Exploring Tehran: The Interaction between the City and Nature

Abstract

The city of Tehran, its inhabitants, the natural structures of the city's seven main rivers, and the impact of routines and rituals are chosen as the objects of this comprehensive study. It substantially reviews the role of parks, especially those, which have access to rivers, in the physical, mental and sociocultural interaction between the inhabitants of Tehran and nature, as well as the existing problems and pollution issues are emphasized. Parks, especially the large ones, provide an appropriate context for the use of existing natural structures in residents' daily lives and customs and traditions associated with certain days. As a final result of the article, it should be noted that recognizing the common existence of current problems related to the value of the Tehran’s natural resources opens up a new context for future research and design projects in various fields such as landscape design, urban planning, cultural studies, and ethnography.