Farhang Park | Shiraz, Iran | TAA Architecture Studio

Farhang Park brings new functions to life in multiple areas of the site (neighborhood park of interest), which was misused before. The neighborhood park is considered a green area for public meetings, recreational activity, walking, and relaxing. With its evergreen trees and flowers, the park offers the residents a chance to unwind. Footpaths looping around the park have connected the park with the surrounding houses, maximizing the length of the walking path and increasing accessibility.

Following the neighbors’ request, the trees in the site were planted twenty years ago and even the neighbors themselves have irrigated them since then. Hence, there was a deep emotional attachment between them and these trees. Over time the growth of the trees and the side fields’ vegetation had transformed the site into a dark crime zone that worried the locals.

Once the project was assigned, the architects did field studies to collect proposals and future users’ concerns for this project. Neighbors proposed a unique way of design, ensuring the safety of users. 

Design Objectives

1- Preserving and strengthening the existing trees and taking advantage of the identity they have given to the land

2- Creating a safe leisure space for residents

The design aims to emphasize the identity that residents have constructed over the years by strengthening the linear axes of the pines. The straight axes function as an appealing way to get everyone to walk to the end of the path. 

There were some limitations for planting under pines, so some decisions needed to be made to select plants that are ecologically compatible with the environment and include other vegetation as well. In the hot and dry climate of Shiraz, the current trees provide a pleasant shade that we used to place seats and resting lounges.

Besides this linear and direct geometry, a dynamic children’s playground has been designed to meet the needs of the local users. The playground in this design is not stereotypical and does not follow the ordinary set of urban playgrounds. By designing Euclidean volumes, this project seeks to create an interactive space for exploration and competition that develops children’s creativity.

 A multifunctional design with sharp colors gives the children ample opportunities for both physical activity and social gathering next to each other. 

Here the children can engage in playing freely, following their interests, and getting to know themselves and others. It provides an opportunity for all kinds of free movement and role play, as each child makes up his/her mental image of this space. Some see the hemispheres included as islands in the ocean and some as colorful planets, mountains, and valleys.

Next to the playground, there are collective lounges for neighbors to interact with each other, which also overlooks the playground and provides security.

Farhang Park

Location: Farhangshahr St, Shiraz, Iran

Office name: TAA Architecture Studio

Designers involved in the design of landscape (architects and landscape architects): Hamidreza Esmaeili (project manager), Maryam Mohammadian (Architect), Zahra Dalvand (Landscape Architect)

Civil Engineer: Mohammad Sasani, Mohammad Tashakori

Electrical Engineer: Mehdi Javanmardi

Contractor: Etminansaz Company

Client: Shiraz Municipality ( Heydar Eskandarpoor)

Photographers: Navid Atrvash, Hamid Rahmani

Text: Zahra Dalvand

About Damian Holmes 3253 Articles
Damian Holmes is the Founder and Editor of World Landscape Architecture (WLA). He is a registered landscape architect (AILA) working in international design practice in Australia. Damian founded WLA in 2007 to provide a website for landscape architects written by landscape architects. Connect on Linkedin at https://www.linkedin.com/in/damianholmes/