Squares as tools for urban transformation: Foundations for designing the Iranian public squares

Mehan, Asma

doi:10.3895/rbpd.v5n2.4479

Cited by 7 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…Throughout Iranian history, public squares have been important places for promoting social interactions between citizens and enhancing the quality of urban lives (Mehan 2016b). Traditionally, squares served many functions.…”

Section: Typology and Analysis Of Iranian Public Squares In The Histomentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In this interpretation, the square as a whole reflects the struggle between sources of power, as each source tries to gain control of the society in its strong appearance in urban space. Public squares are fundamental features of cities, which constitute the main social areas (Mehan 2016b). The study of ancient Iranian cities indicates that public squares have always had an effective presence in the cities (Mehan 2016a).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Public squares are fundamental features of cities, which constitute the main social areas (Mehan 2016b). The study of ancient Iranian cities indicates that public squares have always had an effective presence in the cities (Mehan 2016a). The analysis of the conception of the square in the city of Tehran cannot be separated from the inherited concept of space that is used in its production and transformation, concepts that are associated with ongoing political and social institutions, symbolic significance, or a combination of old and new (Mehan 2017;Madanipour 1998).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The study of ancient Iranian cities indicates that public squares have always had an effective presence in the cities (Mehan 2016a). The analysis of the conception of the square in the city of Tehran cannot be separated from the inherited concept of space that is used in its production and transformation, concepts that are associated with ongoing political and social institutions, symbolic significance, or a combination of old and new (Mehan 2017;Madanipour 1998). Toopkhaneh Square (literally, "the place of cannon") is one of the key historic squares in Tehran, which was a vast central opening into which six major thoroughfares converged.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Manifestation of Power: Toopkhaneh Square, Tehran

Mehan¹

2017

Spaces and Flows: An International Journal of Urban and ExtraUr

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Urban design and architecture are used as manifestations of power and control over a society. The city square is not just an architectural element; its structure has a nature that weaves together its contemporary social and political atmosphere and brings a new meaning and concept to the square. This paper aims to clarify the formation of Toopkhaneh Square ("The Place of Cannons," or "Artillery Barracks" Square) whose military function and ominous name were physical evidence of the use of urban design by the ruling authority to control the citizenry. The transformation of Toopkhaneh Square is an example of power relations and the struggle for power, which have been projected on the body of the city. This research concentrates on power relations and urban transformations in the spatial analysis of Toopkhaneh Square throughout different periods of its history. The transitional process of Toopkhane Square to an Artillery Square in the Qajar Era dynasty of Naser al-Din Shah (1888) until the Islamic Revolution (1978) shows that the structural elements of the traditional square were modified, as its name, political statues, meaning, and functions were changed to fulfill the modern needs and reflect the power struggle. This study analyzes Toopkhaneh Square as the representation of the ruling power and its politico-religious ideology in Iranian urban form.

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Section: Typology and Analysis Of Iranian Public Squares In The Histomentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Manifestation of Power: Toopkhaneh Square, Tehran

Mehan¹

2017

Spaces and Flows: An International Journal of Urban and ExtraUr

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“…The law of the municipality by the local government of Tehran, led to the realization of the first urbanization plan with the construction of major avenues, crossing the ancient urban fabric or the line of the defensive walls which were previously unknown in the Iranian tradition. 8 The new plan was designed to tear apart the historic urban fabric and making them accessible to motor vehicles (Mehan 2016b(Mehan , 2016c. Takmil Homayoun described the process of widening the streets as follows: "Every day the red flags are installed and the mayor agents arrive to demolish houses" (Takmil Homayoun 2000: 49).…”

Section: Tehran As Modernism's "Tabula Rasa"mentioning

confidence: 99%

“Tabula Rasa” Planning: Creative Destruction and Building a New Urban Identity in Tehran

Mehan

2017

Journal of Architecture and Urbanism

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The concept of Tabula Rasa, as a desire for sweeping renewal and creating a potential site for the construction of utopian dreams is presupposition of Modern Architecture. Starting from the middle of the 19th century to the first half of the 20th century, Iranian urban and architectural history has been integrated with modernization, and western-influenced modernity. The case of Tehran as the Middle Eastern political capital is the main scene for the manifestation of modernity within it’s urban projects that was associated with several changes to the social, political and spatial structure of the city. In this regard, the strategy of Tabula Rasa as a utopian blank slate upon which a new Iran could be conceived “over again” – was the dominant strategy of modernization during First Pahlavi era (1925–1941). This article explores the very concept of constructing a new image of Tehran through the processes of autocratic modernism and orientalist historicism that also influenced the discourse of national identity during First Pahlavi era.

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Estetinės formos harmonizavimas intuityvaus pažinimo aspektu

Žukas¹

2021

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Squares as tools for urban transformation: Foundations for designing the Iranian public squares

Cited by 7 publications

References 3 publications

Manifestation of Power: Toopkhaneh Square, Tehran

Manifestation of Power: Toopkhaneh Square, Tehran

“Tabula Rasa” Planning: Creative Destruction and Building a New Urban Identity in Tehran

Estetinės formos harmonizavimas intuityvaus pažinimo aspektu

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