Iranian New Towns in 12Th Government of Islamic Republic of Iran - Towards Eco Smart New Towns
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Iranian New Towns in 12th government of Islamic Republic of Iran - Towards eco smart new towns Written by INTA member PEDRAM SAMIMIFAR Vice Minister Assistant & Director of Overseas Affairs Division New Town Development Company (NTDC) Ministry of Housing and Development (MHUD) In the 1980s Iran experienced the rapid growth of the population, the massive population migration to urban areas and the unplanned expansion of existing cities, especially in the big cities, to the intensification of the need for housing and disruptions to the establishment and organization of human settlements in the country. Iran has a semi-arid climate with a severe constraint of water and soil resources suitable for agriculture, which is subject to degradation and alteration by the expansion of cities, especially large cities (metropolises). Therefore, along with the strategies of using “infill development capacities of cities” and "sprawled development of existing cities"," discontinued development in the form of creating new towns" was considered as one of the strategies of urban development in Iran. In this regard, first, theoretical, methodological and global experience gathering and analysis started. Next, feasibility, location and design studies of about 30 new towns in different parts of the country, especially around metropolitan areas developed and some operations since the mid1980s began. But Iranian new towns, in the contemporary meaning or modern style, were considered at the same time as World War II. On this base three main various patterns of planned cities or complexes can be categorized as the pre-revolutionary phase of new towns construction in Iran: 1- New Towns with political-military purposes such as Nowshahr and Zahedan; 2- New Towns with economic consideration such as Abadan and Mahshahr as oil cities, Sarcheshmeh copper complex, and Alborz industrial town; 3- New Towns for state employees in terms of residential complexes that were constructed in a certain distance from major cities or even attached to them as dormitory towns; In the mid-1970s, Iran initiated the new town strategy in order to decentralize population and economic activities from the large cities. Many researchers believe that “firstly, by preparing long-term master plans, the government attempted to make the existing urban areas absorb part of the surplus urban population. Secondly, using the new town strategy, the government planned to distribute the urban population among a number of new communities to be built around the existing large cities in the country”. Accordingly, based on the government approval in 1985, post-revolutionary phase of new towns planning and construction, as one of the key national strategies in urban development, was assigned to the Ministry of Housing and Development (MHUD). th Iran New Towns in 12 government of Islamic Republic of Iran – Towards eco smart new towns 1 08/11/2017 Accordingly, New Town Development Company (INTDC) was established in 1986 that is responsible for the implementation of new towns in associating with the MHUD. On this base, 17 new towns including Parand, Hashtgerd, Pardis, Andisheh, Majlesi, Baharestan, Fouladshahr, Sahand, Sadra, Golbahar, Binalood, Aalishahr, Mohajeran, Alavi, Ramin, Ramshar, and Shirinshahr were proposed around large cities. These cities, whose development is still ongoing, is known as the first generation of new towns in Iran. The key objective of this policy has been pressure relief of the population in large urban areas by directing their future population growth and economic activities to new towns around them as self-contained communities with various employment opportunities. In the other words, these new towns must be considered as settlements for the overflown population. By 1986, of 27 million people living in urban areas that was about 55% of total population, 22% lived in Tehran, the capital city, and 45% in the eight largest cities in total, including Tehran, Mashhad, Isfahan, Tabriz, Shiraz, Ahwaz, Kermanshah, and Qom, with populations of 500,000 or more. At a closer look, Planning, Construction, and Development of the 17 new towns must be assessed against the goals of shaping and directing future urban development: ! Controlling the rapid urban expansion in terms of physical and demographic growth of metropolises and large cities; ! Decentralization, redistribution, and absorption of the overflow population of metropolises and large cities; ! Dealing with the increase of land and housing price and accordingly high living cost of metropolises and large cities; ! Offering new affordable housing and employment opportunities in reference to the current and future demands; ! Preventing the formation and proliferation of informal and spontaneous settlements th Iran New Towns in 12 government of Islamic Republic of Iran – Towards eco smart new towns 2 08/11/2017 across the metropolitan areas; ! Distribution and relocation of the conflicting industrial establishments; Currently, 17 first generation new towns with about planned 3.8 million inhabitants are under construction on 42.0000 hectares of public land. In 2005, a total of 43 613 residential units were built in new towns. This number has risen nearly The Great Islamic Iranian Market- Andisheh New Town 8 times in 2014 to 343 834, which represents an annual growth rate of 24%. In this situation, considering the necessity of evolving the development of new towns and the transition from quantitative approaches to qualitative approaches in these towns, in line with the macro-urban policies of the country, the following principles should be followed in the upgrading of the first generation of new towns and the implementation of the new generations: • Conservation of natural resources, environmental reserves and agricultural lands • Mixed design (mixed housing, as well as the mixing of the social classes & mixed-income housing) in such a way as to achieve the inclusive city. • Encouraging planning and design based on walking and bike use • Design and planning based on public transport (transit oriented development) • Use of new towns potentials in the operation of national and regional development Programs • Relying on the private sector and modern financing methods • Provide the social integration context and the "gradual" formation of identity in new towns • Diversification in urban design and quality architecture in new towns • To pursue the operationalization of the capacities for the realization of creative cities, entrepreneurs and knowledge city approaches Instead of dormitory towns. In the current context, with regard to climate change as a global challenge as well as a new Urban agenda, new Iranian towns should also face a change in policies. In particular, the new homes need in the housing sector has been transformed. Hence, the second- generation policy of the new Iranian towns will be based on the policy of smart and eco new towns. Today, NTDC, has initiated planning and constructing the second generation of new towns in Iran. The towns that would be eco smart new towns and based on sustainability issues. th Iran New Towns in 12 government of Islamic Republic of Iran – Towards eco smart new towns 3 08/11/2017 2nd Generation of new towns in Iran About the author Pedram Samimifar is an architect, as well the Vice-Minister assistant & Director if overseas affairs Division for New Town Development Company, in Ministry of Housing and Development of Iran. He published several papers, such as “Defining Iranian Islamic cities, a way to tradition”, Abadi, N°18, 2012 and “Analyzing the causes of decline of the status of old structure of Lalehzar from the viewpoint of architecture and urbanism”, IJFALS, vol. 5 n° S2, 2015. th Iran New Towns in 12 government of Islamic Republic of Iran – Towards eco smart new towns 4 08/11/2017 .