Dr. Abbas Jahanbakhsh, Dr. Mohammadsaleh Shokouhibidhendi,
Volume 10, Issue 2 (3-2022)
Abstract
One of the biggest strategic harms and mistakes that a society may suffer is the mistake at the level of dreams and social horizons. In such a way that there is a contradiction and inconsistency between the dreams and ideas that are for a social structure, for example, the "ideal form of the city" and the dream and ideal that is chosen for the whole social life and society is formed around it. The more society tries and spends for that heterogeneous structure, the more it becomes practically incapable and far from its goals and ideals. Therefore, this article, by depicting the favorable future situation of cities, has tried to direct the wishes and dreams of citizens and city managers about the city (and in principle society and life) and according to public acceptances and norms, which is interpreted as culture. To draw and achieve a better future and show that in contrast to the current style of urban planning in the country, which is influenced by the modernist model of the West, one can think of values such as "productive home", "constructive and thoughtful interaction with nature", " Brotherhood-based social system, "land price reduction", "spatial justice and the elimination of segregation", "family-based planning", "large housings", "mosque-led planning" and "neighborhood scale ". The idea of "Zistshahr" (livable city) is an attempt to achieve these values. This proposed model is presented in the form of bio-living complexes and according to the components of indigenous styles as well as the desirability and teachings of Iranian-Islamic culture. The design of the Zistshahr is an attempt to redefine the pattern of construction in newly established towns and settlements, so that it includes a large and productive residential units and provides other urban services in a way that, in addition to provide the needs, empowers families and the provides possibility of formation of the environment by the residents.
However, the realization of this idea requires feasibility studies. The four main issues around which feasibility studies are conducted are: the issue of land and its scarcity, the issue of water and energy supply, the issue of construction costs, and finally the issue of legal capacity.
Findings show that in terms of land supply, the idea of Zistshahr can accommodate a population equivalent to the entire country in an area of about 2% of the area of Iran. In terms of water and energy supply, there are solutions for sustainable urban design, which are explained in the article. Technical and executive costs will be equal to the Mehr housing projects (governmental housing projects in Iran in 2010s) for each residential unit with the help of the stages of construction, the use of more appropriate construction patterns and the use of participatory architecture, with the difference that the total area of the arena and lords of each unit in the city is about 5 to 15 times larger than Mehr housing units and with the help of mechanisms to eliminate and reduce land prices (similar to the methods used in Mehr housing and land supply model in the industrial towns experiences in Iran in 1980s), the design of the Zistshahr model can be more economical, sustainable and more logical than common patterns in urban planning in Iran. In addition to reforming the pattern of newly established cities and towns, it provides a platform for reverse migration to villages and solving the problem of imbalance and centralism in land management, and also plays a role as a driving force for reforming existing cities and villages.
Dr Abbas Jahanbakhsh, Dr Mohammadsaleh Shokouhibidhandi,
Volume 13, Issue 1 (4-2025)
Abstract
Conventional spatial planning in Iran has traditionally emphasized strict zoning, separating residential, industrial, and agricultural areas through new towns, industrial estates, and urban boundary lines. However, this article argues that such segregation is neither the only nor the most desirable approach. Instead, it advocates for integrated land use at the household and neighborhood scales—where residence, small-scale industry, and agriculture coexist on the same plot. While mixed-use development typically refers to adjacent but separate functions, this research promotes simultaneous activity integration, proposing a model that enhances economic resilience and cultural vitality. Using a comparative methodology and Best Practice analysis, the study examines global examples of housing-agriculture and housing-industry integration, extracting lessons for Iran while critiquing current urban and regional policies. The prevailing large-scale, centralized industrial and agricultural model—justified by economies of scale—has alienated communities from nature, restricted self-employment opportunities, and concentrated wealth. In contrast, productive housing allocates per capita space for family-run workshops and agriculture within residential units, enabling households to work independently alongside their families. This approach aligns with Islamic principles of equitable wealth distribution (Article 43 of Iran’s Constitution) by decentralizing production and reducing reliance on capital-dominated industries. The proposed model organizes productive housing units into neighborhood-scale “bio-cities,” leveraging technology for efficient, small-scale production. Families can manufacture competitive industrial goods while supplementing income with agricultural activities. A decentralized distribution system (e.g., direct producer markets) eliminates intermediaries and spatial rent burdens. Findings challenge entrenched assumptions, demonstrating that: 1. Food security is not compromised by integrated housing-agriculture systems; 2. Economies of scale are not universally superior to decentralized production; and 3. Rigid urban-rural boundaries are socially and economically counterproductive. By prioritizing family-scale production, this framework fosters social justice, curbs poverty, revitalizes small settlements, and rebalances spatial planning. It calls for policy shifts—including land redistribution, knowledge-sharing systems, and fair distribution networks—to empower households as primary economic units, ultimately disrupting capital monopolies and achieving sustainable spatial equity.
