Tehran's Modern Architectural Heritage: The Challenge of Preservation, Contemporization and Private Ownership

Document Type : Original Research

Authors
Fatemeh Alizadeh 1
Mahdi Motamedmanesh 2
Khosro Daneshjoo 3
1 MSc Student, Department of Architecture, Faculty of Art and Architecture, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
2 Assistant Professor, Department of Architecture, Faculty of Art and Architecture, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
3 Associate Professor, Department of Architecture, Faculty of Art and Architecture, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
10.48311/bsnt.2025.1022
Abstract
Aims: Tehran's modernist architectural heritage, a valuable treasure of the city's rich history and cultural identity, is at risk of destruction due to flawed urban management policies. The neglect of these buildings' intangible value threatens the city's visual authenticity and identity. This research, emphasizing the need for new urban planning and management regulations for the revitalization of contemporary heritage to meet today's societal needs, proposes an innovative approach to restoring these valuable buildings. This approach aims to remove the buildings from their state of neglect while considering specific rights for private owners.

Methods: This study employs a combination of methods, including descriptive-analytical studies, historical research, and logical reasoning. The research hypothesis is established by examining core concepts of architectural preservation through library resources and evaluating successful examples of innovative historical restoration methods worldwide.

Findings: The proposed approach for revitalizing Tehran's modern architectural heritage involves the addition of new structural elements to the existing building fabric. This not only enhances the buildings' resilience against environmental degradation but also creates opportunities for increased building density through the addition of new stories.

Conclusion: The findings indicate adding structural extensions enables the development of new and efficient spaces while preserving the building's authenticity. However, implementing this approach necessitates the development of specific guidelines for designing extensions and adaptive reuses that are compatible with the buildings' historical values. This approach, while preserving the city's identity, provides functional and appealing spaces for contemporary life and significantly contributes to enhancing the quality of life for its citizens.
Keywords
modern architectural heritage
Structural Extensions
Adaptive Reuse
Revitalization
Urban management
contemporary architecture
Identity
Contemporary heritage
Subjects
Boka S, Rahimzadeh M, Moazzemi M. The Idea of the Past in Architects’ Thinking: Vartan Hovanessian, the Recent Past, the Distant Past. Journal of Iranian Architecture Studies. 2023;11(22):133-154. https://doi.org/10.22052/jias.2023.248732.1151
Bonyadi N. Transformation of Urban Conservation. Hoviateshahr. 2012;6(10):67-78. Available from: https://sanad.iau.ir/en/Journal/hoviatshahr/Article/795452
Bullen PA, Love PE. The Rhetoric of Adaptive Reuse or Reality of Demolition: Views from the Field. Cities. 2010;27(4):215-224. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2009.12.005
Clarke N, Zijlstra H, De Jonge W. Education for Adaptive Reuse–The TU Delft Heritage and Architecture Experience. Docomomo Journal. 2019;61:67-75. Available from: https://docomomojournal.com/index.php/journal/article/view/356/79
El-Daghar K. Conservation Techniques of Architectural Heritage and Private Property Legal Rights - Case Study Alexandria, Egypt. Environmental Science & Sustainable Development. 2020;5(1). https://doi.org/10.21625/essd.v5i1.715
Elsorady DA. Assessment of the Compatibility of New Uses for Heritage Buildings: The example of Alexandria National Museum, Alexandria, Egypt. Journal of Cultural Heritage. 2014;15(5):511-521. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.culher.2013.10.011
Gharebaglou M, Nejad Ebrahimi A, Ardabilchi I. Infill Architecture: An Interdisciplinary Approach to the Design of Historic Context; Case Study: Mashruteh Complex in the Historic Bazaar of Tabriz, Iran. Bagh-e Nazar. 2019;16(76):65-78. https://doi.org/10.22034/bagh.2019.142666.3713
Ghobadian V, Kiani M. Birthplace of Modern Architecture in Tehran (First Modern Architecture Building in the Capital, Analysis). Journal of Architecture and Urban Planning. 2013;6(11):39-58. Available from: https://aup.journal.art.ac.ir/article_110.html?lang=en
Gholami G, Heidari S, Hanachi P. Conservation and Reuse of Architectural Heritage, An Approach Based on Energy Efficiency (Determining the process and describing the measures). Journal of Fine Arts: Architecture & Urban Planning. 2021;26(1):5-15. https://doi.org/10.22059/jfaup.2021.324136.672631
González-Martínez P, Monge-Barrio A, Domingo-Irigoyen S, Gutiérrez ASO. Application of a Cost-effective Methodology for the Refurbishment of DOCOMOMO Buildings. A Case Study in Northern Spain. Heliyon. 2024;10(17). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e36893
Guillet AL. Docomomo International. Journal of Architectural Conservation. 2007;13(2):151-156. https://doi.org/10.1080/13556207.2007.10785002
Günçe K, Mısırlısoy D. Assessment of Adaptive Reuse Practices through User Experiences: Traditional Houses in the Walled City of Nicosia. Sustainability. 2019;11(2):540. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11020540
Hanachi P, Shahteimouri Y. Explaining the Evaluation Model for Adaptive Reuse of Tehran Heritage Houses (by F’ANP Model). Journal of Fine Arts: Architecture & Urban Planning. 2021;26(3):5-19. Available from: https://jfaup.ut.ac.ir/article_86179.html?lang=en
Irani Shad A, Habib F. Reconnection to Context: Place-based Contemporization and Reuse of Tehran Valuable Houses. Naqshejahan- Basic studies and New Technologies of Architecture and Planning. 2021 Jul 10;11(2):1-26. Available from: https://bsnt.modares.ac.ir/article-2-52189-en.html
Khatami SM, Boujari P. Analyzing the Heritage of Tehran’s Urban Façades in the Recent Century. City, Territory and Architecture. 2022;9(19). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40410-022-00166-1
Macdonald S. Modern Matters: Breaking the Barriers to Conserving Modern Heritage. Conservation Perspectives; The Getty Conservation Institute Newsletter. Spring 2013. Available from: https://getty.edu/conservation/publications_resources/newsletters/pdf/v28n1.pdf
Mahdavinejad M. Discourse of High-Performance Architecture: A Method to Understand Contemporary Architecture. Hoviatshahr. 2017;11(2):59-68. Available from: https://sanad.iau.ir/en/Journal/hoviatshahr/Article/795409
Mahdavinejad M. High-Performance Architecture: Search for Future Legacy in Contemporary Iranian Architecture. Armanshahr Architecture & Urban Development. 2017;9(17):129-138. Available from: https://www.armanshahrjournal.com/article_44611.html?lang=en
Mansouri SA. Revitalization of What? Rereading the Concept of Restoration based on a New Approach to Space. Journal of Revitalization School. 2024 Jan 10;1(1):6-11. Available from: http://jors-sj.com/article-1-21-en.html
Mashhadi Abolghasem Shirazi M, Diba D. Non-formal Data Mining and Contemporization of Housing Plan by Artificial Neural Network; Case Studies: Tehran Selected Buildings During 1950s to 1970s. Naqshejahan- Basic studies and New Technologies of Architecture and Planning. 2023;13(2):125-144. Available from: https://bsnt.modares.ac.ir/article-2-68243-en.html
Mısırlısoy D, Günçe K. Adaptive Reuse Strategies for Heritage Buildings: A Holistic Approach. Sustainable Cities and Society. 2016;26:91-98. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2016.05.017
Motamedmanesh M, Hojjat M. Suburban Villages of the Past, Today's Urban Fabrics. Abadi. 2008;60:68-75. Available from: https://journalabadi.ir/index.php?slc_lang=en&sid=1
Motamedmanesh M. Achaemenid Building Technology: The Key to a New Reading of Royal Achaemenid Architecture. Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians. 2022;81(3):299-319. https://doi.org/10.1525/jsah.2022.81.3.299
Motamedmanesh M. Authenticity and Restoration: The Benefits of Historical Studies on Re-Examining the Implemented Restorations in Persepolis. Arts. 2016;5(1):2. https://doi.org/10.3390/arts5010002
Motamedmanesh M. Zoomorphic Imposts and Dougong Brackets: A Cross-cultural Examination of Intellectual Influences between Achaemenid Persia and Ancient China. Journal of Sistan and Baluchistan Studies. 2025;5(1):21-36. https://doi.org/10.22034/jsbs.2025.514596.1079
Mottaghi M, Norouz Borazjani V, Dehbashi Sharif M. The Role of Adaptive Reuse in Network of in-between Spaces and Intracity Dynamism; Case Study: Tehran Historic Houses. Naqshejahan- Basic studies and New Technologies of Architecture and Planning. 2021 Jul 10;11(2):27-48. Available from: https://bsnt.modares.ac.ir/article-2-53425-en.html
Othman AAE, Heba E. Adaptive Reuse: An Innovative Approach for Generating Sustainable Values for Historic Buildings in Developing Countries. Organization, Technology & Management in Construction: An International Journal. 2018;10(1):1704-1718. https://doi.org/10.2478/otmcj-2018-0002
Riahizadeh M, Falamaki M, Pourzargar M. Reading the Relationship between Historicism and the Concept of Identity in the Modern Architecture Heritage of Tehran (1310-1320). Naqshejahan- Basic studies and New Technologies of Architecture and Planning. 2022;12(3):1-21. Available from: https://bsnt.modares.ac.ir/article-2-60342-en.html
Ribera F, Nesticò A, Cucco P, Maselli G. A Multicriteria Approach to Identify the Highest and Best Use for Historical Buildings. Journal of Cultural Heritage. 2020;41:166-177. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.culher.2019.06.004
Sangtarash F, Kiani M. Analysis of the Architectural Style of the Buildings of Vartan Havansian in Tehran from 1300-1339. Raf Quarterly Scientific Journal of Architecture, Restoration and Urbanism. 2021;1(2):81-96. Available from: https://www.rafmagz.com/article_146905.html?lang=en
Shayan H, Memar Dezfuli S. Comparative Review of Contemporary Iranian Architecture Tendencies (Recognition Designing Theories of Three Generations Architects). Naqshejahan. 2014;4(2):1-10. Available from: https://bsnt.modares.ac.ir/article-2-6913-en.html
Tootoonchi R, Faraji F, Mehrtash M. Evaluation Criteria for Adaptive Reuse of Modern Architecture, (Case study: Qasr Museum-Garden). In: International Conference on Conservation of 20th Century Heritage from Architecture to Landscape. At: Tehran, Iran; 2020. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/339461258