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Dr. Mahmoud Ghalenoee,
Volume 2, Issue 4 (11-2024)
Volume 2, Issue 4 (11-2024)
Abstract
In urban literature and restoration, a variety of interventions such as renovation, rehabilitation, revitalization, and re-generation are used to address the issue of dysfunctional tissues. The type of intervention is affected by the temporal and spatial features of the context. Apart from that, various constituent layers of the context determine social, economic, and physical characteristics. Regardless of the nature and complexity of these concepts, two fundamental issues need to be taken into consideration: 1) to be theory-based and 2) to be context-oriented. Many concerned people acknowledge that one of the reasons for the failure of urban development plans and programs is the lack of a written theory. A theory primarily serves as a structured framework to shed light on phenomena by describing the relationship between its various constituent elements and provides a foundation for critical thought. Also, the grounded theory serves as a foundation for practical approaches and prepares a better understanding of the problem with regard to the context in the first stage and offers a solution in the next steps. With such a background and focusing on the concept of urban regeneration as a more recent and all-inclusive approach, we can expect a clearer and more tangible practical result. To do so, we need to adapt the approach to its biological equivalent based on "transformation-permanence" and use it as a theory. In intergenerational biological reproduction, the focus is on how the traits of a living organism are transformed through heredity or genetics, and in other words, what changes and what remains the same. In such a view, offspring, as the product of a process, inherit traits in the form of genetic characteristics from their environment and parents. Such characteristics can manifest in physiological and behavioral aspects. As comparing the city and the living creature can be sometimes misleading, it is necessary to take into account the essential differences between the two. We can expect that such a differentiation will be applied in urban regeneration as well. Among other things, this inheritance is not only limited to the form but will be affected by the geographical, social, cultural, and economic backgrounds. Understanding the similarities and discrepancies between generations has encountered limits and gaps, but it is always possible to confirm the hereditary relationship definitively through scientific means. So far, such hereditary characteristics have been transferred in the form of traits through genes from the early generations to the next generations and evolved under the influence of the environment. These features can be obvious and impressive in some aspects and internal and invisible in some aspects. The important point highlighted by this theory is that after the intervention and regeneration, the new context cannot completely disassociate from the previous generation(s) and its geographical, cultural, and social background.
Dr. Naser Barati,
Volume 2, Issue 5 (2-2025)
Volume 2, Issue 5 (2-2025)
Abstract
Understanding and addressing the issues of urban spaces have been the major concern of governments and city management since the end of World War II. The records of those efforts show that in advanced countries, regardless of their special conditions, compared to the majority of developing countries, the authorities, utilize the most advanced methods available in the world to organize urban environments, always support continuous research and evaluation of ex-measures to embrace innovative methods exploring the different layers of the ideals which improve urban environments. The reason is the transparency and commitment of managers to those people who chose them via votes to improve and promote their urban environment.
If intervention in the environment, including the preparation of programs and plans for the so-called "recreation of urban environments," takes place in a space other than what has been described, the final product cannot be considered positive and constructive.
Urban management in Iran takes place in a misty, opaque, and often dark atmosphere. Many of the actions and interventions of municipalities, especially the so-called plans to regenerate worn-out urban textures in the country, have never gotten close to their claimed goals. Experience shows that the words and writings about this matter are of no importance at all while what is not written is significant. For instance, it is never said what are the real goals of urban regeneration. It has never been clear what benefits these programs and plans will provide in advance. In meetings and speeches, it is not stated why and how humans and the environment are considered completely separate in urban regeneration plans. It is not clear which issues of deprived and underprivileged environments these plans are on the agenda to address.
It seems that focusing on the physical and apparent deficiencies of deprived urban neighborhoods and areas makes more sense in line with the cyclical accumulation of power and capital. This is why the conflict of interests of deprived individuals and households with the management and implementation of urban regeneration projects is evident. The reason is if the goal is to improve the living standards of the deprived urban population, the consequences of this human and development-oriented movement in all Iranian cities must be seen, measured, and evaluated.
The city can be compared to the tip of a huge iceberg. The part of the city that is usually seen and judged represents only a small part of this iceberg. Since about 100 years ago, the trends and processes in Iran, have been in such a way that ordinary people only see and understand a small part of the city, and a significant part of the elites, experts, and urban managers prefer to ignore that invisible part of the city deliberately to protect their interests. Thus, it is clear that the reason for the failure of the plans to regenerate worn-out urban areas in Iran goes back to a part of the story that is basically invisible to the naked eye.
If intervention in the environment, including the preparation of programs and plans for the so-called "recreation of urban environments," takes place in a space other than what has been described, the final product cannot be considered positive and constructive.
Urban management in Iran takes place in a misty, opaque, and often dark atmosphere. Many of the actions and interventions of municipalities, especially the so-called plans to regenerate worn-out urban textures in the country, have never gotten close to their claimed goals. Experience shows that the words and writings about this matter are of no importance at all while what is not written is significant. For instance, it is never said what are the real goals of urban regeneration. It has never been clear what benefits these programs and plans will provide in advance. In meetings and speeches, it is not stated why and how humans and the environment are considered completely separate in urban regeneration plans. It is not clear which issues of deprived and underprivileged environments these plans are on the agenda to address.
It seems that focusing on the physical and apparent deficiencies of deprived urban neighborhoods and areas makes more sense in line with the cyclical accumulation of power and capital. This is why the conflict of interests of deprived individuals and households with the management and implementation of urban regeneration projects is evident. The reason is if the goal is to improve the living standards of the deprived urban population, the consequences of this human and development-oriented movement in all Iranian cities must be seen, measured, and evaluated.
The city can be compared to the tip of a huge iceberg. The part of the city that is usually seen and judged represents only a small part of this iceberg. Since about 100 years ago, the trends and processes in Iran, have been in such a way that ordinary people only see and understand a small part of the city, and a significant part of the elites, experts, and urban managers prefer to ignore that invisible part of the city deliberately to protect their interests. Thus, it is clear that the reason for the failure of the plans to regenerate worn-out urban areas in Iran goes back to a part of the story that is basically invisible to the naked eye.
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