Cultural Heritage-Led Regeneration of Historic Cities: A Strategic Intervention for the Metropolis of Tehran

Abstract

The metropolis of Tehran presents the typical urban challenge of a historic city that has undergone several urban evolutions and faces a decline and loss of cultural heritage. This article illustrates how state-driven urban development plans have compromised the integration of cultural heritage and blurred the image of the city. Tehran has a wealth of cultural heritage sites that call for exploring alternative approaches to urban development and regeneration. In response to this critical inquiry, a design intervention is proposed to consolidate cultural heritage within the planning framework and socio-economic development of the city. The design proposes activating and integrating sites of cultural heritage into the cityscape by presenting cultural heritage as a catalyst for urban regeneration. This can foster an inclusive historical narrative, and strengthen the city’s imageability.