Young Cities – New Towns in Iran
New Towns as a Concept for the Sustainable Development of Megacity Regions
Final Project Report | Reporting Period: July 1st 2005 – March 31st 2008
Funding programme The Urban Transition | Research for Sustainable Development of the Megacities of Tomorrow 1
YOUNG CITIES – NEW TOWNS IN IRAN | Final Project Report | 2005 - 2008
Young Cities – New Towns in Iran | New Towns as a Concept for the Sustainable Development of Megacity Regions: Final Project Report
BMBF Project funding reference number: 01LG0513
Project coordinator: Prof Dr Rudolf Schäfer | TU Berlin
Final Report | Reporting Period: 01.07.2005 – 31.03.2008| Berlin, December 15th 2008
Report edited by Young Cities Project Center: Dipl.-Ing. Sebastian Seelig, Dipl.-Ing. Florian Stellmacher Joint German-Iranian Project Consortium
Technische Universität Berlin Berlin, Germany
Building and Housing Research Center Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
New Towns Development Corporation Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Berlin-Brandenburg Construction Industry Association (BIV) e.V. Potsdam, Germany
FIRST Fraunhofer Institute for Computer Architecture and Software Technology
Berlin, Germany
inter3 Institute for Management of Resources GmbH Berlin, Germany
nexus Institute for Cooperation Management & Interdisciplinary Research GmbH Berlin, Germany
p2m berlin GmbH Berlin, Germany
University of the Arts Berlin
Berlin, Germany
Vocational Training Institute e.V. of the BIV Potsdam, Germany
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents ...... 4 Preface ...... 5 1. Premises of the Young Cities Project...... 6 1.1 Project Assignment...... 6 1.2 Premises of Project Execution...... 6 1.3 Programming and Course of Project...... 8 1.4 Scientific Status Quo Ante ...... 9 1.5 Cooperation with Other Institutions ...... 12 2. Results of the Young Cities Project ...... 14 2.1 Achieved Results ...... 14 2.1.1 Consolidation and expansion of Project structures ...... 15 2.1.2 Advancement of the Pilot Projects ...... 20 2.1.3 Strategic Dimension Urban & Regional Planning ...... 24 2.1.4 Strategic Dimension Environmental Resources & Quality ...... 27 2.1.5 Strategic Dimension Qualification...... 28 2.1.6 Strategic Dimension Structural Design...... 30 2.1.7 Strategic Dimension Project Management & Project Controlling...... 32 2.2 According Expenditure of Funds ...... 35 2.3 Project Necessity and Adequacy ...... 36 2.4 Exploitation of Results and Expected Benefits...... 37 2.4.1 Patents and trademark rights...... 37 2.4.2 Economic prospects of success ...... 37 2.4.3 Scientific and technological prospects of success...... 41 2.5 External Results of Relevance to the Project ...... 42 2.6 Dissemination of Results...... 44
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Preface
This final report is a compilation of the major results of the Project “Young Cities – New Towns in Iran”. The Project was funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) in the program “Research for the sustainable development of the Megacities of tomorrow”. The final report covers the period from the approval of the Project in July 2005 until the end of the runtime in March 2008 (01.07.2005- 31.03.2007).
The major aim of the Project “Young Cities – New Towns in Iran” was to analyze the well-known risks associated with the concept of New Towns on the one hand and to research if the concept offers chances for the sustainable development of Megacity regions on the other hand. These chances should be substantiated through guidelines for the sustainable development of New Towns. Therefore the central research question of the consortium was, whether the development of New Towns should continue to be a central planning strategy for the Megacities of tomorrow at both a city and a regional scale.
The project was primarily carried out as an intervening case study in Hashtgerd New Town in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Hence, the Project did not focus on research on, but for the development of the New Town of Hashtgerd. Concerning the methodology, the Project provided a mixture of approaches mainly based on action-research, including experimental planning and building activities, since these proofed to be powerful tools of exchange and discussion. In parallel to the elaboration of these Pilot Projects, the overall Project also accomplished analytical research.
The Project was carried out by Technische Universität Berlin (TU Berlin) as the German lead partner and the Building and Housing Research Center (BHRC) as the Iranian lead partner, but supplemented on both sides by a wide range of actors from research, economy, and civil society.
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1. Premises of the Young Cities Project
1.1 Project Assignment The program “Research for the sustainable development of the Megacities of tomorrow” was originally set up by BMBF as a research program including a two-year “preparatory phase” to be utilized for consolidating and expanding the network of local and international partners as well as elaborating on first joint measures and activities, and - in case of approval by BMBF - a nine year main phase (three by three years) allowing for the implementation of the proposal. In line with BMBF’s objectives, the Young Cities Project focused its work in the two year “preparatory phase” on the following tasks:
• Consolidation and expansion of the German and Iranian structures respectively, • Consolidation of bilateral cooperation, • Advancement of the Pilot Projects, • Achievement of first scientific results according to the intended goals, • Development of a mutual research design and program , and • Transfer and dissemination of the Project’s results, including national and international networking.
1.2 Premises of Project Execution The Project was constituted by five Teams each assigned to one Strategic Dimension of the Project, which were lead by following chairs of TU Berlin:
Team 1: Urban and Regional Planning Team 2: Environmental Resources & Quality Prof. Elke Pahl-Weber Prof. Dr. Wilhelm Dominik Department for Urban Renewal Department for Exploration Geology Institute for Urban and Regional Planning Institute of Applied Geosciences TU Berlin TU Berlin Hardenbergstrasse 40a Ackerstraße 76 10623 Berlin 13355 Berlin
Team 3: Qualification Team 4: Structural Design Prof. Dr. Johannes Meyser Prof. Dr. Klaus Rückert Institut for Vocational Training Department Design and Structure Faculty of Educational Science Institute of Architecture TU Dresden TU Berlin Helmholtzstraße 10 Strasse des 17. Juni 152 01069 Dresden 10623 Berlin
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Team 5: Project Management & Controlling Project Coordination Prof. Dr. Bernd Kochendörfer Prof. Dr. Rudolf Schäfer Department for Building Economics and Department for Building Law and Construction Operation Administration Institute for Civil Engineering Institute of Architecture TU Berlin TU Berlin Gustav-Meyer-Allee 25 Strasse des 17. Juni 152 13355 Berlin 10623 Berlin
The day-to-day Project coordination was safeguarded by the so-called Project Center, which was established at TU Berlin as a central service and communication device of the Project on both the German and also the Iranian side in October 2005.
The main partners on the Iranian side (at New Towns Development Corporation (NTDC) the time of the application) were the No. 4,Tak-e-shomali St. following institutions: Building and Housing Shahid Khoddami Avenue, Research Center (BHRC) Tehran Sheikh Fazlollah Exp. Way Iran P.O. Box 13145-1696 Tehran Iran
The Iranian and German partners were working in the following institutional context and structures influencing the development of Hashtgerd New Town:
Context of the Project: Institutional structures influencing the development of Hashtgerd New Town
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1.3 Programming and Course of Project The following table shows the intended goals and activities of the Project by the five Teams as assumed in the application for the preparatory phase:
Dimensions Goals for 2013 Activities in 2005-2007
Development of possibilities and systems of Data collection and analysis compact forms of settlements compatible with Iranian requirements for construction and Defining a site for the Pilot Project Area production techniques Urban and Preparation of urban design scenarios for the Regional Pilot Project Area Planning Preparation of the development of the Regional Transport Plan
Development of an Analytical Grid for international New Town comparison
Secure water supply in Hashtgerd, adaption of Data collection and analysis regarding water Environmental socio economic counter measures consumption and waste water recycling Resources Large scale fault zone map for Tehran region and Data compilation, review, geo-referenced and Quality application guidelines for building digitizing and field verification for large scale fault zone map
Investigation on how the implementation of quality Vocational training in line with the New Quality control measures can influence the standard of Pilot Project building works
Qualification Reduction of shortcomings in the higher education Analysis of Iranian higher education system in system the relevant sectors
Start of joint Iranian-German students project Start of joint Iranian-German students project related to the project related to the project
Development and implementation of innovative Evaluation of Iranian codes, materials, building and structural design systems structures, construction methods
Construction Innovative structure and material concept for two Pilot Project buildings (New Quality (NQ) and New Technology (NT))
Guidelines for earthquake resistant design
Project Management Guidelines for the Information collection on Iranian project development of New Towns in Iran management including economic and governmental perspectives
Project Concept for land for a sustainable rent or ownership Project Management concept for the three Management concept, form of investing and developing Pilot Projects (35 ha, NQ, NT) institutions, infrastructure supply and land-price policy for Iranian New Towns
Recommendations for participation and structures Data collection and analysis regarding the of local and regional governance of New Towns economic features of New Town development
Small scale: A sustainable and planable development in the region of Karaj/Hashtgerd Overall Medium scale: An extension of the experiences, concepts, tools and “recipes” from Hashtgerd to the Project other Iranian New Towns Large scale: An abstraction and generalization of scientific results for regional or even international use as a guideline for “New Towns as a strategy for the sustainable development of Mega-Urban Regions of tomorrow”
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The following table shows the intended activities again and compares them with the progress regarding the activities:
Dimensions Activities 2005-2008 Progress
Data collection and analysis 07/2005-
Defining a site for the Pilot Project Area 09/2005
Urban and Preparation of urban design scenarios for the Pilot 10/2005-04/2007 Regional Project Area Planning Preparation of the development of the Regional 10/2005-ongoing Transport Plan
Development of an Analytical Grid for international See “Project Management New Town comparison
Data collection and analysis regarding water 09/2005-11/2006 Environmental consumption and waste water recycling Resources and Quality Data compilation, review, geo-referenced digitizing 09/2005-04/2007 and field verification for large scale fault zone map
Vocational training in line with the New Quality Pilot 10/2005-ongoing Project
Qualification Analysis of Iranian higher education system in the 10/2005-ongoing relevant sectors
Start of joint Iranian-German students project related to the project
Evaluation of Iranian codes, materials, structures, 09/2005-12/2006 construction methods
Construction Innovative structure and material concept for two 09/2005-04/2007 Pilot Project buildings (New Quality (NQ) and New Technology (NT))
Guidelines for earthquake resistant design 09/2005-04/2007
Information collection on Iranian project 11/2005-11/2007 management including economic and governmental perspectives Project Management Project Management concept for the three Pilot Projects (35 ha, NQ, NT)
Data collection and analysis regarding the 11/2005-11/2007 economic features of New Town development
1.4 Scientific Status Quo Ante The scientific status quo was intensively researched through a general information inquiry on four levels: • Information inquiry via internet, • Analysis of databases such as RSWB/ ICONDA (databases including newspaper articles or short abstracts on issues of urban and regional planning and construction) and FORS (a database on current research projects on spatial planning, urban planning and housing), • Survey of up-to-date literature via online research in libraries and
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• Analysis of literature made available by Iranian partners.
Aiming a systematic approach, three thematic categories were defined to be inquired in parallel:
• New Towns - programs, planning, implementation and experiences, on a global scale,
• Iran - urban and regional development, urban design, architecture and
• Megacities - Strategies and concepts for Megacities and emerging Megacities on a global scale.
The main results in the three mentioned fields were as follows:
New Towns - programs, planning, implementation and experiences
The literature inquiry conducted showed that there is a lack of relevant, up-to-date literature on New Towns programs as well as on New Towns in general. This concerns the European as well as the more global perspective and is presumably caused by the fact that New Towns concepts have been implemented to lesser extent in the last two decades, at least in the western world. This also influenced the quantity of research and publications on New Towns. Consequently, available literature chiefly deals with the theoretic urbanistic and historical background of New Towns, and the implementation and evaluation of New Towns programs of the 1960s and 1970s mainly regarding the UK, France and South East Asia. Some literature refers to newly started New Town projects in emerging markets, particularly including East and Southeast Asia and the Middle East. Here, a basic description of the projects is provided without analysis. This literature offers information on the current wave of modern New Town projects underlining the importance of New Towns research for these countries.
Iran - urban and regional development, urban design, architecture
Iranian New Town development has been subject to research in the past five years only infrequently as well. The little scientific information in English language available on the Iranian New Towns in particular and on the implementation of the Iranian New Towns program in general was analyzed in the Project period. This was of major importance in order to update data and information, mainly regarding the stage of implementation of and numbers on the New Towns. In a further step, available up-to- date literature confirmed the presumed risks and problems of the Iranian New Towns program associated with location, density, self-sufficiency, identity, affordability, social integration, governance and participation. In parallel, the available literature
10 YOUNG CITIES – NEW TOWNS IN IRAN | Final Project Report | 2005 - 2008 on Iranian architecture and urban design as well as on related topics of social sciences and economics was constantly analyzed, although predominantly consisting of older publications. In the course of the Project, the stock of literature on Iranian New Towns as well as on urban and regional development in Iran could be considerably enlarged by analyzing increasingly also Persian documents, including unpublished documents as well.
Megacities - Strategies and concepts for Megacities and emerging Megacities on a global scale
The information inquiry on Megacities and emerging Megacities predominantly concentrated on the developing Tehran-Karaj Megacity region and specific aspects of urban, regional, economic, ecologic and political development in both of the cities, the Tehran-Karaj-Qazvin growth corridor, and the Tehran Province. Also in this regard, additional Persian sources could be made accessible. English (and German) literature is very limited. However, the new documents do not exhibit results substituting or changing any of the Project’s objectives, although their significance contributed to the work. Making Persian literature accessible was significantly supported by students and post-graduates from Iran, currently involved in M.Sc. and PhD programs at TU Berlin.
The following literature was identified to be central to the Project:
• Atash, Fahrad, New towns and future urbanisation in Iran, Third World Planning Review, 22/2000, pp. 67-85,
• Beer, Angelika (Ed.): Die Islamische Republik Iran. Gesellschaft, Politik und Staatssystem, Berlin, 2007,
• Bertaud, Alain, Teheran Spatial Structure: Constraints and Opportunities of Future Development, Teheran, 2004,
• Dafateri-Moghaddam, Nima, Teheran - Stadtentwicklung und -planung in der iranischen Hauptstadt, Hamburg, 2001,
• Dashti, Mehran, Wohnungsbau und städtische Modernisierung in Teheran von 1925 bis 1979, Karlsruhe, 2002,
• Ferdowsian, Fereshteh, Modern and Traditional Urban Design Concepts and Principles in Iran, Stuttgart, 2002,
• Galantay, Ervin Y., New Towns: Antiquity of the present, New York, 1974,
• Gaube, Heinz, Iranian cities, New York, 1978,
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• Hejazi, Mehrdad M., Historical buildings of Iran: their architecture and structure, 1997,
• Hobson, J., New Towns, the modernist planning project and social justice. The cases of Milton Keynes, UK and 6th of October, Egypt, Working Paper No. 108, University College London, London, 1999,
• Iranian New Towns Development Corporation, International Conference on New Towns. Full Articles, Tehran, 2005,
• Klüsener, Sebastian, Neue Befunde zur Entwicklung der islamisch- orientalischen Stadt, Heidelberg, 1998,
• Lauemie-Wanjani, M., Das Problem der Verstädterung und seine Konsequenzen im Iran dargestellt am Beispiel von Teheran, 1989
• Madanipour, Ali, The Making of a Metropolis, Chichester, 1998,
• Nejad, Afsaneh Mohsen, Planning in Iran, A 50 Year Old Phenomenon, in: Tarabaran; Iranian Economic & Transportation Magazine, January 2000,
• NTDC Hashtgerd (Ed.): An Outlook: The NT of Hashtgerd, Iran, 1993,
• Saadat, Ali, Methodische Ansätze zur Erstellung dezentraler multivalenter Energieversorgungskonzepte für Siedlungen im Iran, Berlin, 2004,
• Statistisches Bundesamt Deutschland (Ed.), Länderprofil Iran, Islam. Republik, Berlin, 2006,
• UNDP (Ed.) UNDP Country Program for the Islamic Republic of Iran (2005-2009),
• World Bank (Ed..), Islamic Republic of Iran - Strategies for the Housing Sector, Report No. 28983, 2004,
• World Bank (Ed.), Islamic Republic of Iran - Urban Transport Review, 2003.
1.5 Cooperation with Other Institutions Within the German consortium, the main partner of TU Berlin cooperated with the following external institutions and partners:
• Construction Industry Association of Berlin-Brandenburg, Potsdam,
• Fraunhofer Institute for Computer Architecture and Software Technology (FIRST), Berlin,
• GERB Schwingungsisolierungen GmbH & Co. KG, Berlin,
• Inter3 - Institute for Resource Management, Berlin,
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• Nexus Institute for Cooperation Management and Interdisciplinary Research, Berlin,
• p2mberlin, Berlin,
• University of the Arts Berlin, Department for Supply Planning and Technology,
• Vocational Training Institute of the Construction Industry Association of Berlin- Brandenburg, Potsdam.
In the preparatory Project phase, the Project built up close contact with a network of international scholars and practitioners. This network was formed during the international Symposium on “New Towns as a concept for the sustainable development of Megacity regions?”, held by the Project in September 2006 at TU Berlin. The symposium was the initialization of the New Towns Research Cluster, encompassing several companies, research institutions and professional networks, such as:
• Laboratory for Planning in a Global Context (GLORA), University of Karlsruhe (TH), Germany
• ENTP – European New Towns Platform, Brussels, Belgium,
• INTA – International Urban Development Association, formerly International New Towns Association,
• International New Towns Institute, Almere, the Netherlands,
• The Institute for Public Policy Research, London, UK,
• Global Urban Research Unit, University of Newcastle/T., UK,
• Joint Centre of Urban Design, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK,
• Department of Urban Planning, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt,
• Fink + Jocher Architects, Munich, Germany,
• KCAP Kees Christiaanse Architects and Planners, Rotterdam, the Netherlands,
• AS&P Albert Speer & Partner Architects and Planners, Frankfurt/M., Germany.
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2. Results of the Young Cities Project
2.1 Achieved Results The achievements of the Project in relation to the intended goals as well as the progress are highlighted in the table below and described subsequently:
Dimensions Activities 2005-2008 Progress Achievements
Data collection and analysis 07/2005- Achieved, see 2.1.3
Defining a site for the Pilot Project Area 09/2005 Achieved, see 2.1.3
Urban and Preparation of urban design scenarios for the Pilot 10/2005-04/2007 Achieved, see 2.1.3 Regional Project Area Planning Preparation of the development of the Regional 10/2005-ongoing Partly achieved, see Transport Plan 2.1.3
Development of an Analytical Grid for international See “Project Achieved, see 2.1.3 New Town comparison Management
Data collection and analysis regarding water 09/2005-11/2006 Achieved, see 2.1.4 Environmental consumption and waste water recycling Resources and Quality Data compilation, review, geo-referenced digitizing 09/2005-04/2007 Partly achieved, see and field verification for large scale fault zone map 2.1.4
Vocational training in line with the New Quality Pilot 10/2005-ongoing Partly achieved, see Project 2.1.5
Qualification Analysis of Iranian higher education system in the 10/2005-ongoing Partly achieved, see relevant sectors 2.1.5
Start of joint Iranian-German students project Not achieved, see 2.1.5 related to the project
Evaluation of Iranian codes, materials, structures, 09/2005-12/2006 Achieved, see 2.1.6 construction methods
Construction Innovative structure and material concept for two 09/2005-04/2007 Achieved, see 2.1.6 Pilot Project buildings (New Quality (NQ) and New Technology (NT))
Guidelines for earthquake resistant design 09/2005-04/2007 Achieved, see 2.1.6
Information collection on Iranian project 11/2005-11/2007 Achieved, see 2.1.7 management including economic and governmental perspectives Project Management Project Management concept for the three Pilot 12/2005-ongoing Partly achieved, see Projects (35 ha, NQ, NT) 2.1.7
Data collection and analysis regarding the 11/2005-11/2007 Achieved, see 2.1.7 economic features of New Town development
Two issues are to be highlighted regarding the Project’s results according to the assignment of the preparatory Project phase in the overall BMBF research program for the sustainable development of the Megacities of tomorrow. This concerns the consolidation and expansion of the Project structures, cooperation and assignment on the one hand. On the other hand, this refers to the specific characteristic of the Young Cities Project research design heavily building on Pilot Projects on different
14 YOUNG CITIES – NEW TOWNS IN IRAN | Final Project Report | 2005 - 2008 levels and time frames, three of which having been started already in the preparatory Project phase. These issues are described with regard to the achieved results before the achievements of the single Strategic Dimensions of the Project.
2.1.1 Consolidation and expansion of Project structures Consolidation and expansion of the German and Iranian structures
Soon after Project approval, an appropriate project organization was established with the arrangement of a Team structure on the German side consisting of five Teams covering the five Strategic Dimensions identified as most relevant for New Towns research and application, including 15 departments of TU Berlin and 9 extramural institutions as the following table shows:
Strategic Dimension Strategic Dimension Strategic Dimension Strategic Dimension Strategic Dimension Urban and Regional Environmental Qualification Structural Design Project Management Planning Resources & Quality & Controlling
Team Coordinator: Team Coordinator: Team Coordinator: Team Coordinator: Team Coordinator: Prof. Elke Pahl-Weber, Prof. Dominik, TU Prof. Meyser, TU Prof. Rückert, TU Berlin Prof. Kochendörfer, TU Berlin Berlin Dresden TU Berlin
TU Berlin TU Berlin TU Dresden TU Berlin TU Berlin Unit for Urban Exploration Geology Specialised Didactics Structural Design Building Economics Renewal in Vocational Training and Construction Operation
Fraunhofer Institute Inter3 Vocational Training Construction Industry Nexus Institute for Co- for Computer Institute for Resource Institute of the Association of Berlin- operation Architecture and Management Construction Industry Brandenburg Management and Software Technology Association of Berlin- Interdisciplinary (FIRST) Brandenburg Research
Nexus Institute for Co- p2m Berlin GERB Schwingungs- TU Berlin operation isolierungen Building and Management and GmbH & Co. KG Administrative Law Interdisciplinary Research
TU Berlin TU Berlin TU Berlin TU Berlin Architectural Design Ecotoxicology Building Materials West Asia/North and Building Theory and Building Africa Cooperation Materials Testing Unit
TU Berlin TU Berlin TU Berlin TU Berlin Design of Buildings Landscape Planning, Substructure and Soil Urban and Regional and Urban Design esp. EIA Mechanics Economics
TU Berlin TU Berlin Integrated Transport Constructive Design Planning and Climatic Suitable Construction
Through the appointment of respective Team coordinators, a definition of responsibilities was achieved, especially concerning the coordination task within the individual Teams.
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According to the rising importance of energy related topics on the building as well as on the urban level in the first preparatory Project phase, the Project structure on the German side was amended. Departments of TU Berlin (Prof. Dr. D. Müller, Department for Heating, Ventilation and Air conditioning) and the Berlin University of the Arts (Prof. Dr C. Nytsch-Geusen, Department for Supply Planning and Technology) respectively were integrated in the Strategic Dimensions of Structural Design and Urban & Regional Planning to deal with this major aspect of sustainable development. To conclude, the Team structure chosen for the Project proofed adequate and effective as only a very limited amount of rearrangements of the structure was required in the period under review.
In order to coordinate the German Project consortium, a so called Project Center was established in October 2005 functioning as a central service and communication device of the Project on both the German and the Iranian side. The Project Centre performed the function of facilitating the internal coordination and organization of the Project. It contributed to the research work and supported the internal project management as to ensure the progress of the research and development on the working level, especially within the Pilot Projects. Through a range of means, the overall objective of the first phase, the creation of a stable and effective internal communication structure could be achieved on the German side and also on a bilateral level with the Iranian side. These means of coordination and communication included:
• Weekly digital Project Newsletter sent to all Project partners pooling the written information flow from the Project Center to the single Project partners,
• Maintenance of the Project Communication System Proman,
• Facilitating the monthly Jour Fixe of the German Project consortium as the central exchange and decision making platform on the German side,
• Facilitating the bilateral Iranian-German workshops,
• Reporting to the Project coordinator and to the five Team coordinators,
• Setting-up and maintenance of the Project library at the Project Center and the virtual Project library combining media units of all the partners,
• Installation and the maintenance of the Project’s website http://www.youngcities.org/,
• Facilitation of mailing lists for the German and the Iranian consortiums respectively as well as for the individual Teams, and
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• Documentation of the Project’s progress in a series of “Proceedings of the Joint Iranian-German Research Project Young Cities – New Towns in Iran”.
In October/November 2005 the following staff was engaged in the Project Center:
• The Assistant Project Manager - coordinating and supporting the overall Project and particularly Teams 3, 4 and 5 (Eng Florian Stellmacher),
• The Urban Design and Architectural Tasks Assistant - coordinating and supporting Team 1 and Team 2 (Eng Sebastian Seelig) and
• Two student assistants for investigation, publication and organization (Ms Galene Haun, Mr Oliver Hisecke).
A Civil Engineering Tasks Assistant was supposed to be employed for the coordination and support of Team 3, and Team 4). In coordination with the project managing authority DLR and all Project members, the position was not staffed. The tasks were reassigned between the Project Center, members of the German Team 4 and temporarily engaged researchers and student assistants, including:
• Architect P. Derksen,
• Civil engineer J. Stratil,
• Building services student L. Lieding,
• Architect and PhD student T. Mosavat,
• Architecture student N. Poor Rahim, and
• Architect M. Djafar.
On the Iranian side, the main partners encompassed the Building and Housing Research Centre (BHRC) and the New Towns Development Corporation (NTDC) Holding and Hashtgerd New Town branch due to their function as high-level decision-making bodies regarding the Iranian New Towns program and the Iranian housing and construction sector. The initial set of Iranian Project members was selectively adjusted by integrating relevant additional actors, such as the following institutions:
• Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Tehran (Strategic Dimension Urban and Regional Planning),
• Tar-va-memary Consulting Engineers, Tehran (Strategic Dimension Urban and Regional Planning),
• Armanshahr Architecture and Urban Design Consultants, Tehran (Strategic Dimension Urban and Regional Planning),
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• Paykadeh Consulting Engineers, Tehran (Strategic Dimension Urban and Regional Planning),
• Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, Tehran (Strategic Dimension Qualification),
• Technical and Vocational Training Organization, Tehran (Strategic Dimension Qualification),
• Instructors Training Center, Karaj (Strategic Dimension Qualification),
• GTZ Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit, Tehran Office, Tehran (Strategic Dimension Qualification)
• Keyson Engineering and Construction Company, Tehran (Strategic Dimension Structural Design),
• Schüco International KG, Bielefeld/Dubai, U.A.E. (Strategic Dimension Structural Design),
• NTDC Parand New Town (Strategic Dimension Project Management & Controlling), and
• Hamyaran Iran NGO Resource Center, Tehran (Strategic Dimension Project Management & Controlling).
The most important partner added were the Iranian Ministries of Housing and Urban Development and of Labor and Social Affairs and its affiliated Technical and Vocational Training Organization as the responsible Iranian organization for all vocational training. The integration of these governmental institutions strengthened the entire Project, since they guaranteed for administrative and financial facilitation and fast implementation of the Pilot Projects. By involving Paykadeh Consulting Engineers, Tehran, and Tar-va-memary Consulting Engineers and Urban Planners, Tehran, major private actors on the Iranian side were successively incorporated. As a counterpart to the German Project Center staff, the Presidency Office and the Public & International Affairs Office of BHRC were appointed for centrally coordinating all Project activities of the Iranian side from February 2006. A Project Center only devoted to the Project cooperation was not fully implemented but to be set up for the subsequent Project main phase.
Consolidation of bilateral cooperation
The Iranian-German cooperation structures were consolidated during the preparatory phase, building on the already well-established contacts at the time of application. For each of the five Strategic Dimensions of the Project, both an Iranian and a German expert in charge were identified in the application phase,
18 YOUNG CITIES – NEW TOWNS IN IRAN | Final Project Report | 2005 - 2008 constituting the heads of a Twin Team working on the respective tasks of the Strategic Dimension. Due to this Twin Team approach, the Iranian partners had relevant professional contacts on the German side. The cooperation structures established proofed to be very stable and were accordingly just marginally modified, e.g. by introducing a Project Steering Committee including the Iranian and the German Project coordinators, the BHRC President, the Chairman of the NTDC, and two of the German Team coordinators (of Teams 1 and 4).
As regular events of the cooperation, a series of bilateral workshops held either in Germany or Iran had been agreed between the partners. The main bilateral events in the reporting period were held:
• November 28th until December 4th 2005 in Berlin,
• April 9th until 12th 2006 in Tehran and Hashtgerd New Town,
• September 6th 2007 in Berlin (International Symposium on New Towns),
• September 7th until 10th 2006 in Berlin,
• November 25th until 29th 2006 in Tehran and Hashtgerd New Town,
• June 25th 2007 in Tehran, and
• October 26th until 28th 2007 in Tehran and Hashtgerd New Town.
In addition to the bilateral workshops, it became necessary to hold additional meetings and surveys in Iran on a relatively limited scope regarding topics and number of participants:
• April 30th until May 3rd 2006: Iranian-German Inter-Workshop Meetings in Tehran,
• August 14th until 16th 2006: Iranian-German Meetings and Survey on Qualification Issues in Tehran and Karaj,
• November 18th until 28th 2006: New Towns Development Case Studies Survey in Tehran, Parand And Hashtgerd New Towns, and
• June 26th until July 7th 2007: New Towns Development Case Studies Survey in Tehran and Hashtgerd New Town.
Decisions on the progress of the Project have been made consensually between the Iranian and the German sides. Decisions were documented in respective documents and signed by the representatives of both sides. Negotiations were mostly free of conflicts except for occasional misunderstandings due to different traditional modi operandi. One can conclude that the joint working and communication structures
19 YOUNG CITIES – NEW TOWNS IN IRAN | Final Project Report | 2005 - 2008 were set up successfully and in accordance with the application as indicated by the adhesion of work to the schedule.
Elaboration on the mutual research program
Besides the specific workload conducted by the single members of the consortium, the preparatory Project phase was also used as intended to elaborate on the mutual main phase structures and research design: After a first phase of intense common work on the elaboration of the Project structures and design in winter 2006 and spring 2007, this slowed down in early 2007 caused by the announced discontinuation of the BMBF funding program “Megacities of tomorrow”. Due to the inadequate and irregular information policy by BMBF on the continuation of the program, planning reliability for the bilateral work was destroyed, hampering the continuous work on the joint Project. Moreover the Project coordinator as well as the staff of the Project Center were deeply involved in the activities to promote the continuation of the funding program with BMBF putting TU Berlin in a position to lead-manage the negotiations on behalf of all competing consortia.
2.1.2 Advancement of the Pilot Projects In the preparatory Project phase, emphasis was put on the three Pilot Projects. The Pilot Projects helped to gain information by developing and elaborating planning and construction projects and were used furthermore as instruments to test developed concepts and technologies.
“New Technology” Pilot Project building
The “New Technology” Pilot building was developed until the stage of approval and implementation planning lead by the German Team 3 (mainly involving the TU Berlin departments of Prof. Dr. K. Rückert and also Prof. R. Hascher). The Project was an important opportunity to show technologies, which are not commonly used in Iran so far. These new technologies should improve the standards of earthquake resistance and energy consumption paying respect to the climatic comfort. Innovative high- tech materials and construction methods applied to this building encompass a double-skin façade, a Base Control System, innovative heating and cooling systems, light building materials, EFEP foils as well as Phase Changing Materials. The implementation of these state-of-the-art technologies contributes to the objective of reducing heating up in summer and cooling down in winter and thereby enhancing the energy consumption performance of the building. The application of EFEP foils and ETFE blinds supports this approach and is an advantage in case of hazards, too,
20 YOUNG CITIES – NEW TOWNS IN IRAN | Final Project Report | 2005 - 2008 as these materials are less likely to cause damage to human beings compared to the prevailing construction types in Iran (ian New Towns). The improvement of earthquake resistance is sustained by a substitution of brick stone with light building materials such as plasterboard. After finalization of implementation planning in early 2007, the building was planned to be constructed from the early main phase of the Project. The two-storey building shall be erected on a plot belonging to the BHRC compound in Tehran and be used as an office building and show case for BHRC. Following the planning phase, the Iranian and German partners have been involved in detailing of construction costs and materials to be applied for the building.
New Technology building – perspective, December New Technology building – climatic assessments 2005
New Technology building – construction process, step 7 New Technology building – section proposal, scale 1:150
New Technology building – perspective, November New Technology building – aerial view, November 2006 2006
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“New Quality” Pilot Project building
A Team of German and Iranian experts of TU Berlin and BHRC improved the quality of an Hashtgerd New Town building type with regard to energy efficiency, earthquake resistance and climatic comfort by reviewing the planning documents and implementing own quality control mechanisms. As a result, a number of small scale and inexpensive (structural) design decisions have been taken deviating from the typical residential building erected in the Iranian New Towns. Masonry as the predominantly used building material is replaced by concrete and AAC-blocks in this Pilot Project. The (typical) building layout as implemented in New Towns was changed and replaced by a regular symmetrical floor plan without offsets in columns and stiffening walls. New façade materials were introduced leading to lower temperatures in summer and hence lower energy consumption for air conditioning, a higher earthquake resistance, lower energy consumption for heating in winter, no cracking in the walls and a significantly longer lasting building. The preparation for this “New Quality” Pilot Project building covered most of the preparatory Project phase. The realization is intended to start within the main phase of the Project since approval and implementation planning are finalized.
New Quality building – front façade of starting project, New Quality building – structural earthquake December 2005 resistance processing
New Quality building – floor plan typical floor, November New Quality building – front façade, April 2007 2006
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35 ha Pilot Project area
The 35 ha Area Pilot Project is a compound in the south of Hashtgerd New Town and has been demarcated by NTDC for the accommodation of approximately 8,000 residents. By designing integrated planning solutions for the 35 ha Area, German and Iranian partners have been aiming at demonstrating sustainable development on a neighborhood level. The design for the 35 ha Area was elaborated within three urban design scenarios that build on the economic, legal and socio-cultural requirements of Iran (see illustrations below). By mid-2006, one of the three scenarios was selected for further elaboration by the German and Iranian partners mutually. The concept was chosen due to its high flexibility and robustness, the high permeability, the efficient use of land and in particular due to its traditional yet contemporary urban layout. This design, scenario no. 2, has since been further developed to an Urban Design Master Plan for the 35 ha site and will later act as the basis for the legally binding land-use plan.
35 ha area – scenario 1: preliminary 35 ha area – scenario 1: preliminary master plan, November 2005 master plan, April 2006
35 ha area – scenario 2: preliminary 35 ha area – scenario 2: schematic 35 ha area – scenario 2: isometry master plan dwelling layouts of typical quarter
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35 ha area – scenario 2: view of courtyard 35 ha area – scenario 2: view from south situation
35 ha area – scenario 3: perspective 35 ha area – scenario 3: view from 35 ha area – scenario 3: accessibility of central eastern quarter north concept
2.1.3 Strategic Dimension Urban & Regional Planning Data collection and analysis
A continuing, local in-depth analysis has been conducted in the preparatory Project phase investigating the local situation regarding a number of key aspects (e.g. topography, existing building stock etc.). Studies (site surveys, interviews with stakeholders and literature analysis) proved that Hashtgerd’s low-density architectural and urban design structures are dominated by standardized design solutions only slightly related to local conditions. The predominant inflexible housing and urban design concepts do not relate to the current demographic and social changes in Iranian society. The mono-functional land-use structures indicate Hashtgerd to be a dormitory town. Such unbalanced development is caused by sectoral programming and implementation of the local administration and the related ministries, also leading to major problems regarding coordination of infrastructure and housing development. The lack of coordination between the responsible institutions and the strong focus on sectoral planning also causes major problems in transport planning such as insufficient networks for pedestrian and delay in construction of crucial public transport projects. Based on these observations, the Strategic Dimension aimed at developing sustainable models of urban development to be applied in Hashtgerd New Town. The 35 ha Area Pilot Project follows this
24 YOUNG CITIES – NEW TOWNS IN IRAN | Final Project Report | 2005 - 2008 objective by introducing compact, clustered, energy-efficient, integrated urban planning and development.
Defining a site for the Pilot Project area
This task was fully achieved: The site was defined right at the start of the preparatory Project phase. Soon after, it was changed by NTDC in consultation with the German partners and BHRC from a 4 ha plot rather at the periphery of Hashtgerd New Town to one of the most central - mainly residential - sites covering even 35 ha. After site definition the team conducted two major surveys on the site in summer 2005 and in April 2006.
Preparation of urban design scenarios for the Pilot Project area
Within the preparatory phase of the Project, major work packages were defined. This organization allowed for a clear definition of respective work steps, for the responsible actors and the respective time schedule. Analyzing the achieved status of the work plan, six major achievements can be identified:
• Agreeing on the basis of the 35 ha Pilot Project and establishing its scope,
• Partly finalizing the site survey and data collection in Hashtgerd New Town,
• Defining and agreeing on the Urban Design Criteria for sustainable urban development,
• Elaborating three preliminary draft Urban Design Scenarios for the 35 ha site,
• Agreeing on one Scenario to be elaborated, and
• Elaboration of this Urban Design Scenario.
After agreeing the basis of the Pilot Project and establishing its scope, the site survey and data collection was finalized in 2006. Subsequently three Urban Design Scenarios based on certain Urban Design Criteria were elaborated. Settled in the Letter of Intent, which was signed by TU Berlin, NTDC and BHRC on November 28th 2006 in Tehran, the partners have identified the following key aspects for the sustainable development of the 35 ha Area:
• Earthquake-proof, compact forms of settlement,
• Energy-efficient and resource-saving neighborhood planning,
• Identity-building architecture that adapts to traditional Iranian design concepts,
• Mixed land-use concepts,
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• New flexible housing typologies adapting to climatic and cultural aspects,
• Adaptable and flexible mobility and infrastructure planning,
• Resource-saving and energy-efficient transportation concept,
• Master planning that can adapt to a changing environment, and
• Planning processes and instruments that ensure quality assurance and planning security.
By mid-2006, one of the three Scenarios was selected for further elaboration by the German and Iranian partners. This design, Scenario No. 2, has since been further developed to an Urban Design Master Plan for the 35 ha site in Hashtgerd and will later act as the basis for a legally binding land-use plan. The design of the Scenario was under the lead of the Department of Architectural Design and Building Theory (Prof. P. Berten and Dipl.-Ing. P. Wehage) at the TU Berlin Institute of Architecture.
Preparation of the development of the Regional Transport Plan The task was partly achieved: On the regional level, investigations were conducted on two levels; on the one hand on Hashtgerd New Town and its surrounding areas and on the other hand on the county (Shahrestan) level. During the collection of information and the evaluation of the transport planning requirements, difficulties arose occasionally. This mainly concerned the identification of requirements and selection of data, which demanded more effort than originally estimated due to a lack of information and contacts accessible in English language. Another important challenge was the involvement of actors from the transport sector on the regional level on the Iranian side. Here, initial steps could be conducted with greater involvement of NTDC Holding experts and affiliated transport and traffic experts. As a result, Eng. M. Sarrafin, transport and traffic planner at NTDC Holding with responsibilities for New Town projects in the whole country, could be introduced into the Project and was and will be increasingly involved. Additional data to be used also on the regional level could be gathered through the work in and on Hashtgerd New Town in the context of the 35 ha Area Pilot Project. The Pilot Project was used as a tool to derive information through surveys, literature analysis and expert interviews. The data collected was fed in the ongoing design work of the 35 ha Pilot Project. The intense work of the Team (Dipl.-Ing. W.-H. Arndt and Mr A. Karger, both TU Berlin) on the 35 ha area including the elaboration of several transport scenarios also led to information to be utilized on regional level. First planning principles of the public transport concept Hashtgerd could be developed.
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Development of the Analytical Grid
The task was accomplished lead-managed within the Strategic Dimension Project Management & Controlling (see below).
2.1.4 Strategic Dimension Environmental Resources & Quality Data collection and analysis regarding water consumption and waste water recycling
The tasks were achieved: The data collection regarding water consumption and waste water recycling was conducted through interviews of experts in Teheran and Hashtgerd New Town, roundtable discussions, investigations at relevant governmental authorities and organizations and through analysis of data sets and literature contributed on the Iranian side. This analysis demonstrated a substantial lack of planning and technical performance of the water supply and equally in waste water management in Hashtgerd New Town. Moreover, a lack of integrating the assessment of environmental impacts into the decision-making process on water supply and waste water management could be identified. In addition, the analysis proofed that a specific water quality has to be elaborated guaranteeing drinking water and irrigation in agriculture, aquaculture, and protecting ecosystems as well as human health.
Data compilation, review, geo-referenced digitizing & field verification for large scale fault zone map
The tasks were partly achieved: The data compilation and review in the greater Tehran region (North-Tehran Fault Plane Analysis) were accomplished. The findings indicated:
• Considerable vertical displacement at surface due to groundwater withdrawal in two areas of intensive land-use and farming,
• Maximum displacement depending on seasonal maximum rate of groundwater withdrawal and corresponding minimum groundwater recharge by rainfall and/or drainage from Elborz mountain range, and
• Rigid Quaternary and/or sub-recent alluvial fan deposits, not or less affected by groundwater withdrawal.
These results could be integrated in the Project. Due to the fact that in the runtime the focus on energy-related topics became increasingly important within the Project, these research activities were sourced out into an own research project between TU
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Berlin and BHRC under the title “North-Tehran Fault Zone Analysis”. Therefore the task concerning geo-referenced digitizing and field verification is now been followed in an independent research project.
2.1.5 Strategic Dimension Qualification Vocational training in line with the New Quality Pilot Project building
This task was partly achieved in the preparatory Project phase: The analysis encompassed an inquiry into site operations and an on-site survey of construction sites during visits to Iran in summer 2005 and 2006. Additional information was gained through interviews with construction workers on site and with related experts of BHRC, NTDC, GTZ as well as the Technical and Vocational Training Organization (TVTO) of Iran and its Instructors Training Center in Karaj. The surveys and interviews conducted clearly indicate the urgent need for qualified specialists and construction workers. The lack of an experienced workforce in different construction industry fields and a precise knowledge for construction site employment has been substantiated as one of the fundamental problems of the Iranian construction industry. In the Iranian labor market, the employers mainly do not differentiate between experienced and inexperienced workforce contributing to growing shortcomings regarding the construction quality. There are comprehensive and up-to-date rules and regulations in Iran, but these are thwarted by the existing decision-making structures and above all by the culture governing the construction industry.
Based on these findings, a paper was compiled by the German experts defining a conceptual framework of specialized training measures for the associated construction personnel. Its purpose was to improve the quality of construction execution of the New Quality building. The execution of these measures was changed due to the adapted implementation of the New Quality Pilot Project. An Iranian construction company was to be identified guaranteeing for high levels of qualification of its construction site staff and construction site management. The construction company Keyson Inc., Tehran, has been specified for the implementation of the New Quality Pilot Project building involving only respective personnel for the Pilot Project and approving supervision and monitoring of the construction execution process. The company has been active with a model project together with MHUD and BHRC in Parand New Town before that has also been visited by the German side in 2006.
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In the Dimension of vocational training, an additional Pilot Project has been sketched by BHRC, NTDC, NTDC Hashtgerd New Town as well as TVTO and GTZ Iran and the German side for a “Hashtgerd Construction Qualification Center” involving NTDC as investor, TVTO as operator, and BHRC, BFW, TU Berlin and GTZ as conceptual team, all together forming a special task force. The Pilot Project has been earmarked as to be started with the Project’s main phase including a number of pilot qualification workshops, e.g. in welding as one of the key crafts.
Analysis of Iranian higher education system in the relevant sectors
This task was partly achieved on involvement of Prof Dr J. Pakzad of Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Prof Dr Behzadfahr of Iran University of Science and Technology, Tehran, and Prof Dr A. Vafai of Sharif University of Technology, Tehran from civil engineering, urban planning and urban design and architecture respectively in the Project, partly on a consulting basis with BHRC for its and the Project’s New Town activities and for joint PhD project supervision with TU Berlin. The higher education system activities have been lead-managed by WANACU of TU Berlin. The analysis within Young Cities Project as well as the Urban Agriculture project in the Casablanca region was introduced into a separate project partly funded by DAAD: the Middle Eastern North African Sustainable Habitat Development Association (MENASHDA). The project has been funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) within the program line “German-Arab/Iranian Dialogue between Universities”. Based on the formation of a multilateral network of universities, research institutions, NGOs, industry related enterprises and consultants in some MENA countries, prominently Iran, together with TU Berlin, MENAHSDA's overarching aim is to establish a regional society of expertise that promotes sustainable habitat development in these countries. Since targeting higher education, the core instruments of MENASHDA comprise:
• Creation and offer of internationally acknowledged Master and PhD courses,
• An annual regional conference
• Short courses and crash courses to build-on and/or introduce topics ,
• Mentor programs for young scientists
• Scholarship programs, and
• Joint ventures and canvassing for new business, research projects/activities and funding subsidies.
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The Young Cities Project is directly related to the MENASHDA activities and both, to give input to and capitalize on the MENASHDA Action Field Housing & New Settlements as one of five main topics.
Joint Iranian-German students’ project related to the project starts
This task was not achieved specifically. The DAAD sponsored partnership with Institutions of Higher Education in Urban and Regional Planning between TU Berlin and the University of Guilan in Rasht in Northern Iran, affiliated to Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, was continued with joint B.Sc. level student projects. Due to the B.Sc. level and the unstable situation of Guilan University requiring the focus on other topics no project was set up specifically devoted to topics of the Young Cities Project. The conducted student projects, however, contributed partially to the understanding of the Iranian planning system and attracted students to the Young Cities Project.
Student level involvement in and contribution to the Project from Germany and Iran was, however, successfully accomplished by an unexpected number of PhD projects started as well as Diploma and Master theses (including postgraduate Master courses) and internships conducted with relation to the Young Cities Project at TU Berlin or jointly at TU Berlin and one of the above named Iranian universities. Nonetheless, Master level student projects have proved to be highly efficient and intensive contributions to research activities and should become part of future Young Cities activities.
2.1.6 Strategic Dimension Structural Design Evaluation of Iranian codes, materials, structures, construction methods
The analyses of the respective fields Architecture, Structural Design, Energy and Materials were accomplished in 2005 and 2006. By investigating the architectural development practice in Hashtgerd New Town (and partly Parand New Town south of Tehran), it could be observed that traditional Iranian lifestyles are not reflected in the building layouts, resulting in nested floor plans.
Since Iran is one of the most earthquake prone countries in the world, the predominant construction methods in Iran nowadays were analyzed and the disadvantages identified: None-load bearing masonry receives lateral loads, which during an earthquake will nearly necessarily be leading to the collapse of such
30 YOUNG CITIES – NEW TOWNS IN IRAN | Final Project Report | 2005 - 2008 buildings. Additionally, today’s common construction practice only marginally takes into account aspects of energy consumption.
These findings formed the basis for the objectives, being investigated in developing the two Pilot Project buildings New Technology and New Quality. The major targets in both were to reorganize the floor plans with respect to orientation and function and to simplify the partitioning of an apartment compared to the prevalent New Town building types and primarily to develop regionally adapted earthquake resistant structures and lowering the energy consumption for heating and cooling.
Innovative structure and material concepts for the two Pilot Project buildings
The task was fully accomplished. Both of the two Pilot Projects were started ab initio from the Project start in 2005:
• A five-storey residential New Quality building – focused on constructive earthquake resistance and construction quality and
• A two-storey office New Technology building – focused on innovative technologies and materials and reduction of energy consumption.
Regarding the New Quality building, in 2005 and 2006, the design of the Pilot Project building was lead-developed by the Iranian side. Amendments were made on exchange cycles between the German and the Iranian side, which were subsequently implemented in the design of the building in responsibility of BHRC. At the end of 2006, the preparation of workshop drawings by the Iranian side started and taken to finalization in 2007 accompanied by the Iranian and German partners.
As a result of the analysis, preliminary design and final design work steps, a number of (structural) design decisions have been taken deviating from the prevalent residential building types erected in the Iranian New Towns forming the basis of the New Quality Pilot Project: Masonry as the predominantly used building material is replaced by concrete and AAC-blocks in this Project. The (typical) building layout as implemented in New Towns has been changed; the irregular layout risky in case of an earthquake is replaced by a regular symmetrical floor plan without offsets in columns and stiffening walls.
Regarding the New Technology building, after a phase of intense exchange and discussions in 2005 on the design and the technologies to be applied, the approved design was finished in late 2006 including adjustments during the 2006 workshops. The structural analysis and the workshop drawings were finished in responsibility of the German side in spring 2007 and handed to the Iranian side for finalization.
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The major goals implied by this Pilot Project regard the assembling, testing and demonstrating of up-to-date technologies in a comprehensive system under the natural and cultural conditions of the Tehran region. The aspects that the Project mainly focuses on include flexibility of use, lightness, earthquake resistance, and fast erection, no welding on building site, use of regenerative energy, and latest air- conditioning techniques. From the different planning and research steps and the discussions between BHRC, NTDC and TU Berlin with regard to the above mentioned aspects, the features of the Project were determined. These include a steel skeleton construction with concrete slabs, a façade made of aluminum panels, double glazing, and a rear ventilated double layer façade with an ETFE foil and foil blinds with highly reflective surfaces. A special roof is placed on top of the building with photo voltaic modules and sun collectors to collect solar energy and to shade the building. The technological and systemic solutions elaborated and assembled are to be transferred to future building projects. The erection process, the single technologies, structures and materials, and the system of the building in total are to be analyzed and evaluated during the construction and using phases.
Guidelines for earthquake resistant design
The task was achieved. From the analyses as indicated in the first section of this Strategic Dimension and the joint elaboration processes for the two Pilot Project buildings as described in the second section, a number of basic guidelines has been developed and agreed as named in the New Quality Pilot Project paragraph. For verification and substantiation of these basic, Project internal guidelines, supervision and monitoring of the implementation process and the buildings’ use are essential. Therefore, the guidelines are only provisional, yet.
2.1.7 Strategic Dimension Project Management & Project Controlling Information collection related to Iranian project management including economic and governmental perspectives as well as Data collection and analysis regarding the economic features of New Town development
Both tasks could be achieved in the preparatory Project phase. The tool which was developed and applied for these tasks was the so-called Analytical Grid. The Grid was developed as the central scientific approach for the in-depth analysis of selected New Towns. The Analytical Grid was elaborated and applied to Hashtgerd New Town and (less intense) Parand New Town in the preparatory phase in cooperation of TU Berlin and NTDC. The NTDC Holding provided most necessary and
32 YOUNG CITIES – NEW TOWNS IN IRAN | Final Project Report | 2005 - 2008 relevant information including support in the translation of documents necessary as well as the contribution of contacts to experts of the NTDC and related partners in the New Towns. The collection and evaluation of information was to high degrees accomplished through interviews with NTDC staff, experts related to NTDC, consultants and companies involved in the New Towns as well as non-NTDC related consultants, companies and scientists. The Analytical Grid has been elaborated by the formulation of sets of questions regarding the following fields of:
• Public building and planning law,
• Relevant civil law,
• Fiscal law,
• Property rights,
• Relevant funding programs,
• Financing of New Towns and municipalities in Iran,
• Local economic policies,
• Financing of infrastructure investments and services,
• Local institutions and incentive structures (institutional economic analysis),
• Urbanistic calculation,
• Monitoring and evaluation,
• (Public) provision of information on the New Towns projects,
• Cooperation and coordination of the stakeholders.
The economic, social and legal Analytical Grid formed the social science base of the Project. It served to analyze the sustainability of the Project in the different dimensions, to detect shortcomings within the current planning, funding, structuring and implementation procedures, and to devise methods for improvements in efficiency, in institution building and in forming self-sustaining local entities. Regarding the fields named above, (qualitative) indicators have been developed for the operationalisation of the Analytical Grid framework.
The questions formulated regarding the research issues included in the Analytical Grid were applied as studies to all phases of planning and implementation of the two New Towns from the initial planning stage to the current status. The studies included the whole range of research issues of the Analytical Grid (with differing emphases) and applied the formulated questions to all phases that the respective New Town has already gone through up to the current status. The analysis was conducted partly by secondary analysis (e.g. legal foundation, existing research,
33 YOUNG CITIES – NEW TOWNS IN IRAN | Final Project Report | 2005 - 2008 documents, and statistics) and partly by case studies and interviews accomplished by graduate and postgraduate students of Real Estate Management, urban and regional planning, and architecture at TU Berlin as student research projects, diploma and master theses. Additional grants for the fact finding missions to be conducted by the students were received from the Knoblauch Foundation tuition program for housing related research sojourns of TU Berlin students.
With the help of the Analytical Grid, it was found that the real development in the New Towns did not live up to the ambitious objectives. The determining conditions were researched in institutional and economic structures together with the implementation process and the applied strategies. Results show that Hashtgerd New Town’s original objectives correspond with major elements of sustainable urban and regional development, but are fragmented and thus do not correspond to the aims of sustainability per se. Relevant but missing elements of sustainable development concern reduced material and resource consumption, adaptation to demographic changes, participation and capacity building, prevention of hazards, integrated water and waste water management, stronger land-use control, and strategic integrated implementation.
Project Management concept for the three Pilot Projects
The task was partly achieved. Due to the joint decision of the Iranian and German partners to shift responsibility for the elaboration and development to the respective Team Coordinators of Teams 1 (35 ha Area) and 3 (New Quality and New Technology) in lead-management of the Pilot Projects on the German and NTDC and BHRC respectively on the Iranian side, initial approaches of concept development in 2005 and early 2006 was moved away from Team 5. Project Management support was, however, given specifically and directly to the lead- managers by Team 5 as was decided to be more effective for the Pilot Projects’ development.
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2.2 According Expenditure of Funds The preparatory Project phase was intended from BMBF for developing the Project concept for implementation in a detailed manner by the Project network, especially regarding the organization of the cooperation of the partners involved. Project funding was very limited in general and mainly to be allocated to travel costs, workshops taking place in the partner cities or capacity building measures.
In accordance with these intentions, the expenditure of the funds provided by BMBF was on the one hand focused on the activities regarding the consolidation and expansion of the Project structures. This included the respective Project structures, i.e. appropriate and additional partners, cooperation and communication structures and the research design, on the German and on the Iranian side as well as especially the bilateral Project structures.
The Project, on the other hand, has laid special emphasis on jointly developing implementation oriented Pilot Projects from the very beginning of the preparatory Project phase. The Pilot Projects were intended to serve the purposes of the preparatory phase in gaining additional analytical background and information, consolidating and appropriately expanding the cooperation network as well as accentuating the joint research questions and design under the special conditions of this inter- and transdisciplinary and intercultural program. Besides these Pilot Projects, analytical research was also conducted in other fields e.g. from the social sciences (e.g. Analytical Grid; see above). Workshops, field study surveys, visits and negotiations in either of the countries and establishment and sustaining of a high degree of communication were necessary for proceeding with these tasks. Accordingly, most of the Project resources were allocated to these two main objectives of the Project in the preparatory phase.
In addition, building up scientific and practitioners networks beyond the growing set of Project partners and disseminating first results arising from the Project required a small share of funding as well. Apart from travelling and the participation in a few international conferences and seminars, especially the international symposium on "New Towns as a concept for the sustainable development of Megacity regions?" held by the Project in September 2006 in Berlin has to be named.
As this Project phase was intended for preparation for the program’s main phase to start from 2007, the realignment of the funding program by BMBF in 2007 in accordance with its climate protection and energy efficiency policies made
35 YOUNG CITIES – NEW TOWNS IN IRAN | Final Project Report | 2005 - 2008 necessary the realignment of the Project’s assignment, networks, partners, and design, too. Accordingly, the funding by BMBF was slightly increased in late 2007 as to conduct the original intentions according to the realigned program objectives, spent for the first Project emphasis on consolidating, adjusting, and expanding of the Project’s structures, including additional workshops in Germany and Iran.
The funding from BMBF, however, only covered a limited share of the resources needed to pursue the tasks and achieve the results of the Project as described above. The Iranian side participation in the Project was completely borne by the Iranian partners themselves, both in developing the Pilot Projects as well as in consolidating and expanding the Project structures on the Iranian side and bilaterally. The German side partners brought in high degrees of own resources, especially for the development of the Pilot Projects, by far exceeding the equivalent to the BMBF funding.
At a small level, additional funding from external funding institutions could be raised. This includes e.g. funding from the Knoblauch Foundation tuition program for housing related research sojourns of TU Berlin students or from the DAAD for sojourns of Iranian researcher in Berlin or European Union co-financing for a longer-term internship at the Young Cities Project Center. This additional funding allowed for complementing work to be pursued not replacing BMBF funding but slightly relieving German and Iranian partners from allocating own resources.
2.3 Project Necessity and Adequacy The Project primarily conducted the tasks and proceeded according to the Project application paper approved by BMBF in 2005 and hence in line with the BMBF call for the research for sustainable development of the Megacities of tomorrow from 2004. All the work accomplished contributed to the tasks defined at the outset of the Project and to the main objectives required by BMBF for the preparatory Project phase.
With regard to a few of the tasks set for the preparatory Project phase that were only partly achieved or modified, the reasons for delay or modification were described above. The underlying objectives to be supported by the respective tasks were nonetheless mainly achieved in deviating manners as for the joint Iranian-German student project to be started but replaced by Iranian and German student works, Diploma and Master theses, and PhD projects.
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The framework of Project tasks and the BMBF objectives for the preparatory Project phase were achieved. All activities contributed to the established framework. However, special emphasis was put on a number of tasks that occurred to be of increased relevance such as the advancement of the Pilot Projects, esp. the 35 ha Area Pilot Project, international networking (e.g. supported within the MENASHDA network, see above) and dissemination (e.g. international symposium in Berlin in September 2005 or New Towns Research Cluster).
Additional work was partly started due to the realignment of the funding program on the research for sustainable development of the Megacities of tomorrow by BMBF in accordance with the policy emphasis on climate protection and energy efficiency. The according necessary realignment of the Project was accomplished in summer and fall 2007 by a number of workshops, meetings and surveys that proved appropriate in adjusting the Project objectives and the research design, the network of partners and the intended instruments and methodologies to be developed.
2.4 Exploitation of Results and Expected Benefits Starting points for the exploitation of results that are expected to emerge from the Project have already been indicated in the application for the preparatory Project phase as well as in three interim reports. Since the focus of the program changed in the preparatory Project phase, it is uncertain whether results will be exploited to the planned degree.
2.4.1 Patents and trademark rights According to the preparatory Project stage, patents and trademark rights have not been filed. The filing of patents might take place in the main phase of the Project. Application of patents might be expected in the context of the technical Pilot Projects, and especially the follow-up projects including the New Technology and New Quality Pilot Projects. The filing of patents might concern technologies in the fields of stiffening systems, chilling and heating systems, façade systems including further development of foils as building materials.
2.4.2 Economic prospects of success The application of newly developed technologies within the preparatory Project phase essentially related to technologies applied in the context of the Strategic Dimension Structural Design. Technologies, which were developed in Germany, were adapted to the specific local context in cooperation of the German and Iranian
37 YOUNG CITIES – NEW TOWNS IN IRAN | Final Project Report | 2005 - 2008 partners. This approach was adopted mainly in the context of the two Pilot Project buildings, both to be erected in the main phase of the Project. In both Pilot Projects, technologies were developed from preliminary design drawings to final design solutions. Negotiations on the further use of the implemented features were held during the workshops in 2006 and 2007. The technologies applied to both Pilot Project buildings will need to be monitored and evaluated in collaboration with the Iranian and German side before further utilization. Features that are regarded as being successful shall then be introduced to construction projects in Iranian New Towns and Hashtgerd New Town (e. g. on the 35 ha Area Pilot Project site) as well as in other countries of the MENA region. The high-ranked governmental lead partners on the Iranian side will contribute significantly to the dissemination of applied technologies. Theses institutions influence directly the current construction and planning practice in Iran through implementing codes and guidelines on the national level and through funding and incentives on the regional and local level. This strong influence will facilitate a transfer of results within the country and thus foster the economic prospects of success after the Project’s runtime. Moreover, the Project actively aims at transferring results applied within the Project to other countries in the MENA region, having similar cultural, climatic, geological, political and religious backgrounds. A major actor facilitating the transfer is the Project member WANACU, having setup a wide network of private and public sector actors in the region (see above). Strong links to governmental, industry, academic and non- governmental actors and institutions thematically related to sustainable development of the built environment exist e. g. in Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Iraq. Due to high population growth resulting in enormous construction activities combined with a demand and need for sustainable technological solutions, these markets are of high interest to the German construction related industries and academia. Activities in these countries and the promotion of the Project with its results are expected to be carried out from the Project’s main phase on.
Besides the Pilot Projects of the preparatory Project phase, it is also expected that results achieved in the main phase will have large economic prospects: The aim of developing and realizing models and processes for energy-efficient urban fabric in Iran is tackled with a strategic adaption and integration of urban, infrastructure and object planning together with an optimization of energy supply and distribution. This is supported essentially by capacity development, awareness raising and assessment
38 YOUNG CITIES – NEW TOWNS IN IRAN | Final Project Report | 2005 - 2008 tools. The aim is approached by a step-by-step adaption and integration of all involved fields, which also reflects the economic prospects of this Project in a short, medium and long term view. This step-by-step approach will trigger the development of products on all levels and sectors with a rich application potential in context of BMBF’s High-Tech-Strategy for Climate Protection.
In a first, short-term oriented step, state-of-the-art technologies and concepts on energy-efficiency will be adapted in all involved levels and Dimensions (Urban Development and Design - Urban Infrastructure Systems - Design, Structure, Engineering) to regional conditions. This concerns products and systems, which can be produced in the country itself (e.g. building materials), as well as advanced technologies, which must at first be imported to Iran (e.g. cooling devices). Due to the Pilot Project approach, these products are implemented in the first phase of the Project in Hashtgerd New Town, allowing for good economic prospects in the short term for German producers and companies. Features of the Pilot Projects that are regarded as being successful shall be introduced to normal construction projects in Iranian New Towns as well as in other countries of the MENA region and therefore further commercialized in medium term.
In a second, medium-term oriented step the closely related disciplines work integrated according to the international state-of-the-art concepts of Integrated Urban Development (urban, green and traffic planning), Integrated Infrastructure Planning (water, waste, energy) and Integrative Object Planning (structure, architecture and building services). This implies adaption of these concepts to local/regional conditions in a systematic manner. This indicates good economic prospect in the medium term for all solutions and products, which are already available (e. g. decentralized waste water systems and facilities) but are to be combined with other measures (e. g. energy-efficient forms of housing), leading to partly redeveloped technologies and products.
In a third, long-term oriented step, the Project aims for a systematic integration of all required areas of urban development. This will include the development of totally new technologies, instruments or methods and therefore aims for the long term. Since these technologies bear a high innovation potential, but are only partly utilized until today in a global scale, it can be expected that economic prospects of success are very high.
The economic prospects after the Project’s runtime are also high: Over the next 25 years, modernizing and expanding the water, electricity, and transportation systems
39 YOUNG CITIES – NEW TOWNS IN IRAN | Final Project Report | 2005 - 2008 will require an investment of approx. 40 trillion US$ globally. Moreover, the demand on the global housing market is immense: this translates into completing 35m housing units per year. Also the reality of climate change calls for the need to compensate fossil-based energies. All of these challenges combined with the demand for solutions that tackle climate change are the focus of the Project and therefore rate the solutions developed in the Project as highly relevant.
Iran as market
Due to the young population (65% of the population is under 25 years of age), the construction sector in Iran does achieve a high growth. It is estimated that the annual growth in this sector in the period of the 4th 5-Year Development Plan (5YDP; 2005-2010) is around 7 to 10%. Due to this enormous pressure on the housing market, the 4th 5YDP envisages a building rate of 4.3m residential units in the period 2005- 2010. These units shall be partly erected in 23 Iranian New Towns and other urban extension projects managed by main Project partner NTDC.
Moreover, there is enormous need for investment in the infrastructure sector (roads, energy supply, water and waste water). Thus, one must conclude that - despite current difficult political conditions - in the long-term perspective the economic potential of Iran for German companies in the sectors (Urban Design, Urban Planning, Architecture, Infrastructure Planning, Structural Design, Engineering etc.) are promising: Iran as one of the „next eleven“ countries is one of the most important growth markets for capital-intensive goods in the region. Regarding western technological products, German technologies do hold a leading position due to the high quality and reliable „Made in Germany” image. Moreover, Iran’s geographical position is an ideal hub for trading operations in the neighboring countries, representing a market of 300m people. Therefore, the Project actively aims at transferring results applied within the Project to other countries in the MENA region (see above).
Benefit for various user groups and industries in Germany
First results of the Project have been provided to all Project partners and the public through publications, conferences and participation in networks in the preparatory Project phase. In the main phase, other, specific, user groups, which are already involved in the Project, shall also benefit from the results elaborated in the Young Cities Project, as there are:
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• Architectural firms/consultants (e.g. AS&P Albert Speer & Partner Architects and Planners, Frankfurt/M., Fink + Jocher Architects, Munich, KCAP Kees Christiaanse Architects and Planners, Rotterdam),
• Landscape planning and architecture firms/consultants (e.g. NG Neumann Gusenburger Landscape Architects, Berlin)
• Planning and consultants companies in water, waste water, energy (e.g. Fichtner Engineering, Stuttgart, EnBW AG, Karlsruhe),
• Universities and research institutions (e.g. PIK, Potsdam, International New Towns Institute, NL),
• Vocational training institutions (e.g. BFW e.V.),
• Institutions in development cooperation (e.g. GTZ, UNDP, UNEP),
• Professional Associations (e.g. Federal Chamber of Architects in Germany, NAX Network for Architectural Exchange).
2.4.3 Scientific and technological prospects of success The results of the preparatory Project phase and of the main phase are to be disseminated through a well-defined dissemination strategy. The exchange is (to be) facilitated through the integration of the Project in the following databases
• New Towns database of the International New Towns Institute,
• Research database of the International New Towns Institute,
• UFORDAT – Umweltforschungsdatenbank,
• FORS - Forschungsdokumentation Raumordnung, Städtebau und Wohnungswesen,
• ICONDA - The International Construction Database,
• Baufo – Bauforschungsprojekte, and networks
• MENASHDA (Middle Eastern North African Sustainable Habitat Corporation Unit) of TU Berlin,
• New Towns Research Cluster,
• European New Towns Plattform,
• International Urban Development Association, and
• NAX Network for Architectural Exchange.
Moreover, the Project’s scientific results will be made accessible to, exchanged with and elaborated in other applications in the following companies
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• EnBW AG,
• Fichtner Engineering,
• GTZ, and research centers
• International New Towns Institute,
• PIK Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research,
• Laboratory for Planning in a Global Context, Universität Karlsruhe (TH),
• Global Urban Research Unit, University of Newcastle, and
• Joint Centre of Urban Design, Oxford Brookes University.
2.5 External Results of Relevance to the Project The survey for current research projects relating to the sector under investigation defined as the development of New Towns in developing countries and emerging markets was conducted from 2005 to 2007. Four relevant research projects and networks of interest were identified on the national and European level and contacted successively:
GLORA - Parallel-Cities in the South
The Laboratory for Planning in a Global Context (GLORA) is situated at the University of Karlsruhe in Germany, affiliated with the Department of Construction and Urban Planning. In 2001, the GLORA Unit initiated a research project on growth dynamics and development strategies of large urban agglomerations in the 21st century called “Parallel-Cities in the South”. Research encompassed case studies on Hanoi New Town, Saigon South, Navi Mumbai, Jakarta, Anting New Town as well as Shanghai. Due to its regional focus on Asia, its thematic focus on New Towns and new settlements as well as its up-to-date research results, the project is of highest interest to the Young Cities consortium. Consequently, P. Gotsch of GLORA was contacted and a close exchange was started with the Project including his active contribution to the international symposium in September 2006 at TU Berlin. Furthermore, GLORA has become a member of the New Towns Research Cluster.
ENTP – European New Towns Platform
The European New Towns Platform (ENTP) was founded in 2001 as a European organization serving on a European level as an advocacy body to represent 25 New Towns and strengthen their role on a regional level. The ENTP has two main purposes:
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Firstly, it serves as a platform for the exchange of information among New Towns and research facilitators; secondly it shares and spreads experiences of best practices on New Town development. The ENTP network is relevant for the Young Cities Project due to its networks on the European level comprising links to municipalities, to governments and the EU administration coupled with scientific institutions. First contacts to Pascaline Gaborit, Director of ENTP, could be acquired on the International Conference on New Towns in Iran in May 2005 and deepened in the context of a summer school on “Sustainable Development of Emerging Settlement Patterns“ at TU Berlin organized by the Caspian Cooperation Work Group (now WANACU) in 2005. Intense contacts with ENTP were taken up in 2006, when ENTP became a member of the New Towns Research Cluster. Up to now, no significant influence on the Young Cities Project is expected from the organization since the non-European context is varies tremendously.
Interreg IIIB project Newtasc
The aim of the Newtasc Interreg IIIB project is to develop key strategies and actions as well as standards for the effective regeneration of New Towns to ensure their future competitiveness in terms of their physical, economic and social image and community identity. The Newtasc project seeks to address this aim through a set of objectives concerning the physical environment of New Towns. Obtaining information on the Project via the ENTP, one recognized that the Newtasc’s focus on New Towns of an older generation and their current regeneration processes are only of minor relevance to the Project and not significantly influencing its objectives.
INTI - International New Towns Institute
A major partner of the Project was identified in 2006 with the International New Towns Institute, located in Almere New Town in the Netherlands. The INTI is a higher education and research institute focusing on planned communities worldwide and throughout history, preparing PhD and MSc projects and classes, as well as international conferences. It is affiliated to the Delft University of Technology, the University of Amsterdam and the Municipality of Almere. The Young Cities Project has developed close ties with the INTI including the participation in its founding seminar in Almere in November 2006 and its annual conference in 2007. INTI is member of the New Towns Research Cluster and a Letter of Intent has been signed between the Young Cities Project coordinator and the INTI director Prof ir D. Frieling on future cooperation activities after establishment of INTI and approval of main phase continuation of the Young Cities Project.
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2.6 Dissemination of Results In the preparatory Project phase, an overall dissemination strategy was elaborated in order to assure that the results are communicated to scholars, decision-makers and other national and international parties. The Project focused on setting up the dissemination strategy, covering methods such as accomplishing and attending conferences, networking on national and international level, publishing in scientific journals and books and disseminating the Project’s results via newsletters, events, websites and flyers. A major tool regarding the transfer of results was the initiation, organization and conduction of the successful international symposium on "New Towns as a concept for the sustainable development of Megacity regions?", held in September 2006 at TU Berlin. Emerging from the conference a global “New Towns Research Cluster” could be initiated, currently involving over 50 international decision-makers and opinion-leaders involved in research, planning and construction of New Towns. The establishment of the Research Cluster also facilitated the involvement of new partners in the Project. To link up to discussions and to disseminate the Project’s first results, members of the German consortium were present at international conferences in Europe and Asia in 2006, 2007 and 2008, partly contributing by presenting first conclusions drawn from the Project. The Project’s approaches and first results were also disseminated on occasion of events such as the 3rd UN-HABITAT World Urban Forum in Vancouver and the Berlin Long Night of Science 2006, 2007 and 2008. Disseminating results were fostered by public relation tools such as the Project’s website and flyers. These activities were supported by TU Berlin’s strong activities in the MENA region facilitating the intended transfer of results in the region’s countries. The most comprehensive activity of communicating the research Project within the MENA region was its integration into the above mentioned MENASHDA initiative. During fact finding missions to the partner countries (Algeria, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Morocco, Syria, and Tunisia) and the Kick-off conference in Berlin (November 2006) and the Coordination-Workshop in Berlin (March 2008) activities and competences resulting from the Young Cities Project were presented and potential mutual topics and cooperation instruments discussed.
Within the framework of the communication with institutions of the MENA region in the context of the MENASHDA initiative, first bilateral projects emerged. They shall later be integrated in multinational initiatives. Examples include:
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• Iraqi-German workshop and planned cooperation project on “Energy Efficient Housing” with the delegation of the Iraqi Minister of Housing and Construction since September 2006,
• Egyptian-German cooperation on “Cost Efficient Housing” with the Housing and Building Research Center (HBRC), Cairo, and the private construction company Arab Contractors, Cairo, since July 2006, and
• Egyptian-German cooperation on the enhancement of the education of engineers in the building sector with the private construction company ORASCOM, Cairo, since June 2006.
Moreover, MENASHDA provided research mobility grants for two Iranian researchers involved or affiliated to the Young Cities Project (M. Nikravan, BHRC, and M. Torabi, Shahid Beheshti University), who stayed in Berlin in January 2007 (Nikravan) and from January to March 2007 (Torabi).
The Project’s results have been and will be publicized by the following scientific means: ongoing doctoral theses (selection)
• “Environmental impacts in densely populated areas under the conditions of semi-arid regions”, M. Husnain, supervision: Dr A. Herberg, TU Berlin/IOER, Dresden,
• “Legal regulations regarding planning of high-rise buildings in Teheran”, A. Zareian Jahromi, supervision: Prof. Dr R. Schäfer, TU Berlin,
• “Public Space in New Towns in Iran”, M. Mofrad Nikravan, BHRC, Tehran, supervision: Prof. Dr E. Pahl-Weber and Prof. Dr P.-D. Hansen, both TU Berlin,
• “Reuse of water by aquaculture and irrigation of public greens in New Towns“, H.E. Keshmeshtappeh, supervision: Prof E Pahl-Weber, TU Berlin,
• “Urban Design Criteria and Standards for New Towns in Iran”, M. Mirian, Ekbatan Construction Co. (former Chairman of the Board of Directors of NTDC Holding, Tehran), Tehran, supervision: Prof. Dr R. Schäfer, TU Berlin,
• „Urban Planning Law in Iran“, M. Javadi, BHRC, Tehran, supervision: Prof. Dr R. Schäfer, TU Berlin, completed diploma and master theses (selection)
• ”Feasibility Study of the New Town Hashtgerd. Stakeholder Approach and Policy Analysis”, U. Assmann, supervision: Prof Dr R. Schäfer, and Prof E. Pahl- Weber, both TU Berlin,
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• ”New Living in Iran”, M. Krecina, supervision: Prof. Dr K. Rückert, TU Berlin,
• „Energy Management for New Towns at Local Level: Application to Residential Buildings in the New Town of Hashtgerd, Iran“, G. S. Hossein Jasbi, supervision: Prof Dr R. Schäfer, TU Berlin,
• „Use of Environmental Impact Assessment in the case of Iran New Town Hashtgerd", M. Ibáñez Amargós, supervision: Prof Dr W. Wende, TU Berlin,
• “Sustainable transportation planning in New Towns: Analysis of transportation concepts in New Towns” Keelan, Phillip; Klippel, Tobias; Qu, Jia, supervision: Dipl.-Ing. W.-H. Arndt, publications (selection)
• Pahl-Weber, E., Seelig, S.: Forschung für die nachhaltige Entwicklung der Megastädte von morgen: Projektmanagement im BMBF-Projekt “Young Cities – New Towns in Iran“, in: Liebchen, J.: Festschrift zum 60. Geburtstag von Prof. Dr. B. Kochendörfer, Teubner Verlag, 2007, pp. 121-129,
• Schäfer, R., Seelig S., Stellmacher, F.: Young Cities - New Towns in Iran: New Chances for an Aged Concept, in: Trialog, Journal for Planning and Building in the Third World, 92, 1/2007, pp. 22-23,
• Seelig, S., Stellmacher, F.: New Towns as a Concept for the sustainable Development of Megacity Regions – The Project “Young Cities – New Towns in Iran” in: Megacity Taskforce, International Geographical Union, Newsletter No. 5, June 2006, pp. 22-23,
• Seelig, S., Stellmacher, F.: New Towns in the desert – Deserted New Towns? in: University of Hongkong, Guangzhou University, South China University of Technology: International Megacities Conference 2006, 1st-2nd of December 2006, Guangzhou, China, Conference proceedings, pp. 281-292, presentations (selection)
• Prof Dr P.-D. Hansen: Indicators and Environmental Quality Norms (EQNs) for Quality of Life in Urban Areas, II. International Congress on Environmental Planning and Management, Planning the urban environment: Vision – Implementation - Result, Berlin, 05-10.08.07,
• Prof E. Pahl-Weber, Die Megacities Projekte in Berlin-Brandenburg, Fokus Stadtproduktion und Stadterneueung: Hashtgerd, Fachforum „Megacities: Verbundprojekt Nachhaltigkeit – Megacities-Forschung in Verbundprojekten in der Region Berlin-Brandenburg“, IHK Berlin, 02.11.2007,
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• Prof Dr R Schäfer: Megatrend Urbanization, Megacities and Metropolitan Regions, Siemens University Conference, 29.09.07, München,
• Seelig, S., Stellmacher, F.: New Towns in the desert – Deserted New Towns? University of Hongkong, Guangzhou University, South China University of Technology: International Megacities Conference 2006, 1st -2nd of December 2006, Guangzhou, China,
• Arndt, W.-H.: Accessibility in Transportation Planning and Transport System in Asian and European Megacities, Asia-Pacific Weeks 2007,Urban Sustainability Conference, Meeting „Urban Transport & Mobility“ 12.9.-13.9.07, Berlin, and
• Arndt, W.-H.: Безбарьерная среда и мобильность в город-гигантах (Barrierfree Mobility in Megacities), Семинар „Город без барьеров“(Seminar for traffic and urban planner of Moscow area), Berlin Town hall, 10.11.08, Berlin.
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