Problem statement: 

Façade committees were added to the Tehran Municipality’s Administrative structure in 2014 to guide the design process, emphasizing identified facades and taking a step to create coherence and harmony in urban walls (or facades). Although some efforts have been made, these committees face many complex challenges, such as a lack of harmony between façade committees and urban management institutions. There is also a lack of unity in issuing building Permission, façade control, and the personal influence of the committee members on the projects. Furthermore, these committees face other challenges: lack of integrated regulations, lack of connection between committees, lack of sanction on approved projects, long-time hearings for cases, and eroding process. The mentioned issues have challenged the continuity of committees in the Tehran Municipality body.

The extant study aims are to evaluate current procedures in available scenario areas and subsequently formulate future-study scenarios by identifying and classifying existing challenges, reviewing global literature, and applying it to a pathological assessment of the conducted measures.

The present study was carried out critically using the mixed research method. In the qualitative phase, indicators affecting the clarification of procedures were derived from interviews and semi-structured questionnaires. Another set of data was gathered through attending meetings. Indicators were evaluated and validated in the quantitative phase using inferential analyses and case studies. Finally, the suggested strategies and projects were presented to improve the quality of façade committees using the “Analysis of Interconnected Decision Areas” (AIDA) technique.

Six prospect scenario elements were identified to resolve weaknesses: how committees continue their work, how to approve façades of landmark buildings, the appeal process, extra- and inter-organizational communications, feasibility, and the procedural and qualitative structure of meetings and the elements mentioned above allow converting threats to opportunities in the form of Tehran City’s façade committees within different stages. The mentioned elements could provide some strategies for maximum, medium, and minimum options.