Bilateral Workshop

From September 5th until 10th 2006 an Iranian-German workshop was held at Technische Universität Berlin. The Iranian delegation participating in the workshop was led by Prof G. Heidarinejad, President of the Building and Housing Research Center, Eng S.M. Mirian, Chairman of the New Towns Development Corporation, Dr T. Parhizkar, Vice-President for Research of BHRC and Eng A. Nemati, Chairman of the NTDC Hashtgerd New Town.

The workshop focussed on both the proceeding of the three Pilot Projects and the presentation and discussion of topics of the forthcoming three-year phase of the overall BMBF-Project. As part of the workshop programme also encompassed the international symposium "New Towns as a concept for the sustainable development of Megacity regions?" on September 6th 2006.

The workshop started off with an excursion to the Xella GmbH Technology and Research Centre at Brück and Emstal south of Potsdam on September 5th 2006. The facilities are of interest especially regarding the research and development of light weight materials, such as aerated concrete blocks for their earthquake resistance and effective prefabricated production of buildings. In the evening the Iranian-German workshop was inaugurated by a meeting of the Project's steering committee and followed by a Welcome Dinner organised by the Project Coordinator.

Settlement "Am Petersberg" in Berlin-Zehlendorf

The workshop sessions on the subsequent days were complemented by a half-day excursion to the Stahnsdorf Waste Water Treatment Plant south of Berlin and to the residential settlement "Am Petersberg" in Berlin-Zehlendorf. The visit to Stahnsdorf gave interesting insight into ongoing decentralised and resource saving sewage treatment technologies. The settlement in Zehlendorf, planned by Berlin architect Klaus Theo Brenner, demonstrates the combination of prefabricated construction technology, the use of solar energy and distant as well as local heating components, brought together by a sensitive but distinctive urban design concept

The workshop sessions were split according to the two main objectives of the workshop:

1. Advancement of the ongoing activities including the three Pilot Projects, i.e. New Quality Pilot Project, High Technology Pilot Project, 35 ha Area Pilot Project
2. Definition of the topics and the procedure for the joint application for the first main phase (2007 - 2010)

Team discussion in the TU Senate Hall

All Teams except for Team 3 (Qualification) hosted sessions on both the advancement of the ongoing activities, esp. the Pilot Projects, as well as on the future cooperation in the first main phase of the Project (2007 - 2010). The equivalent discussions on the issues of Team 3 were already held on occasion of the last journey to Tehran in August 2006.

Results/Outcome:

1. All three Pilot Projects could be advanced significantly. For both the building Pilot Projects the designs were presented, discussed and approved by the respective counter parts on the German/Iranian side. For both Pilot Projects in addition the future procedure was defined; the next working steps will encompass the creation of a first version of workshop drawings together with lists of appropriate suppliers and construction firms and the estimated costs of implementation, as well as the preparation of the final workshop drawings.
   The Urban Design Scenarios for the planning Pilot Project were presented and discussed and determined for further elaboration. For the future procedure feedback loops as well as the decision on the single Scenario to be detailed were scheduled.
   Teams 2 (Environmental Resources and Quality) and 5 (Project Management and Controlling) discussed the advancement of the respective topics of water and earthquakes and the analyses and possible improvements of the project management of New Towns respectively.
   
   
2. For all four Teams topics of the first main phase of the Project to be applied for were discussed on separate meetings and concluded by a meeting of all members of the Project. The procedure for preparing the joint application and the subjects of the joint Project were agreed on.

Director Prof Dr Claus-Peter Haase guides through the Museum of Islamic Art

The framework for the joint application as well as the advancement of the ongoing activities have been fixed in a Memorandum of Understanding that is to be signed by the three main parties shortly. The next workshop has been confirmed to take place in Iran from November 25th until 29th 2006.

Apart from the professional programme the workshop also encompassed a visit to the Museum of Islamic Art on the world famous Museums Island in the centre of Berlin and a guided tour by the Museum's director Prof Dr Claus-Peter Haase.