35 ha Pilot Project

Hashtgerd ground profile

Goals

The concepts and technologies that have been developed through the two other associated Pilot Projects will be tested in the planning and development of the 35 ha Pilot Project Area located in the south of Hashtgerd New Town. Since the planning of the 35 ha area as well as the implementation of the scheme will be confronted with local administrative, technical and institutional conditions it can be expected that a wide range of information related to local preconditions and the planning process can be gained.

Approach

The planning process commenced in July 2005 with an on-site survey and documentation of local conditions. As this site has been developed according to the methodology of the scenario technique, the Team is currently progressing two alternative Urban Design Scenarios that build on the economic, legal and socio-cultural requirements of the Iranian partners. It is developing a "low rise - high density" urbanistic approach that seeks sustainable planning and design solutions which will also be transferable to other Iranian New Towns in the longer-term perspective.

Pilot Project construction site

• Earthquake-proof, compact settlement forms
• Mixed-use concepts
• New flexible housing typologies
• Appropriate concepts of mobility and infrastructure
• The enhancement of the planning process and related instruments in order to gain quality assurance and planning security

Associated urban planning topics of the Pilot Project are integrated due to its long-term time frame and objective to apply an integrative and holistic planning approach that achieves sustainable solutions. As such Team 2 and Team 5 contribute to the Pilot Project by investigating topics including: Integrated Water Resource Management, Participation and Communication, Landscape Planning with special regard to implementation of a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and Exploration Geology.

Scenario development

Outlook

The Urban Design Scenarios as well as the Urban Design Criteria will be further elaborated until the stage of detailed planning in 2006 and 2007. In parallel new types of infrastructure, of building units and of urban traffic as well as participation structures should be developed. In the implementation phase of the Project (from 2007 and onwards), the Team will focus on the preparation of a legally binding Urban Design and Development Plan for the site.