The problem of the modern built environment and enhanced urban warming in Iran

Abstract

Urbanization has been both a cause of global warming and a victim of it through the urban heat island effect. The main reason for global warming is enhanced greenhouse emissions in the atmosphere. At the same time, Iran, as one of main global producers of greenhouse gasses, has witnessed rapid urbanization and a dramatic increase in energy use. There may be a link here that needs further investigation to see whether urban design can be used to prevent cities being major producer of greenhouse gasses. Cities are a source of this growth in greenhouse gases mainly because of transportation and energy use in the building sector. In the past, urbanization did not produce this increase in energy use, suggesting modern urbanization is in complete contrast with traditional urban and architectural design principles. Climatic design has always been one of the most important principles of traditional architecture in Iran. Different climate zones have inspired traditional architecture, creating design solutions that made cities and buildings livable for people. This paper sets out how a passion for modernization and the subsequent rapid urbanization have changed the structure of Iranian cities and made them producers of greenhouse gasses and energy consumers. The paper discusses how adaptation and mitigation strategies are crucial countermeasures against urban warming, and how currently these remain completely neglected in urban planning and urban design processes in Iran. Finally, the paper concludes by describing how urban designers could intervene to achieve realistic improvements in Iranian urbanization.