of Proposal:
Strategic protection and revitalization of the Kan Gardens, guided by environmental analysis and ecological landscape planning.
The total area of the northern, central, and southern segments exceeds 600 hectares. Hemmat Expressway was routed through the middle of the gardens, resulting in severe damage, disruption of irrigation systems, and accelerating land use changes. Further pressures from new urban roads and municipal land acquisition deals have worsened the destruction.
Study Area:
The study focused on the southern section, approximately 200 hectares in size.
Study Areas Covered:
Threats, limitations, opportunities, and capacities — with a special emphasis on green space preservation
Summary of Strategies and Interventions:
1. Creating a landscape matrix to reconnect the northern and southern garden zones
2. Reorganizing the Hemmat Highway edge to minimize ecological fragmentation
3. Enhancing the interface with the Kan River to restore water dynamics and landscape continuity
4. Redirecting construction patterns in favor of riparian green space restoration
5. Establishing water collection basins to support upstream infiltration and replenish aquifers
6. Redesigning streets like Andisheh and Ta’avon to better align with ecological and urban structure
Key Priorities for Pre-Design Phase:
1. Secure and sustainable water supply
2. Access and connectivity
3. Parcel patterning and land ownership regulation
4. Ecological quality and vegetation density
5. Spatial coherence of garden areas
A priority matrix was prepared at the end of the pre-design phase to guide future implementation.
Physical and Environmental Design of the Chamran Highway Corridor (Strategic – Phases I & II)
Summary of Proposal:
Reviving the greenway spirit and extending the lush landscape of northern Tehran into the urban fabric of southern districts
Background:
Chamran Highway was constructed in the 1960s as a major north–south axis in Tehran. It was originally called “Parkway” due to its path through Vanak Gardens and the Ovin–Darakeh orchards to the north. A regulation was established requiring a 35-meter buffer zone on both sides of the highway, yet implementation faced challenges, especially from nearby garden owners and residents. Aerial surveys were conducted via helicopter alongside detailed field assessments. Chamran Highway spans 12.5 km across several municipal districts. Due to differing perspectives among city officials, the corridor was divided into five zones, each overseen by an executive manager.
The “Green Palm of Tehran” Concept:
In the attached sketch, mountain ridges are depicted as fingers, and river–valleys as the spaces between — forming the metaphorical “green palm” of Tehran.
Summary of Key Ideas and Strategies:
1. The highway was once at the city’s edge but now lies at its center.
2. It runs parallel to the Ovin–Darakeh river-valley, both influencing and being influenced by this natural corridor.
3. Proximity to historic gardens and the river grants it ecological and cultural significance.
4. At its junction with Valiasr Street (formerly Pahlavi), it interfaces with institutional gardens, hospitals, and exhibition grounds totaling around 600 hectares.
5. Linking these sites can create a continuous green corridor from Vanak Gardens to Towhid Square.
6. Continuing to Ghal’e Morghi (200 hectares), the area could host an urban green campus.
7. This green axis, from the Alborz foothills to Tehran’s southern edge, would form an ecological backbone for the city.
Another Core Idea of the Plan:
A paradigm shift in naming and managing Tehran’s seasonal waterways — from “canal” (masil) to “river–valley” (rud–darreh)
Benefits of This Conceptual Shift:
1. Recognizing river–valleys as critical ecological assets
2. Reviving them as green ecological corridors from the mountains into urban neighborhoods
3. Purging pollutants and physically integrating valleys into city life
River–Valleys Considered for Ecological Integration:
Darabad, Golabdarreh, Ovin, Darakeh, Farahzad and Kan
Implementation Status:
1. Strategic and Phase I & II plans were approved.
2. Implementation deviated due to leadership change and new highway intersections and expo facilities.
3. Ghal’e Morghi was later turned into Velayat Park, but the Chamran–Navab green corridor concept was abandoned.
4. Hemmat and Hakim highways damaged the natural state of several valleys by crossing directly over them.
Urban – Environmental Design for the Kolakchal Valleys (Strategic)
Summary of Proposal:
Zoning the northern elevations of Tehran and providing protective strategies against rapid urban encroachment into the valleys.
Background:
In recent decades, explosive urban growth in Tehran and its neighboring cities has aggressively expanded into foothill areas, leading to the occupation of ridges, valleys, and lowland slopes, threatening these natural assets. During the design contract for Ferdowsi Garden, it was proposed to conduct a comprehensive environmental study of four valleys linked to Kalakchal.
The four valleys studied were:
Shahabad (Darabad), Jamshidieh, Tang-e-Hesarak and Golabdarreh – Together covering an area of approximately 12 km².
Main Objectives:
1. Establish a mountain design framework
2. Provide strategies to improve safety and environmental quality in Tehran’s northern highlands
Summary of Kalakchal Valley Environmental Design Strategies:
1. Zoning the mountainous and foothill areas into four zones:
A. Urban fabric
B. Mountain greenbelt
C. Active conservation
D. Pristine nature
2. Preventing urban expansion toward the mountains via designated buffer trails
3. Establishing a protective greenbelt in Zone 2
4. Valley Protection Strategies:
A. Repeal the law permitting construction up to 1800m elevation
B. Draft new legislation to stabilize the city’s northern boundary based on ecological criteria
C. Establish public gardens at valley entrances to prevent urban encroachment (e.g., Ferdowsi Garden as a prototype)
Implementation Status:
Ferdowsi Garden was studied and opened in 1996 as the first implemented phase of this strategic environmental initiative.
Urban – Environmental Design of the Tehran Railway Station and Its Satellite Stations (Strategic)
Summary of Proposal:
A strategic plan for Tehran’s central railway station, its surrounding lands, and future satellite stations to meet long-term mobility demands
Background:
The Tehran railway station was inaugurated in 1938 and had aged over 70 years at the time of this project. While rail infrastructure in developed countries has evolved significantly, Tehran’s central station and lines had seen minimal modernization. The Iranian Railway Company selected the Urban Fabric Consultant to lead this modernization initiative.
Process:
After site visits to several European stations, a well-established German company was brought in for partnership. The Iranian consultant completed all baseline research with a sustainable development lens, submitting both the current state analysis and the preliminary conceptual framework.
Summary of Initial Strategic Concepts:
1. Defining the number and locations of future satellite railway stations required for Tehran
2. Defining the functions and capacities of each proposed satellite station
3. Assessing Tehran’s central station and outlining possible upgrade scenarios
4. Master planning 170 hectares around the central station for complementary uses
5. Determining how the site integrates with surrounding urban fabric and circulation
6. Outlining a phased renewal plan for the existing station
Project Status:
Unfortunately, a change in leadership at the Railway Company resulted in failure to meet financial commitments to the Iranian and German partners, leading to the suspension of the project.
Regeneration of the Soleymaniyeh Lands – Southern Tehran (Strategic)
Summary of Proposal:
Regenerating abandoned brick pit lands into a cultural, athletic, and artistic hub for southern Tehran
Background:
Southwest of Khorasan Square in Tehran lies over 500 hectares of land known as the Soleymaniyeh Lands, which were handed over to the municipality.
These lands faced numerous issues:
1. Numerous excavation pits caused by historical brickmaking operations
2. Water accumulation from rising surface water levels
3. Proximity to current highways and potential future highway corridors
4. Proximity to the polluted water canal of Sorkheh Hesar
5. Presence of high-voltage power pylons and cables
6. Ownership claims by a governmental institution
Summary of Project Strategies and Concepts:
1. Defining and securing the future highway alignment using the location of power lines and pylons
2. Subdividing the land after respecting all environmental and infrastructural buffer zones (highways, electricity, qanats, surrounding plans)
Proposed Land Uses and Spatial Interventions:
1. Four small green spaces functioning as local and neighborhood parks near highway edges
2. One large park (urban paradise/campus) covering 250 hectares
3. Customizing each park’s function based on neighboring communities’ needs and access patterns
4. Activity zoning of the “Azadegan Urban Campus” to serve both city-scale and southern Tehran districts
Vision:
With this project, one of southern Tehran’s largest abandoned post-industrial sites would be reborn as a vibrant cultural, natural, and civic destination, supporting both environmental regeneration and social sustainability.
Urban – Environmental Design of Modarres Highway (Strategic – Phase I – Implementation)
Summary of Proposal:
Reviving the spirit of a greenway and extending the northern Tehran landscape into the central urban fabric
Background:
Modarres Highway is one of Tehran’s major north-to-central transportation corridors. It is flanked by a mix of residential, administrative, religious, and service-based land uses, and because it traverses steep terrain, its edges have significant elevation differences from the roadbed.
Before this project, the standard method for treating urban highway slopes was to install stone or concrete retaining walls, resulting in cold, monotonous, and lifeless scenery along both sides of the highway. Modarres became the first urban highway in Iran designed under the “green corridor” concept.
Summary of Design Ideas and Executed Measures:
1. The highway should not function merely as a vehicular passage but as an integral, livable urban element.
2. Its slopes offer opportunities for expanding urban greenery and tree cover.
3. Due to water scarcity, drought-tolerant plants and drip irrigation were recommended.
4. The corridor should maintain scenic and spatial variety.
5. Tree placement must avoid obstructing drivers’ visibility.
6. Plant species should be low-maintenance due to slope safety risks for gardeners.
7. Avoid tall concrete or stone walls; instead, follow the natural contours of the land.
8. Integrate leftover triangular or fragmented plots into the highway’s green slopes where feasible.
Initial Implementation Outcomes:
Although the project was not fully implemented, the executed portions significantly cooled the highway corridor compared to adjacent neighborhoods in summer and created a more pleasant visual and environmental experience.
Other Implementation Notes:
9. Billboard installations followed safety and aesthetic guidelines suited to traffic speed.
10. Median trees were selected to be leafless in fall/winter, reducing snow and ice hazards.
Important Note:
Despite the proposal’s thoughtful ideas, the Parks Department used grass instead of drought-resistant plants and installed sprinkler systems instead of drip irrigation, leading to freezing and associated hazards during winter months. In some zones, instead of trees, superficial flower beds were planted.
Urban – Environmental Design of Streets in District 12 (Central Tehran)
(Strategic – Phase I – Implementation)
Summary of Proposal:
Reviving the Iranian concept of garden–bazaar and enhancing the environmental–urban quality of central Tehran’s streets
Background:
Unlike many world capitals, the old streets of central Tehran had long been neglected. Heavy traffic, thousands of motorbikes, overcrowding, and growing insecurity had discouraged people from visiting, shopping, or strolling in the area.
The district municipality initially aimed to renovate street paving, but the plan encountered major challenges, sparking complaints from residents, institutions, and local businesses. The consultant was asked to quickly deliver a corrective and improvement plan.
Field studies and construction works began simultaneously:
In the streets of Bab Homayoun, Naser Khosrow, Davar, and Sura-Esrafil, 24/7 interventions were carried out in alignment with the proposed design theory. Additional streets like Little Davar, 15 Khordad Square, Mehran Alley, and Berlin Alley were also incorporated.
One of the major challenges was coordinating 36 different entities — including public offices, ministries, and trade associations — which was successfully accomplished.
A public survey confirmed this project had the highest citizen satisfaction rate among all Tehran urban initiatives.
Summary of Design Concepts and Approaches:
1. Acknowledging each street’s historical character and the socio-economic conditions of its residents
2. The design was not just about paving but a full environmental transformation
3. Creating conditions for qualitative transformation in the urban fabric
4. Enhancing visual identity and social dynamics in the city core
5. Reviving the intrinsic values of traditional passageways
6. Drawing upon global best practices for revitalizing historic centers
7. Tailoring street upgrades to the function of surrounding institutions
8. Restoring natural elements lost from the city center
9. Reconnecting pathways severed by dense motor traffic
10. Increasing green space per capita
11. Reclaiming leftover lots around movement corridors
12. Prioritizing pedestrian presence over vehicle traffic
13. Coordinated traffic reduction and time-based regulation
14. Ensuring safe and accessible nighttime mobility in downtown Tehran
Implementation Status:
After a change in district leadership, the plan was halted, but the portion that was implemented led to tangible positive change.
Urban – Environmental Design for Velenjak Valley (Strategic)
Summary of Proposal:
Protecting and securing the river-valley corridor, enhancing environmental quality, and extending the mountain landscape into the lower urban fabric
Background:
Velenjak Valley is one of Tehran’s northern central valleys, originating from the Alborz Mountains. The valley remained largely untouched for decades, but in the past 40 years, unchecked urban development and embankment on the valley’s slopes have caused significant ecological degradation.
Project Objective:
To assess risks and reorganize the valley floor and slopes to ensure both safety and landscape quality and enable human access to the upper natural zones via walking and cycling infrastructure.
Summary of Ideas and Interventions:
1. Designing the riverbed and valley slopes to safely channel mountain runoff
2. Extending the mountain’s natural landscape down into the urban edge (up to Chamran Expressway)
3. Slope stabilization designs based on:
A. Soil type (natural or filled)
B. Slope gradient and shape
C. Street and building elevations nearby
4. Creating pedestrian connections across the valley
5. Designing green cover on both slopes, considering:
D. Soil quality
E. Water flow dynamics
F. Elevation difference between upper and lower sections
G. Visual coherence with the surrounding landscape
6. Providing site-specific sketches and photographic documentation to guide staged implementation
Ultimate Goal:
If fully implemented, this project would transform Velenjak Valley into a safe, natural green corridor, linking urban life to the mountain ecosystem.
Chabahar
Urban – Environmental Design for the New Town of Tis Coastal Area (Strategic)
Summary of Proposal:
Formulating sustainable tourism strategies for the coastal zone of the New Town of Tis, grounded in environmental assessment, scientific analysis, and coordination with Chabahar Free Zone planning
Background:
The coastal zone of the new town of Tis, spanning several hundred hectares, lies south of the town and is positioned north of Chabahar Bay, adjacent to the previously planned Free Zone coastal area. The same consultant had previously completed studies for the adjacent Free Zone shoreline.
Scope of Studies Included:
1. Geology and soil analysis
2. Hydrology and climate studies
3. Flora and fauna inventory
4. Pollution analysis and industrial impact evaluation
5. Landscape, urban design, and architecture
6. Comparative studies of domestic and international tourism
7. Social, economic, and traffic studies
8. Transformation trends, GIS layer integration, opportunities, and constraints
Key Feature of the Plan:
Three environmental policy scenarios were developed:
Aggressive, Economic and Adaptive. Each scenario outlined distinct degrees of land use intensity, ecological resilience, and development feasibility.
Final Strategy:
Following integrated analysis, the adaptive scenario was prioritized and detailed strategies, policies, regulations, and recommendations were developed and approved under a sustainable tourism development framework.
Urban – Environmental Design for the Free Zone Coastline (Strategic)
Summary of Proposal:
A strategic plan for Chabahar’s tourism development that protects environmental values and ensures coastal safety against storms and tsunamis
Background:
Chabahar is one of Iran’s most important ports due to its direct access to the Indian Ocean. Over the past century, many plans were drafted for its development, including military bases, a free trade zone, and international maritime cooperation, but most failed to materialize. In a recent decision, 2,300 hectares of coastline in the Free Zone were designated for sustainable tourism development.
Unique Aspects of the Plan:
Unlike earlier proposals, this plan was the first to be based on urban–environmental design theory, and included unprecedented studies for similar projects, such as:
1. Oceanography and tsunami risk analysis
2. Precise delineation and stabilization of the ICZM (Integrated Coastal Zone Management) line
3. Storm surge assessments and their impact on the coastal edge
4. Analysis of hydrodynamics and pollution circulation in Chabahar Bay
5. Identification of current land use conflicts with tourism objectives
6. Evaluation of shoreline morphology and character
7. Studying future Asia–Europe tourism flows and Chabahar’s strategic role
8. Assessing implications of the Chinese Silk Road initiative
9. Benchmarking successful international coastal tourism models
Summary of Strategies and Ideas:
1. Aligning tourism infrastructure with coastal hazard mitigation
2. Eliminating incompatible land uses along key shoreline areas
3. Designing construction boundaries according to scenic and regulatory best practices for global tourist beaches
4. Positioning Chabahar to capture a meaningful share of international tourism flows through a safe and sustainable corridor
khorramabad
Urban – Environmental Design of the Keeyow Mountainous Zone (Strategic)
Summary of Proposed Strategies:
Reclaiming degraded riverbank lands and adjacent highlands as a green complex for public leisure, creating a tourism attraction for the city, and offering ecological solutions for the city’s natural springs.
Background:
Khorramabad is a historically and ecologically significant Iranian city, notable for its multi-millennial heritage, its unique mountainous terrain, a flowing central river, and numerous springs that have long affirmed the city’s lushness—true to its name.
Following the 1979 revolution and particularly after the eight-year war, Khorramabad saw an influx of settlers from across Lorestan Province. In accommodating this population, the city’s natural assets were increasingly overlooked in planning decisions.
For instance, the city’s inner springs could have formed the basis for master and detailed planning—leveraging flowing water as a structuring element in public spaces—but this potential was ignored.
One of the oldest springs, Gerdab-e Sangi, has tragically been polluted by sewage due to unchecked construction above it. The Keeyow Zone plan addresses these overlooked natural and cultural values and reintroduces them as core urban design elements.
Ideas, Strategies, and Solutions:
1. Restoring the city’s natural–historic identity on a metropolitan scale by emphasizing three symbolic elements: Keeyow Hill (north), Falak-ol-Aflak Citadel (center), and the Broken Bridge Arch (south)
2. Structuring the city’s open and green space system at the metropolitan level:
A. Connecting Kiu Hill with the eastern and western mountain green belts
B. Developing a north–south green corridor through existing tree-lined boulevards and a linear park along the river
C. Designing and enhancing urban springheads with interconnected natural watercourses
3. Proposed strategic projects: A package of 64 initiatives aimed at realizing the macro-scale objectives above
The plan was approved, and portions relating to the river within the Keeyow zone were implemented. However, the implemented green space prioritized lawns and static landscaping, in contrast to the original vision of forestation and garden-making. Nonetheless, even this partial implementation is a commendable step.
Urban – Environmental Design of the Khorramabad Bypass Corridor (Strategic and Executive Design)
Summary of Proposed Strategies:
Revitalization and reorganization of the corridor, transforming it from a chaotic intercity transport and repair zone into a vibrant urban boulevard—featuring walkable paths, greenery, flowing water, and day–night activity—to enhance Khorramabad’s tourism potential.
Background:
Khorramabad is an ancient city located in a valley in Lorestan Province, whose name reflects “lushness and prosperity.”
The city forms a remarkable fusion of natural elements—mountains, foothill plains, valleys, a central river, numerous springs, and centuries-old trees. With active conservation (maintenance aligned with ecological use), Khorramabad could become a national model of nature-integrated urban development. Located on the country’s main north–south route, Khorramabad’s arterial corridor has devolved into a disorganized and unattractive roadside transport hub. The design corridor spans 17 kilometers with a nominal width of 100 meters, yet adjacent open terrain and mountainous edges allow for flexible spatial expansion.
Summary of Key Design Ideas and Strategic Interventions:
1. Revitalization of the corridor base and surrounding edges
2. Functional land-use shift from transport-related services to tourism-oriented development
3. Integration of tourism-compatible functions and activities along the route
4. Reorganizing street and transport networks to improve citywide connectivity
5. Designing safe pedestrian paths with integrated bicycle lanes and accessibility for the visually impaired
6. Creation of linear green spaces and water streams inspired by traditional Iranian boulevards
7. Enhancing urban facades and improving the corridor’s visual and spatial quality
8. Contextual architectural design integrating urban programs with adjacent rock formations
9. Improving visibility and prominence of heritage buildings along the corridor
10. Creating pedestrian routes linking the city to nearby hills and highlands
11. Reclaiming vacant lots and integrating them into the pedestrian network
12. Linking adjacent parks and peripheral green spaces into the main corridor
13. Allocating space for a future urban tram line along the corridor
14. Designating locations for installing historical sculptures and cultural monuments
15. Nighttime lighting design for aesthetic enhancement and public safety
Ramin New Town
Urban – Environmental Design of Gateway and Greenbelt
Summary of Proposed Strategies:
Securing the greenbelt zone, improving environmental quality, and—where feasible—introducing compatible land uses.
Background:
The New Town of Ramin is located in Khuzestan Province. Within its master plan, a greenbelt of appropriate width was designated to buffer and protect the city from external environmental factors. Green spaces on the urban fringe often suffer from safety issues due to insufficient surveillance, blind spots caused by dense vegetation or uneven terrain, and low visibility—especially at night. Tragic incidents in Tehran’s Lavizan Park illustrate the potential dangers of neglected peripheral green spaces. An effective strategy to enhance safety is the placement of environmentally compatible and green-aligned land uses within these areas. The plan proposes such land uses, ensuring not only ecological compatibility but also functional synergy with adjacent urban uses. This integration enhances the economic viability of the area, strengthens surrounding urban functions, and contributes meaningfully to public safety. It facilitates safe public access to nature and supports the sustainable development of the new town.
Maps and detailed descriptions are provided in Section 5.
Shiraz
Urban – Environmental Design of the Northern Highlands (Baba-Kouhi)
Summary of Proposed Strategies:
The mountainous landscape is one of Shiraz’s natural treasures and should be comprehensively studied as an integrated whole. With its inherent ecological value preserved, it must be organized and activated for public use—especially for youth engagement.
Background:
The Baba-Kouhi Highlands are located in the northern zone of Shiraz. The study area encompassed approximately 3,700 hectares, while the design intervention zone covered around 1,180 hectares. After studies commenced, a significant portion of the central land was allocated to a government ministry.
Due to the topographical and ecological integrity of the upper mountain terrain, a unified study was conducted across the entire highland zone, with findings submitted to the municipality. With administrative changes in municipal leadership and policy, the plan was not pursued further, despite the completion of all study phases.
The multidisciplinary urban–environmental studies were conducted with a focus on active conservation, enhancing natural landscape quality, and aligning land use with ecological capacity. The goal was to define a sustainable tourism framework that maintains a balanced relationship between people, city, and nature.
New Town of Sadra – The Green Paradise of Sadra
Summary of Proposed Strategies:
Land zoning and the definition of optimal land uses for areas intersected by a national oil pipeline running through the city.
Background:
A national oil pipeline traverses the New Town of Sadra. This not only disrupts urban continuity, but also imposes restrictions on construction and tree planting, while spatial organization along the pipeline corridor remains a challenge. A sloped area of approximately 60 hectares along the pipeline was designated by city management for public green space development. The consultant assessed all relevant factors, including soil quality, slope conditions and sun exposure, prevailing winds, planting restrictions along the pipeline, adjacent residential structures and their needs, bordering streets, water scarcity, etc. It was proposed that the land be developed as an urban paradise—a system of interconnected gardens.
The conceptual framework consists of thematic gardens, titled as follows:
1. Flowers. 2. Unity Neighborhood (North). 3. Morning Promenade. 4. Evening Promenade. 5. Night Garden. 6. Youth (sports complexes along the pipeline). 7. Sacrifice Neighborhood (South). 8. Culture. 9. Children and Nature. 10. Hospitality and Recreation. 11. Notables Garden. 12. Nature Residency
Khuzestan
Shirin Shahr New Town – Urban Green Space and Recreational – Tourism Complex (Strategic)
Summary of Proposed Strategies:
Establishing a sustainable urban green network with ecological connectivity between internal and peripheral green spaces, adapted to the region’s environmental, economic, and recreational conditions.
Background:
Shirin Shahr is located west of the Karun River, adjacent to the sugarcane agro-industrial zone, 46 km from Ahvaz. Planned over 6,500 hectares, the city is intended to absorb population overflow from regional urban centers—especially Ahvaz—and partially serves as a residential zone for sugar industry workers.
Due to the absence of base maps for the site, processable IRS satellite imagery was utilized. These were georeferenced in GIS to generate spatial information layers in fields such as climate, topography, soil, vegetation, wildlife, visual landscape, environment, utilities, and urban structure.
The strategic green space plan and associated recreational-tourism complex were compiled in three volumes:
1. Baseline Studies of the Urban Green Space Masterplan
2. Strategic Plan Report
3. Report on the Recreational–Tourism Complex
Due to the multi-hundred-page length of the full documentation, only a summarized list of contents from the Strategic Urban Green Space Study Report is presented here in a 10-page format for interested readers.
Summary of Core Ideas, Strategies, and Measures:
1. Harmonizing the green space network with groundwater, soil, and other natural resources to ensure ecological sustainability
2. Enhancing urban environmental quality to improve the overall quality of life for residents
3. Utilizing environmental assets to enrich spatial quality and promote tourism
4. Reducing planting and maintenance costs through principles of sustainable green space management
5. Establishing ecological corridors between existing green patches, projected growth areas, and adjacent natural green spaces to form a cohesive and enduring green network
Qazvin
Urban – Environmental Design of the Barajin Highlands (Strategic (Strategic)
Summary of Proposed Strategies:
Evaluating the proposed “City of Knowledge” in this area—which was ultimately rejected—and replacing it with a nature-based tourism complex utilizing the unique natural assets of the Barajin lands.
Background:
The Barajin foothills and steep terrains are located northeast of Qazvin, across from the Tehran highway, with a commanding view over the city. These lands are ecologically linked to the adjacent mountain range, and their surface and groundwater resources historically supplied water to Qazvin’s historic gardens. Unfortunately, the highway has now severed this vital connection.
During stakeholder meetings, it was revealed that the government had planned to build a “scientific city” in this zone. It is worth noting that the Barajin lands are separated from the Islamic Azad University campus (located next to the highway) by a shallow ridgeline.
Study Findings:
Comprehensive urban, environmental, and geological analyses concluded that, due to visual dominance over the city, ecological significance in supporting urban orchards, and the presence of active faults, this site was unsuitable for establishing a scientific city. Before the results were presented, local authorities had anticipated approval and had already initiated preparatory activities. The day of the presentation, in the presence of the provincial governor, marked a historic moment in Qazvin’s urban planning discourse. The scientific and evidence-based presentation unsettled some officials, but the governor acknowledged the validity of the findings and ordered a full reassessment of the proposal. Instead of the scientific city, the consultant proposed converting Barajin into an urban natural paradise, aligned with the ecological potential and site constraints. In subsequent meetings, the consultant’s strategic vision was endorsed.
Summary of Design Concepts and Strategies:
“Day Gardens” and “Night Gardens”
Strategic Master Plan Summary:
The urban natural paradise was master-planned based on land capacity assessments, functional zoning, green space design according to soil and water potential, and phased implementation components. For the first time in Iran, the concept of “Day Gardens” and “Night Gardens” was introduced for such mountainous terrain. The design considered wind orientation, low-visibility zones at night, and the functional use of ridges and valleys—organizing movement and garden placement accordingly.
Kerman
Urban – Environmental Design of Ardashir Castle and Dokhtar Castle – Balash’s Parthian Fortress (Strategic)
Summary of Proposed Strategies:
Organizing the lands surrounding the two historic castles and proposing ecological and spatial connectivity from the eastern highlands and the Tagh Forest through these cultural sites to the adjacent urban market square—linking nature to the city’s commercial heart.
Background:
These two castles currently exist in a semi-ruined state. Dokhtar Castle dates back to the Median era, and Ardashir Castle originates from the Sassanid period. The name “Dokhtar” (literally “Maiden”) signifies its perceived impregnability—emphasizing the strength of its bastions and resistance to conquest.
The strategic plan includes:
Identifying the opportunities, constraints, and threats around the castles, resolving existing land-use conflicts, and enhancing environmental quality. Unregulated and expansive construction has occurred around both castles, in some cases encroaching upon their protected heritage buffer zones. A multidisciplinary study was conducted covering environmental, historical, social, and urban planning dimensions. One of the key opportunities identified was to link the Saheb-al-Zaman hills and their afforested green spaces to the castle surroundings and extend this connection all the way to the historic city bazaar square.
Summary of Design Ideas and Strategies:
Within this framework, the castle zones, existing green spaces, nearby historic sites, vehicular streets, and shaded pedestrian walkways were proposed to be integrated into a coherent spatial system. If implemented, Kerman would witness the restoration and revitalization of these castles as cultural tourism assets, linking them on one side to the city’s economic core (the bazaar) and on the other to its natural green belt and elevated terrain. This intervention would significantly enhance the environmental and cultural value of Kerman’s historic urban fabric.
Kish
Eastern Coastline Redevelopment – 22 Sea-Perpendicular Axes (Strategic)
Summary of Proposed Strategies:
Reuniting the city and commercial zones with the sea and developing a dynamic coastal tourism experience for both day and night.
Background:
In the 1970s, Kish Island was conceived and built as a luxury recreational and tourism hub for affluent social classes. After the revolution and subsequent war, the area was designated a Free Trade Zone, leading to massive investments in commercial development. In the past three decades, growing popularity among tourists and residents has triggered further waves of development in residential complexes and hotels. Despite the island’s pristine waters and scenic beauty, initial planning failed to engage these natural values—highlighting instead a sunken Greek ship as the area’s top attraction. To address this oversight, the first corrective step was to restructure the island’s eastern shoreline. This plan aimed to improve the quality of the coast and establish seamless physical and visual connectivity between the urban fabric, the public, and the sea.
Summary of Strategies and Interventions:
1. Maximum clearance of coastal land from structures and activities incompatible with tourism
2. Establishing continuity between urban green/open spaces and the shoreline
3. Functional zoning for marine activities and aligning shoreline usage accordingly
4. Identifying key visual landmarks from both urban and coastal perspectives
5. Designing and constructing landmark icons at key nodal points
6. Designing appropriate spaces for events, gatherings, and festivals
7. Opening and enhancing visual corridors from urban thoroughfares toward the sea
8. Redevelopment and aesthetic enhancement of 22 perpendicular axes as urban–coastal connectors
Mashhad
Silk Road Corridor Study: From Mashhad to the New City of Binalood (Strategic)
Summary of Proposed Strategies:
Revitalization and restoration of the Silk Road corridor, enhancing the historic route’s physical quality, as well as preserving existing rural settlements and heritage structures — with the goal of strengthening the tourism potential of Khorasan Province, Mashhad, and Nishapur through the strategic role of the New City of Binalood as a central hub.
Background:
The Silk Road was one of the most ancient and extensive trade and communication routes connecting East Asia to Europe over several centuries, passing through the present-day Iranian route of Tus–Nishapur. In recent years, China’s initiative to revive this corridor for political and economic purposes has prompted significant activity among countries along the route—creating new opportunities to promote tourism and cultural exchange.
The project involved multidisciplinary studies similar to other strategic heritage and tourism plans, including:
Environmental sustainability, visual and landscape analysis, geology, pedology, vegetation cover, green infrastructure, hydrology, mobility and access, urban planning, architecture, historical context, social dynamics, tourism development, economic viability, infrastructure systems, and international case studies.
Summary of Concepts and Strategic Models:
Two distinct tourism development models were proposed:
1. The first model follows a tourism-driven development structure with minimal intervention in the historical and ecological fabric.
2. The second model emphasizes density and clustering of key tourism elements and facilities at strategic nodes along the route.
Urban – Environmental Design of the Torgabeh and Shandiz Valleys and Highlands (Strategic)
Summary of Proposed Strategies:
Tourism development studies in the Torgabeh–Shandiz valleys and surrounding highlands, focusing on the restoration and preservation of natural, historical, and architectural assets as the foundation for sustainable regional development.
Background:
Torgabeh and Shandiz are two well-known destinations for both tourists and pilgrims visiting Mashhad. In addition to these towns, numerous scenic villages exist in the surrounding valleys—such as Mayan, Zoshk, Gong, Abardeh, and Moghan. All are situated along the northern slopes of the Binalood mountain range. In recent decades, aggressive real estate investment and unregulated construction in these valleys and hillsides have caused environmental degradation. The Khorasan Provincial Government commissioned a strategic tourism plan titled Torgabeh–Shandiz Tourism Development Plan to address these issues. The study area covers approximately 600 square kilometers (60,000 hectares).
Following baseline studies across multiple disciplines, the key outputs included:
Geological analysis, water resource and climate assessments, soil studies, vegetation and landscape evaluation, environmental impact, ecological carrying capacity, natural and cultural attractions, local architecture, economy, historical heritage, tourism trends, institutional structure, and infrastructure mapping. The current conditions—including development trends, opportunities, constraints, and risks—were evaluated for each sub-region. Regional and supra-regional development goals and corresponding strategies were then formulated. Specific objectives, policies, and policy recommendations were established.
Summary of Macro Strategic Plan:
1. Primary regional mobility and access network
2. Functional and environmental land-use zoning
3. Designation of dispersed and concentrated recreational zones
4. Protected and conservation priority areas
5. Strategic planning domains
6. 34 large-scale design and development topics prioritized for implementation
7. Regulations and zoning codes were defined for each sub-region
8. Comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) were conducted
Summary of Intermediate-Scale Strategic Plan:
A tourism development framework was designed for the towns of Targabeh and Shandiz, including architectural, urban design, landscape, and civil infrastructure models tailored to the environmental context. Proposals were also made to achieve balanced tourism distribution among Mashhad’s various valleys.
Note:
Plans of this nature must begin with a rigorous ecological capacity and carrying capacity assessment. Subsequently, proposed projects should undergo environmental impact analysis to avoid major planning failures—such as the Padideh Shandiz project, which was launched without proper evaluation and undermined long-term sustainability.
Strategic Evaluation of the Redevelopment Plan Surrounding the Imam Reza Shrine
Summary of Proposed Strategies:
This study critically examines the challenges caused by the implemented redevelopment plan and proposes strategic solutions for resolving the resulting urban crisis.
Background:
The consulting engineer behind the plan ordered widespread demolition and reconstruction in the heart of a historic city. Mashhad has undergone many transformations over centuries, the most recent prior to the 1979 Revolution under Governor Valiyan, who oversaw the demolition of about 50 hectares of urban fabric around the shrine. A tall boundary wall was erected around the shrine, severing its connection to the surrounding city. Locals often likened it to the “Berlin Wall” of Mashhad. Historically, the people’s relationship with the shrine was organically embedded within the integrated urban fabric.
After the revolution, initial steps were taken to resolve traffic issues around the shrine. In the 1990s, a redevelopment contract was signed with the architectural consultancy Tash. The plan covered approximately 300 hectares and was approved in 1996. Despite being the primary stakeholder, Mashhad Municipality struggled to assess the plan and commissioned a separate consultant for review.
As the lead urban fabric consultant, I took responsibility for this strategic review, forming a multidisciplinary team of experts in urbanism, economics, transportation, and sociology. We conducted site visits, stakeholder meetings, and a full report was submitted to the municipality and governorate. A 12-page executive summary of the report was prepared and is also available for reference here. All strategic recommendations are documented in Section 11 of the report.
Section 10 of the report outlines the following consequences of the redevelopment plan:
A. Over 15 years of redevelopment, the city center would effectively become a massive construction zone.
B. Municipal authority would be weakened, creating administrative suspension and intensifying chaos in central governance.
C. Land consolidation and accompanying social and bureaucratic complexities would present major implementation challenges.
Key Recommendations:
1. Shift from demolition-led redevelopment to improvement-based revitalization.
2. Establish a system of continuous monitoring and evaluation
3. Protect the jurisdiction and authority of responsible public institutions
4. Establish a high council or national commission given the scale and sensitivity of the project
Reminder:
Nearly 30 years later, despite several revisions, the cycle of demolition and reconstruction continues, and the identity of Mashhad’s historic center has been severely compromised.
