Revitalization Strategies in Iranian Historical City Cores: The Case of Shiraz

Revitalization Strategies in Iranian Historical City Cores: The Case of Shiraz

Arjomand Kermani, A.
Luiten, E.A.J.

Architecture

Urbanism

2012-07-11

The issue of cultural heritage preservation is more challenging in developing countries than in other parts of the world. In societies eager for progress, the modern European cities are regarded as the most desirable reference for a high quality urban environment. Urban settlement transformation in the developing world was very slow before the industrial revolution but old urban fabrics experienced a significant structural transformation with commercial, economical, social and cultural changes. During the last fifty years, Iran has had numerous experiences in various scales and subjects of urban design in the context of historical city parts, ranging from urban renewal projects to urban regeneration and rehabilitation projects. Most of these have not been actually successful, and unfortunately no lessons have been learned from those failures. The mutual strategic aim in all projects was to reach out into more interesting communities that inhabit the old urban area; these communities can help the whole city to provide better facilities for more residents. This goal would only be achieved by creating a new balance between conservation and development. Urban design strategies that illustrate these specific principles and methods should be developed. This paper attempts to identify major approaches to revitalize Iranian historic cores. It focuses on ways to revitalize traditional structures, patterns and values in the process of regeneration of Shiraz; one of the most historical cities in Iran. It starts with a brief discussion on the history of large-scale interventions in Shiraz and its key stages of transformation. Rehabilitation projects of Sang-e Siah and Shah Cheragh, two major historic neighborhoods in the city center of Shiraz are described and analyzed. The main successful results and policies in these two projects are defined and shortcomings and possible solutions are discussed in the last section.

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:11f03719-f014-4815-b118-bd9de9ebbeed

AESOP (Association of European Schools of Planning) 26th Annual Congress, Ankara, Turkey, 11-15 July 2012

Institutional Repository

conference paper

(c) 2012 Arjomand Kermani, A.
Luiten, E.A.J.