Title: Neo-traditional neighbourhood design concepts based on the urban form of the historical cities of central Iran

Authors: Houshmand Ebrahimpour-Masoumi

Addresses: Center for Technology and Society (ZTG), TU Berlin Hardenbergstr 16-18, 10623 Berlin, Germany

Abstract: The basic design concepts of the neo-traditional development (NTD) come from western countries. Little is done to localise these design concepts according to vernacular Middle Eastern urbanism. This paper attempts to link the historical studies to the urban form and the new design approaches based on the traditional urbanism of Iran. The organisation/area of neighbourhoods/neighbourhood units, the walking distances/structure of the neighbourhood unit centres (NUCs) are investigated. The case-study cities are Yazd and Kashan as examples of sustainable societies. The conclusions can be used in new Middle Eastern development plans with similar cultural/religious/climatic conditions as the centre of Iran.

Keywords: neo-traditional development; NTD; new urbanism; neighbourhood organisation; neighbourhood unit centres; NUC; walking distance; Yazd; Kashan; Iran; neighbourhood design; historical cities; sustainable societies; urban development.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSSOC.2014.065856

International Journal of Sustainable Society, 2014 Vol.6 No.3, pp.264 - 286

Published online: 17 Dec 2014 *

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