Towards Regional Synergy: Potentials for polycentric development in Tehran Metropolitan Region (TMR)

A metropolitan Region of the Third World countries like Tehran metropolitan region (TMR) in Iran, in consequence of unbalanced rapid urban growth, is facing with large set of unique social and demographic, cultural, economic, ecological, environmental and managerial problems. The entire problems are because of lack of effective regional plan and uncoordinated structure of the local authorities in concern to regional issues. Recently governments proposed a regional plan for the TMR which intends a polycentric development for the spatial configuration of the TMR. However, having the monocentric picture of the TMR in mind, this question rise that is it really possible to consider the TMR a polycentric urban region? What is the suitable regional strategy that provides synergy in the TMR? In this thesis prominent literatures related to the Polycentric Urban Region (PUR) are reviewed. Two complimentary aspects of polycentricity namely, morphology and functional relationship are identified as essential elements for polycentric development. Governance structure of region is also considered as a third element for reaping the alleged benefits of polycentricity. These three factors together formed the analytical dimension of polycentricity. These three elements were studied in the TMR context and potential and deficiency of the region regarding to these elements are identified. The normative dimension of polycentricity is dedicated to reviewing the history of the region and studying the government’s plans in course of history to see how their plans promote or discourage the polycentric structure in the region. Based on the findings it is concluded that the government’s plan for polycentric development of the region is ambitious and is not consistent with the current realities of the region. Therefore according to the analysis of the region a planning guideline in 5 aspects of centrality, mobility, low income settlements, land escape and governance is proposed. These sets of re
Spatial Planning & Strategy (Complex cities)
Urbanism
Architecture