Evaluating the effects of globalization on Tehran’s Urban Form

After experiencing modernization processes and its effects on urban forms, the recent attempts of Tehran to represent its potentials in global system via constructing highways, iconic building and focus on cultural and financial aspects such as holding artistic and scientific anniversaries reminds international challenges of developing countries during globalization process. Initially, comparing Tehran with global cities such as New York, London or Tokyo may seem uncommon but as the world is undergoing a process of change, Tehran cannot be an exception and is on a new direction varied from its previous modernization stage. The purpose of this paper is to identify particular characteristics of this stage and the way Tehran can be labeled in the literature of global cities.Although, evaluation of Tehran’s globalization process can be conducted based on various criteria and frames, this paper aims to assess the urban form elements of Tehran based on seven criteria: urbanism, image and identity, spatial organization, social ecology, public realm, development style and local architecture which are monitored across three political periods: Qajar, Pahlavi and after the Islamic Revolution. Additionally, four elements of globalization process i.e. capital and financial transaction, population and movement of people, cultural aspects (transfer of ideology and lifestyle) and ultimately informational technology which have impressive reflections/influences on urban forms of cities are discussed. In conclusion, according to these two aspects (urban form and globalization elements) the place of Tehran among other global cities are discussed and defined

Keywords:

Tehran , Globalization , City form , Culture , Communication Technology