Documentation of Oudlajan Area in Tehran

Analysis for Development of Proposals for Recovery and Requalification of the Urban Landscape

This was a one-week workshop held by University of Tehran with cooperation of University of Florence and University of Pavia, both from Italy, during summer. In the last day of the workshop, the participants were asked to propose a design in a site in the area that was observed and surveyed during the past days of the workshop. The objective was to propose an idea which could help in the process of revitalization of the studied area. Our team consisting of me and Neda Moayerian, purposed the idea of a Seasonal Market in one of the abandoned sites in the area. Our main goals were to introduce a public space hierarchy of streets, squares and parks, which is connected and clearly legible, offering many types of activities and invite a wide range of user groups at the same time and Pedestrianization via: Traffic calming, Bicycle-friendly pavements, Inviting and attractive entrances, Hierarchical motion segments. We purposed this design, believing that revitalization of an urban public area is a cooperation between the designers and the people, so a minimal approach by designers will be completed by the presence of people.

The main concept was to create a live, flexible space and facade contracting the steadiness of the historical preserved wall. So, the function of seasonal market not only contracts the wall in visual sense but also objectively. The changing shape of the tents through time also gives a local characteristic to the project. The aesthetically appealing wall remains as a reminder of the now demolished house but remains single and unattached to show its full history. The highlight of the proposed design was the revitalization of the abandoned spaces via: Preserving the existing landmarks (the ancient wall), Creating new modern landmarks (both objective & subjective), Creating diverse and lively functions (seasonal market) and Pedestrian and bicycle encouragement.