The project for beautification of Tehran’s historical Enqelab Street will soon be completed.
The biggest book market and publication center in the country, in the vicinity of Enqelab Square, accommodates over 420 publishers and bookstores, making it an academic and cultural pole of Iran, Iran’s Book News Agency (IBNA) reported.
Enqelab Street is a major trunk route connecting Enqelab Square in the central part of the capital to Imam Hossein Square in the eastern central part.
In addition, over 11 cinema halls, 12 theatres and educational centers including the University of Tehran, the first educational and modern research center, are other features of the avenue that attracts over 350,000 to 800,000 visitors and passersby daily.
Tehran Beautification Organization sponsored the urban beautification plan by Seyyed Mohsen Hashemi, project manager, with the aim of “visual trimming and embellishment of the place.”
Modernization and beautification of the area under the project will benefit pedestrians, booksellers and customers, Hashemi said.
The idea is based on two studies by veteran architect Giti Etemad, ‘Promoting the Appearance and Visual Status of Azadi and Enqelab Streets in Tehran’ and Seyyed Amir Mansouri’s ‘Patterns and Evidences of Qualitative Development of Enqelab Square in Tehran’.
Over 67 perspectives were taken from the studies in four categories of ‘ornamentation of street sidewalls’, ‘lavation of facades’, ‘organizing business billboards’ and ‘prioritizing pedestrians’.
The project commenced with a three-month restoration of dilapidated buildings and equipment through ornamental and embellishing operations that are still under progress but expected to be completed soon. Additionally, installation of 80 streetlights, mural works and public restrooms are among the additional facilities provided.
Hashemi says urban spaces belong to the public and according to universal standards, “a general harmony should prevail in their appearance and architecture.”
Unfortunately, non-standard advertisement billboards, fascia signs of the stores and the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) fences, which block the north-south sidewalks, were among the most challenging issues during the project implementation.
He said the outcome of the makeover will compensate for booksellers’ complaints that scaffoldings put up during renovation of the buildings were a hindrance to pedestrians and harmed their business.
There still are shortcomings as there is no restoration plan for Enqelab Square, no modification of the BRT fences and no green spaces earmarked. “If it is possible to bridge all the gaps, the final outcome will be ideal,” Hashemi said.
