PROGRESS REPORT OF RESEARCH WORK

(For the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Development Studies)

(Yearly Progress Report for the Period of 22nd June 2009 to 22nd June 2010)
Ref: Order No.AC-6/Ph.D-EN/69/2009-10, Dated 22 -06-2009

The progress report of my research work on the topic “Urban Landscape Design
Strategies for a Developing City -A case study of Tehran City in Iran” has been prepared
under the guidance of Prof K.V. Aiyanna, Prof of Development Studies, Institute of
Development Studies, Manasagangothri, Mysore.

The aim of the research remains in the mobilization of the potential of new urban

landscapes – in terms of their natural resources, cultural heritage and human capital – in

order to demonstrate the concept’s applicability and relevance in era of continuous global

change. The aim of the research attempts to promoting quality of life in the towns, by

dealing with urban growth and protecting open spaces without bearing strain on the

conurbations. It is a kind of attempt to formulate a urban landscape design strategy for

developing Tehran city. The first objective of the research is to study the significance of

urban landscape design in the history of Tehran city.

The research work has been carried out to study the Tehran gardens in the time span from

Qajar dynasty up to Pahlavi period. A brief glance at Tehran’s old map reveals that the

situation and location of the birth of old gardens, having been affected by the

environmental potentiality of the background, on the one hand, have first led to the

introverted growth of the city and the fortification of the central citadel and, on the other

hand, have led to the extroverted growth of the city, i.e. the development of Tehran as

the time went by. At the present, most of these gardens have been demolished in the

interest of developing Tehran and only a couple of them have survived. In view of this,
identifying the structural elements and the system governing therein, the ratio of

difference between this pattern and the Iranian pattern of constructing gardens and their

role in extending the city mountain ward are among the objectives of this study. In this

study with pay attention the signification of political, economical and sociality affairs in

development of Tehran city, the prevalent system of the gardens of Tehran and the role

played by them in the orientation of the city are examined through a study of Niavaran

Garden. The images of the garden and their location along with the geometric pattern of

garden are shown as follows.

Figure 2 -The linking axes of city and surrounding gardens on the mountain foot outside the city
enclosure (MapMuseum- 2001). (The most important Gardens)

Throughout the last two centuries Tehran has faced rapid urban growth. This rapid

growth has led to unplanned urban development, causing major environmental problems

and a severe lack of human contact with nature. It is therefore crucial to devise a

comprehensive urban plan with a new landscape ecology approach to bring nature back

to the human realm for the future development of the city.

Figure 3 - An aerial photograph of Niavaran Palace in Pahlavi period-1969(Golestan Palace archive)

Figure 5- view of development main axis of Tehran toward Shemiran in Pahlavi era-2005

Figure 2-Geometic structure of Iranian Garden-(Behbahni, 2003)

In this study, municipal district 22 has been taken as a case study for the future extension

of the boundaries of Tehran. This municipal district has a great capacity for urban

development. In order to achieve suitable urban planning in this zone, an interconnected

system of green spaces is planned which will provide an ecological network for the city

according to landscape ecology principles. Planning this green network has been
considered on three different scales with regard to a hierarchical approach toward urban

landscape: regional, municipal and local scales. The regional scale takes the main natural

ecological resources into account. The municipal scale considers local parks and green

thoroughfares as the main components of the ecological network with regard to the

potential opportunities of the urban network. Finally, on the local scale, extensions of the

proposed ecological network penetrate into the heart of the urban fabric and especially

into residential spaces.

The study of municipal district 22 aims to provide an insight into the main principles of

Tehran urban extension with a landscape ecology approach. This zone is considered as a

case study. However, it is has similarities with other zones than the suburbs of Tehran,

and the principles could also be generalized as a model for other zones.

Figure 1. Tehran Urban Growth Graph (1975-2000).

Figure 2. Tehran Municipal District 22.

Table 1.The population of 22 Municipal Districts of Tehran.

Figure 3. District 22 Landscape Ecology Planning (Regional Scale).

Figure 4. The Modaress Highway as a thoroughfare greenway

Figure 5. District 22 Landscape Ecology Planning (Municipal Scale).

Figure 6. District 22 Landscape Ecology Planning (Local Scale).

Figure 7. Layout "A" (Local Scale Planning).

Figure 8. District 22 Landscape Ecology Planning (Regional, Municipal and Local Scales).

These are the Images of landscape design attempted in district number 22. A similar kind
of study will be done further to study the significance of urban landscape design in the
history of Tehran City.
http://www.centrumprokrajinu.cz/files/JLS%20In%20Press_03_01.pdf

Tehran Urban Development Planning with a Landscape Ecology Approach (Case Study:
Municipal District 22, Tehran) Shadi Barati*, Morteza Rahbar, Mahdi Shaibani

Journal of Landscape Studies 3 (2010), In Press

Received: 19 April 2010; Accepted: 13 May 2010; Published online: 15 May 2010