Urban Change in Iran

This book, based on conference excerpts, investigates various aspects of contemporary Iranian urbanism. The topics covered range from the impacts of political developments on the cities rapid socio-economic developments, to the cities troubled relationship with the countrys built-environment history and their frequently ill-managed exposure to Western notions of development and globalisation. Last but not least, the countrys vulnerability to natural disasters in an age of increasing urban-population densification is also considered. Alongside more theoretically and artistically oriented debates, the books individual contributions turn their attention to the now much higher proportion of urban dwellers in the countrys rising population. It also discusses the policies designed in response to these demographic moves, including those to develop new towns, find housing for the excess population in existing cities, renovate historic buildings and create new public spaces. The practice-policy oriented contributions also include those concerning the countrys responses to natural disasters.