Viewing Corridor Management in Tehran

Tehran has been formed in the southern domains of Alborz Mountains and transformed into a metropolis between desert and mountains over centuries. Today, considering Tehran as a comprehend unit, with unique identity for citizens and visitors, seems impossible. Therefore, the preservation and reconstruction of the strategic landmarks of the city which guarantee the common recognition of the city has been accentuated and underscore city management plans. In fact, the management of the citizens and visitors perception of Tehran depends on its strategic landmarks and landscape on which the common perception and memories of Tehran have been shaped. Managing the strategic viewing corridors pointed to these landmarks has the main role in shaping these common perceptions. In fact, construction and rehabilitation of strategic landmarks is not a single action but require a series of actions including an action which provides the visual accessibility to the strategic landmarks from strategic places within the city. Recent sprawl growth of Tehran made it necessary to manage strategic viewing corridors of Tehran; an action which is considered in the management plans in most of the cities and metropolises around the world, but not in any of city plans for Tehran. This article aims to define the possibility of strategic viewing corridors management of Tehran by questioning from the strategic landmarks of Tehran and considering the natural and historical potential of Teheran and the global experience in defining and managing the viewing corridors. Among all these, defining the natural and artificial viewing corridor to Damavand peak is the main consideration of this research. Locating and developing of Tehran in the mountain slopes and its natural, topographical and historical potential, make viewing corridors management of the city completely different from the famous flat cities like London in which the systematic management plan of viewing corridors were provided. Location of Tehran in the mount has made the strategic landscape and monuments of the city related to the Alborz, Damavand peak and Tochal which among them Damavand has the considerable role in the Iranian identity all around the country. Having estimated the situation, it can be said that today’s most viewing corridors of Tehran include the natural southern- northern and western- eastern viewing corridors pointed to Alborz Mountains, Tochal and Damavand. Hence, preserving and upgrading these viewing corridors among defining and managing the artificial strategic viewing corridors from important places within the city to Damavand, Tochal and of course Milad tower, are the considerable points in viewing corridor management plan of Tehran.