Achieving the Approaches to Make Connection Between Built Environment and Natural Environment via an Effective FilterCase Study: Karaj, Baghestan, the West Area of the Town of Zafar

Nowadays, the relationship between man-made and natural environments is getting weaker and one of the major consequences of this phenomenon is the increasing act of building construction on the hill slopes and in the foothills, which has destroyed such valuable natural environments. Since past times, especially in recent years, there has been an increase in the phenomenon of mount-grabbing in the outskirts of the cities and the rural areas which have exerted several human, environmental, and urban damages. Therefore, the present research aims to “achieve solutions to establish a communication between the man-made environment and the natural environment through an effective intermediary element alongside preventing the phenomenon of mount-grabbing”. The case study has been selected from among the three areas capable of being investigated i.e. the fringe areas of Zafar Township, Baghestan district, city of Karaj. The reason for choosing this area is the existence of the dried-up stream of Delambar, which bears the values and potentials of design as an effective intermediary element between the man-made and the natural environments. Among the most important objectives of the present research, one can refer to preventing the phenomenon of mount-grabbing by creating and strengthening an effective intermediary element between the human and the natural environments. The theoretical foundations of this research are set upon theories such as the Theory of Geddes, Urban Metabolism, and Accreditation whose most important elements are human, nature, city, and community. Moreover, it can be also referred to case studies such as Santos road, Sanabria Natural Park, and Petersburg valley that are fully investigated in this research. Another objective of this paper is the use of the weak point of space and converting it into a strength, according to which we can activate the space by socializing the area, and be able to prevent the phenomenon of mount-grabbing to some extent, but not completely, by strengthening and creating proper performances. Based on the mentioned theories, case studies, and the relevant investigations and analyses, the present research has reached a theoretical framework consisting of a group of components and subcomponents alongside injecting the functions and characteristics into the effective intermediary element (Delambar stream) to establish a communication between the man-made and the natural environments. In addition, based on the field observations, documentary and library research, photographs, interview with the Parks Organization of Karaj Municipality aimed at acquiring information on the structural-strategic plans of the district, interviews with the plan consultants, interviews with the residents of Baghestan and Zafar Township, the research has achieved an empirical model by concluding the theoretical framework. The present research has been conducted based on a theoretical framework and an empirical model, and it has achieved solutions for a general structural-strategic plan on a macro scale as well as rules and regulations for preventing the phenomenon of mount-grabbing besides solutions for designing an effective intermediary element within the framework of urban design. For the case studied in Zafar Township, Baghestan district, these solutions were experienced in the form of physical-spatial planning within the framework of urban design.
Rules and regulations for dealing with mountaineering based on analysis: 1. Spaces that have been left without function and activity should become suitable functioning spaces in a way that prevents, and destroys the natural environment and damages them; 2. Buildings built in natural environments that cause serious damage are destroyed uninterruptedly to prevent them from continuing. Seriously deal with these measures; 3. Rejecting the order to build any construction in the private and natural environments (mountains, streams, etc.); 4. The most important priority should be natural resources and environments, regardless of personal interests; 5. With intruders in the privacy of natural environments, legal and serious treatment must be taken; 6. Designate and register construction spaces in spaces on the margins of natural environments; 7. Create an effective and strong intermediary element in the margins of natural environments to prevent mountaineering and preserve and protect natural resources; 8. In the privacy of the mountains, the intermediary element of the "green wall" is used to protect the privacy and prevent it from advancing towards the mountains; 9. According to the criteria and within the framework of urban design, there is a kind of boundary, a certain boundary between the man-made environment and the natural environment, preventing the crossing into the mountains.