Environment and Ecology Research Vol. 7(1), pp. 19 - 42
DOI: 10.13189/eer.2019.070104
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The Role of Rituals in the Design and Planning of Green Spaces – A Case Study: Tehran and the Persian New Year

Sanaz Shobeiri ^*
School of Architecture and the Built Environment, University of Westminster, United Kingdom

ABSTRACT

One of the current global challenges in landscape urbanism is how to ensure that cultural attitudes and preferences are reflected in the design and planning. The rituals that take place in each cultural context contribute to social and cultural interactions and connectivity with nature. Despite the continuity of some cultural traditions, other rituals have been weakened throughout history and need to be strengthened, revived, or revitalized. This paper investigates the aforementioned aspects of rituals associated with the Persian New Year and their interrelation with Tehran's natural structures, and in particular the river valleys. The study will be two-fold. First, it aims to familiarize both international and Iranian readers with the existing and fading traditions related to the Persian New Year. Second, the paper studies the characteristics of a particular context from users' points of view in order to present the specific traditions of this key annual event. For the main conclusion, this paper will consider the integrated whole of human nature – or, more precisely, culture-nature – regarding the Persian New Year. The applied methodology consists of a review of the literature and an appropriate comparative analysis (in the first part), along with direct observation, interviews, and design practice (in the second part).

KEYWORDS
Rituals, Persian New Year, Traditions, Green Spaces, Flowing Water, Nature

Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Sanaz Shobeiri , "The Role of Rituals in the Design and Planning of Green Spaces – A Case Study: Tehran and the Persian New Year," Environment and Ecology Research, Vol. 7, No. 1, pp. 19 - 42, 2019. DOI: 10.13189/eer.2019.070104.

(b). APA Format:
Sanaz Shobeiri (2019). The Role of Rituals in the Design and Planning of Green Spaces – A Case Study: Tehran and the Persian New Year. Environment and Ecology Research, 7(1), 19 - 42. DOI: 10.13189/eer.2019.070104.