Tools for the Governance of Urban Design: The Tehran Experience

This research seeks to reflect the managerial, academic and professional experience of the  authors in the design and implementation process of urban design projects, aiming to use the application of the “design governance” model, in order to describe the documents and activities of the Department of Urban Planning and Architecture of Tehran Municipality in the last decade. This paper consists of three main parts. The first part introduces the model of design governance and identifies its formal and informal tools. The second part introduces design governance tools based on the experience of Tehran. The third part deals with the comparison of the tools used in Tehran municipality with the design governance model. The research method is qualitative and descriptive-analytic. The data required for research is collected from library and documents available in the Department of Urban Planning and Architecture of Tehran Municipality. Data analysis has been conducted by two methods consisting of 1- qualitative content analysis, to analyze the afore-mentioned documents, and 2- reflective practice method to reveal the empirical knowledge of the authors. Research findings indicate that prescriptive tools have had a high effect on the decision-making process. However, the activities carried out over the last 10 years to improve the quality of urban environments in Tehran indicate a tendency to use informal tools of governance, although certain legal gaps have prevented this tendency from continuing. This requires more attention from legislatures in terms of qualitative issues. Ultimately, the following conclusion is drawn: The design governance will be able to support the qualities of the urban environment if it has legislative status, while it is guided by urban management extended to other stakeholders.