International Journal of Advanced Biotechnology and Research (IJBR) ISSN 0976-2612, Online ISSN 2278–599X, Vol-7, Special Issue4-June, 2016, pp369-376 http://www.bipublication.com

Case Report

Evaluation of Physical Indicators of Urban Housing in Compact Cities (Case Study: Ekbatan neighborhood in city)

Sara Felli Young Researchers and Elite Club, Arak Branch, Islamic Azad University, Arak, Corresponding Author: [email protected]

ABSTRACT The population growth has had numerous problems, one of which is the accelerated development of cities. On other hand, accelerated development and unplanned in Tehran city in recent decades has caused disruption of balance in natural ecosystems. In this regard, according to the various restrictions, in order to improve the situation, compact city model is proposed. In this regard due to the widespread effects of housing on the urban environment and economic, social life and urban physical and citizens, addressing housing indicators (specifically physical parameters of urban housing) is the most sensitive stages of planning. So the study aimed to investigate and understand the results of the compact city model on urban housing physical indicators. Descriptive and non-experimental method to achieve it (field and survey) is used. The results indicate that in term of physical, housing in Ekbatan neighborhood has desirable condition. In other words, compact cities in spite of residential intensive and vertical growth, can provide physical indicators of urban housing and urban compression is compatible with physical indicators of urban housing.

Keywords: compact city, physical indicators, urban housing, Ekbatan neighborhood

1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 Statement of Problem However, the most important challenge in the Primarily a consequence of the industrial assessment of spatial-physical development revolution is increasing urbanization growth patterns in cities is identify indicators and (Abedin Darkosh, 2002). Such accelerated criteria for evaluation of such patterns. As growth has had many problems in cities, (Short indicators of the status and trends of spatial & Kim, 2008) and the importance of urban development of cities makes it possible tangibly issues for planners and operators of municipal and reliably (Zamizi, 2010). affairs is inevitable (Pourahmad, Comparing Tehran settlements population in the Mohammadpur, Manoochrhri Miandoab et al., census years 1345 to 1385 show that the number 2012). In this regard, more than any other issue of people living in surrounding areas has been a that has attracted the attention of urban planners major change in Tehran. is to identify patterns and urban growth trends. Most of the population growth occurred in the Because the process is effective on various scope of the capital's most desirable agricultural aspects of citizens life (Zamizi, 2010) In this land. What can be said with certainty is situation, two main theories and conflicting happening in uncontrolled growth and principle debate that provided for the sustainability of outside of the urban limits (Milladi and Farhadi, cities, as follows: 2014). The urban physical development is a A) Urban compaction and compression process that affects all the systems and B) Urban distribution and dispersion (Masnavi, structures in the city. 2002) Evaluation of Physical Indicators of Urban Housing in Compact Cities

That is why, if during this process does not flow process, so that despite the rapid growth of properly, adverse effects on their many different population, area and total area of growth has parts of the city. (Farshchin, 2010) been faster in recent decades (Gharakhlou and Accordingly, in order to improve the situation, Zanganeh Shahraki, 2009). The consequences of compact city model is proposed. Therefore, the it in urban areas in relation to housing, leading fact that the housing sector can be an important to the emergence of problems such as part of development in a society, (Azizi, 2004) homelessness and bad housing, marginalization to represent different aspects of urban housing and growing problem of slums and informal and better identify their components and status settlements and....So choose a suitable model of in compact cities as a way to guide the physical urban development in a city like Tehran seems development of Tehran, this issue will be inevitable. discussed. In this regard, the need for an In this regard, due to different conditions and instrument is the desired goals can be achieved. constraints, compact city model as one of the The indexes of housing can provide significant ways out of this crisis and improve the living help (Lotfi, Ahmadi and Hassan Zadeh Farjod, conditions are recommended.Therefore, since 2009) Due to the wide range of housing the implementation of an urban plan without indicators, through various indicators, the study having the necessary knowledge in all aspects of focused only on physical parameters of urban the subject that is not possible as a result, it is housing.Since the Ekbatan neighborhood as one necessary to identify and investigate the of the neighborhoods of Tehran city in widespread dimensions of a compact city model. connection with the urban development pattern In the meantime, addressing the housing has many similarities with compact cities, and indicators (in particular the physical intensive development of the city as a means of characteristics of urban housing) considered as a expression in literature would further expand its key planning tool and forming its main bases of urban development and urban the most sensitive stages of planning. Planners management.Hence, this study seeks to answer to get results that are more detailed in order to the question of whether compact select a suitable city model in accordance with cities (specifically Ekbatan neighborhood) the conditions used could use the results of this despite intensive and vertical growth of study. residential users, can provide physical indicators 1.3 Research Literature in urban housing? In relation to compact cities and urban housing 1.2. The need for research indicators in recent years researches in Iranand There are different views in the field of urban elsewhere has been carried that a number of development patterns necessitate to be explored them are mentioned: different aspects of this issue. City's growth Yakob et al in an article titled urban land use pattern with basic family's need, housing is regulations to achieve sustainable urban housing concerned (Gharakhlou and Zanganeh Shahraki, in Klang Valley in Malaysia. In this paper, the 2009). The reasons for considering the issue of achievement solution to sustainable housing urban housing are: development of living know spatial and social justice, economic conditions and the obligation to comply with the growth and environmental sustainability, requirements, the need to reduce flood damage, sustainable and management design (Yakob et natural disasters, earthquakes, hurricanes and al., 2012). landslides, housing retrofitting requirements, Bouchair et al to investigate the compact city providing the perfect environment to live, lack and challenging environmental restrictions on of compliance with technical standards in Algeria's arid and expression in an environment, construction and so on. So pay attention to the response to harsh environmental stresses and issue of urban housing becomes necessary. extreme temperature have been changed to Tehran city as capital of Iran as their stages of improve urban and indoor comfort and reduce development is much faster than the normal energy consumption. We have the technical

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means in the design of the building due to better Research hypothesis: It seems that in compact coverage of environmental conditions and cities (specifically Ekbatan neighborhood in promote urban sustainability in the local and Tehran city (despite the intensive and vertical global level (Bouchair et al., 2013). Tian et al growth of urban land, again, we can provide the using GIS techniques, investigate landscape and physical indicators of urban housing. environmental quality of urban green space in 1.5 Procedure Hong Kong's compact cities. New city According to purposes, research is applied and landscape pattern improved than old town, approach of study space is descriptive and non- human disorders decreased and improve experimental (field survey). In this study, in ecosystem services and improve the vegetation. order to gather information to gain insight into Compact city optimize the quality and benefits theoretical and literature review of practices of urban environment and strengthen urban using library books, thesis, magazines and nature (Tian et al., 2014). Bardhan et al in a articles, as well as referring to the Internet and study examine the relationship between the information from interviews and field compact cities and improve the quality of urban observations were used. life in Kolkata, India using two metric indexes, 1.6 Research Indicators compact index (COMPI) and mix usage index To study urban housing in the study area (MUI) based on the compact city model. physical parameters of urban housing will be Classification of compact city used in the forms investigated. The index includes a wide range, of transmission. The results showed that there is but in terms of statistics and information, and a significant relationship between the compact restrictions of article, following physical city and urban quality. (Bardhan et al., 2015) In indicators checked: housing pattern, pattern of an article by Azizi titled "Analysis of the status development, building density, abnormal and and changes in housing indicators in Iran", the illegal housing, infrastructure level and per result is that most major countries in identifying capita residential units, type of building housing needs and plan for it, in-depth analysis materials and methods of construction, of housing indicators using data and scientific durability and safety index, average number of findings (Azizi, 2005). The results of the study residential units in the building and the average "The Role of Social and physical indicators on area of land dedicated to a residential unit. quality of life in urban contexts (Case Study: 2. Theoretical Foundations urban neighborhoods in Zanjan city)" by 2.1 The study area Dwyeran, Gholami and Daneshdoost was done. Ekbatan (Aq Bataan) or Hegmataneh in Old It shows that texture is scheduled in term of means "gathering place". formal social physical indicators compared to (Wikipedia) Ekbatan neighborhood is one of the two informal settlements and texture of old ones largest neighborhoods in Middle East in the has good condition (Dwyeran, Gholami and West and North West of Tehran, District Six Daneshdoost, 2012). Tehran area five Municipality in kilometers five aremi and Ebrahimpour in an article entitled Azadi Square in Tehran is located. Around the "Study of Iranian housing index and world (case Ekbatan neighborhood to this: from East to study: Iran, Britain and France)" results found Bime Avenu and Apadana neighborhood, from that due to demographic trends, housing index in north to Tehran- Karaj highway, from the West all cases has grown in Iran. However, developed to the airline industry exhibition and south to countries are yet to reach the index is high Tehran-Karaj Special Road. Ekbatan (Saremi and Ebrahimpour, 2012). neighborhood plan build in 1345 by American 1-4- Research purpose and hypothesis engineers were cast based on high-rise and Research objective: studying the results of the urban design. Jordan Grozn American architect compact city model on urban housing physical was responsible for designing neighborhood indicators. complex and manufacturing was responsible for starter American company.Vast green spaces,

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exposure and shooting perfectly adequate and nineteen blocks) and Phase III (four blocks). specific stairs for escape, and dozens of other (Ranjipoor, 1390) and generally has thirty-three American standard, Ekbatan difference from blocks and 284 entries and 15593 housing units other construction of Tehran and Iran. Ekbatan (Kimiaqalam, 2012). The first units of this neighborhood 2727990 square meters massive housing project were awarded in 1356. (Kimiaqalam, 2012) and 30545 people (Census Assignment of housing units after the revolution of Population and Housing 1390). The by civil and environmental renewal company neighborhood consists of three phases, each was followed (Kimiaqalam, 2012) in the number phase consisting of several blocks and each one position map of the study area is shown. block contains several entries: Phase I (consisting of ten blocks), phase II (including

Map 1: Location of the study area (A: Iran, B: Tehran and C: District 5, D: Ekbatan neighborhood) Source: author, 2015.

Figure 1: View of the Ekbatan neighborhood Source: News Agriculture, 2015

2.2 Housing has fundamental importance in human Housing literally means "settlement in place" development (King & Aldershot, 2005).In (Lotfi, Ahmadi and Hassan Zadeh Farjod, 2009). Article 31 of the constitution, housing in Housing concept in addition to the physical accordance with the right of every Iranian location also included the residential individual and family enumerated (Sartipipour, environment (Mokhber, 1984) Environmental 1998). housing is fundamental to family life, resting 2.3. Housing indicators place of the current work, school and private To qualitative and quantitative analysis of space (Schwartez, 2006). As well as the main housing the tool is used for of the issues that element of socialization of people into the world arise as Housing Index and represent various and is the main place of ideological goals economic, social, cultural and physical aspects (Hewitt, 1998). Quality of housing available, of housing (Gharakhlou and Akbarpoor depending on the physical and social Sraskanrood, 2007). These indicators are characteristics of the region around the housing divided into three main groups: economic is located (Gootdiener & Buddy, 2005). Housing

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indicators, socio-cultural indicators, and 2012),building density is equal to 1264.58 per physical indicators (Sattarzadeh, 2009). cent in this respect among the high-density 2.4 The physical indicators of housing urban neighborhoods and land had most usage. The physical dimensions of the housing can be 2-4-4- Abnormal and unauthorized housing studied from two aspects. First, housing body as The abnormal and unauthorized housing index a residential unit; and second, housing physical shows other aspects of housing such a lack of relationship with their residential environment housing. Its physical effects as problematic, as a social indicator and the role of housing in non-service related organizations, visual urban development (Azizi, 2004). disturbances, lack of garbage collection, non- In this section, examples of physical indicators compliance with technical issues in housing and of housing that can be used in dense city model the use of durable building materials is less to be briefly reviewed. visible (Azizi, 2004). Based on observations 2-4-1- housing pattern (single, apartment, made in the study area any abnormal and collection, High-rise building) unauthorized housing was observed, indicating Population, limited land and extending out of lack of housing is a housing shortage. It can the city including factors, which causes a change cause high strength blocks and the lack of in the construction, pattern (Azizi, 2004). conditions for construction are arbitrary and lack Ekbatan neighborhood aimed to control the of interventions without thought. population of Tehran and transfer overflow 2-4-5- level of infrastructure and per capita crowd from entering the city to modernity housing units (Architecture News) in form of housing The average index level residential units are complex with the apartments 5, 9, 13 and 15 defined as: mean residental space of housing floors in each city block, integrated design and units. The low index shows the undesirable composition. density (Rafeie, 2003). Residential infrastructure 2-4-2- Development model area in Ekbatan neighborhood is 2660000 square Accommodation type populations can have meters. On the other hand, this neighborhood different effects on the body of the town, such as has 15593 units (Kimiaqalam, 2012). The the expansion of the development in height and average infrastructure housing units is equal to development of the city from within (AzizI, 170.6 square meters. This would provide 2004).Ekbatan neighborhood with features, habitable space prove housing units in the compact urban form, Occupational and high- neighborhood. Ekbatan neighborhood with residential density, land use mix, continuous 30545 inhabitants (census population and development, multiple public transport, separate housing in 1390) has per capita infrastructure lines of walking and bike path, lack of space and housing units 87.07 sq/m that shows the a compact development pattern. In Tehran, adequacy of habitable space per person. according to the demand and needs of the 2-4-6- type of building materials and methods increasing population, limited land and limited of construction the city from four directions, residential and Affordable housing with minimum living intensive development pattern in Ekbatan conditions and safe shelter, housing that is so neighborhood is very favorable. physical useful life, to the materials used, not on 2-4-3- Building density the head with respect to weather climatic In urban literature common in the country, the conditions and relative safety in the face of ratio between the surface area of the building natural disasters, durable and semi-durable with an area of land and building density materials is made (Fanaee, 1998). declared (Azizi, 2009). By this index, the Buildings of study area totally with uncoated intensity of land use is determined (Azizi, 2004). concrete and in other words, bare and devoid of The study area is 210,346 square meters plot of ornament were implemented. The benefits are residential land with 2660000 square meters they do not understand the difference and the residential infrastructure (Kimiaqalam, gap between the residents noted.Unique features

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of Ekbatan residential complex including, semi- manufacturers to mass-produce housing and tunnel system; employing the first concrete mass housing purposes. technology, such jumper frames technology. For the construction of concrete ceiling after 3. CONCLUSION molding, were concrete. Construction any Choose a suitable model for urban development ceiling lasted a week. In making the Ekbatan and enhance its efficiency, requiring full collection more building systems, automatic, identification of strengths and weaknesses, and most of the required materials imported from that pattern is widespread dimensions in the abroad and the workers were all trained people meantime, addressing the housing index as the (Kimiaqalam, 2012).Two important indicator of main tool for planning is necessary. the type of construction materials and methods in this study housing index to evaluate the status of construction in the Ekbatan residential of the housing in the Ekbatan neighborhood in complex at this point it becomes clear that the Tehran. The results of this study are as follows. use of durable materials and manufacturing Housing pattern and the pattern of development methods appropriate to the structural strength in accordance with demand and constraints in and withstand an earthquake up to nine on the Tehran, high density city in terms of building Richter scale (and thus increase the safety of density and maximum use of land, lack of buildings), estimated useful life of 300 years to housing shortage, adequacy of habitable space block the collection and preservation of the per person and favorable conditions of physical quality of housing in the long run. settlement, physical coming over the useful life 2-4-7- The average number of residential of buildings, having high strength structures, units in the building high productivity of the land and the purposes of The indicators show general status of mass mass construction in Ekbatan neighborhood construction housing on both the surface and in indicate high standards appropriate conditions height (path sign). Glitch effects of mass and physical indicators is present.In fact, as was construction can be used to increase the seen in the Ekbatan neighborhood as an example productivity of land, reduce the cost by saving of compact cities,despite intensive growth and building land and possibly saving building urban land vertically, it can be physical materials during the construction period and indicators of urban housing. In other words, reduce per unit mentioned construction. Since compact city model of urban housing does not the Ekbatan neighborhood for 33 separated have any conflict with the provision of physical residential blocks emerged and each block has a indicators. Therefore, it is clear that the pattern number of entries and generally has 284 entries of development and housing policies must focus and 15593 housing units, so if we consider each on these issues planned and implemented. entry for an apartment, then in each apartment an average of 54.9 estimated in residential units. REFERENCES This suggests the construction of large sets of 1. productivity in the process of mass providing mass housing purposes. construction. 2-4-8- Average land area allocated to a 2. Pourahmad, Ahmad, Mohammadpoor residential unit Saber, Manouchehri Miandoab, Ayob and Ekbatan neighborhood area 15593 square meters Khalili, A. (2012). Evaluate the distribution of housing units in an area of 210346 and density of cities using quantitative (Kimiaqalam, 2012), the average area of land models (comparative study between the allocated to a housing unit is equal to 13.49 metropolises of Tehran and Sydney). square meters. In fact, the land allocated to each Geography, new era, Issue 32, p. 50. residential unit is equal to 49. 13 square meters. 3. Rafi, M. (2003). Housing economy, The figure represents the maximum size the low Proceedings of home economics education. productivity of land, the tendency is for National Land and Housing Organization, Page 37.

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