Modarres Highway Landscape; Explaining design factors and ideas

The process of development and formation in Tehran city is based on east-west and specially north-south and inner city highway edges which have become one of the most significant elements in urban landscape. Modarres highway is approximately 9 km long connecting Haft-e-tir square to Valiasr intersection. It is one of the most prominent north-south axis of Tehran transportation and communication system and the first inner city highway with designed sides which have demonstrated a different visage of Tehran along the highway. Landscaping the highway edges not only has created a different and pleasant micro-climate in Tehran, but also has made it a persistent artery in the minds of city residents due to its green and diverse landscape. Having used existing potential in the context of the project in landscaping Modarres highway edges, the program was completed by a new method with the help of various planting. The steep walls of the highway, with the aim of regulating the fabrics have been organized.
In designing Modarres Highway landscape two main safety and persistency principals were applied. In addition to mentioned principals, many micro ideas such as continuity, diversity, unity, urban gardens and etc were considered in order to provide identity to place.
Contrary to other ordinary concrete highways in Tehran, Modarres highway offers unique identity by its green landscape and beauty. This paper tries to analyze semantic, functional and aesthetical aspects of facading highway edges after a brief report of the design.