I am very pleased that this kind of thinking and valuation of this district has started among my own generation, and the investors who have contributed to this culture-building are a source of pride for me. I know it is a heavy statement and a great claim, but I believe that in this era of modernization and rapid destruction of Tehran at the hands of speculators, we are saving a small area of the megacity of Tehran — one that will ultimately become renowned among all for its beauty and authenticity. I feel that most of the old facades in this area that remain intact and untouched establish a special connection with me, and even in some cases, when I see someone with taste who has placed geranium pots on the balcony of their home, creating a magnificent combination with the building's bricks, it gives a passing greeting and welcome to me, the passerby — a peculiar feeling that no ostentatious tower will ever create. I do not know what it is. Is it a sense of nostalgia, or is it because our horizon of vision is broader in these areas, or... Whatever it is, it is full of love... In principle, I am completely opposed to labeling these areas as "deteriorated urban fabric." This fabric is not deteriorated. Rather, one could say it is aged, and when the word "aged" is heard, it means respect, experience, and nostalgia. "Deteriorated" implies something that should be destroyed and is no longer usable, whereas the buildings of this district have a soul, and after revitalization, they can be even more enjoyable for their owners than before. I will encourage and assist those who intend to relocate to this area for living or working, and I myself plan to move to this neighborhood in the near future. Mrs. Sadeghi's office, architect: Armin Moein, photo: Kamran Sheikholeslami. O Gallery.
There are long streets that traverse a large part of the city, each section possessing its own distinct character. Near the Lolagar Alley area, Hafez and Jomhouri streets — with the bridges over them, the traffic, the crowding, the countless motorcyclists coming and going, all of which play a role in amplifying this hustle and commotion — are well known. Although this commotion may seem unpleasant and overwhelming to some — to the point of discouraging their visits to these places and leading to their seclusion in their comfort zones elsewhere in the city — we must accept that this chaos has become part of the identity of this district. For instance, if we were to remove the unruly motorcyclists and the busy facades of the buildings at the Hafez-Jomhouri intersection, while it might lead to the visual and traffic orderliness of the place, this intersection might no longer be recognizable to many. This disorder might even seem attractive and pleasant to those whose rigid, inflexible preconceptions do not cloud their vision. Many tourists who, like the residents of Tehran, have not yet grown tired of or accustomed to it, just as they are amazed by the intricate, chaotic, yet vibrant workings of the bazaar's architecture when they step inside, are mesmerized when they stand at this intersection, asking themselves how this city manages to live amid so much disorder. It is enough to step back slightly from our preconceptions of an orderly and organized — but perhaps tedious — city, so that the somewhat hidden charms of our city become more visible to our inattentive eyes. The point of this discussion is that any change to the center of Tehran must be approached with sensitivity, and one must bear in mind that eliminating the distinctive features — however seemingly negative — of certain places will, at best, render them ordinary. Lolagar Alley is one of the alleys branching off Nofal Loshato Street, a west-east street between Valiasr and Hafez, north of Jomhouri Street, known for its embassies — even the French ring of its name underscores this. Lolagar Street itself is well-known for another reason. More important than the symmetry of the alley's buildings — which is now less noticeable due to changes over the years — Pizza Davood is one of the factors drawing people to this alley. Rightly or wrongly accepted as Tehran's first pizzeria, although its food quality differs from typical restaurants, many people love it for its homey, nostalgic atmosphere and history. These observations, in contrast to the usual introductions of Lolagar, rely on the informal characteristics of this place. Next, we will examine the urban structure of Lolagar Alley. Urban Structure of Lolagar Alley: The Importance of Establishing Connections within the Fabric. The houses of Lolagar Alley are among the earliest examples of outward-facing houses that, influenced by the changing lifestyle of Tehranis, transformed the relationship with the street compared to the past. Additionally, the houses of Lolagar Alley are recognized by some as the first example of residential ensemble development in Tehran. In the past, the property on which the alley and its buildings stand belonged to an old family that donated part of it to the public realm, converting it into an alley — although the alley once had a gate and was privately owned, at some point it was opened to the public. This family built perfectly symmetrical buildings on both sides of the alley, and by establishing this visual connection — or symmetry — especially in the two properties with round balconies, the buildings on both sides of the alley are read as a unified complex. However, symmetry is merely the visual manifestation and a surface layer of a deeper connection between the buildings of this complex (the fabric of Lolagar Alley). The reason for this connection, which we will describe in more detail, can be found in the relationships between the alley's residents. One can say the building residents, all from one family, sought to live in a physical structure that would create the maximum connection between them and display this connection to others. In the original condition of this complex, achieving maximum connectivity occurs on several layers: The Connectivity Layer of Residents — In our country, especially in the past, relatives typically have extensive interactions with one another. Beyond constant visits, in many cases, shared economic activity and collaborative household management further strengthen this connection. This complex was also built for members of one large family (two brothers and their children) for whom family identity was important. The Connectivity Layer of the Courtyard — The courtyard is the private open unbuilt space of each urban block. The houses of Lolagar are internally connected to one another through their courtyards at a more private level. The courtyards, like intermediate spaces, stitch together the lower floors of Lolagar's buildings and reinforce their connections. The Connectivity Layer of the Street — The houses of Lolagar, in addition to being connected through their intermediate courtyards, also had a private connection to one another through the alley. In terms of access, entry to a building usually occurs from the ground floor, where it connects with the street. In the case of Lolagar's houses, all of them connect to a single private alley that was exclusively for their own coming and going. Therefore, these houses have an exclusive connection to each other through the ground floor. To exit the complex, all of them must pass through this alley. Visually as well, the main facades of all these houses face Lolagar Alley, and through their numerous windows, their connection to the alley — and consequently to one another — is reinforced. Today, the alley's transition from a private state and the presence of small shops in it bring foot traffic and motorcyclists, keeping the complex alive and connecting it to the city — which demonstrates the importance of small shops in the alley. The Layer of Visual Connection — As explained, the connection of the alley's residents to one another in daily life has made their physical connection within the fabric in which they live greater than in ordinary residential buildings. Moreover, the desire to be seen together and to strengthen family identity is reflected in the building facades and the connected structure of the complex. As shown, the connection of the buildings within this fabric extends far beyond a mere visual relationship. The layering of these connections creates a tight bond between the buildings of the Lolagar complex, stitching them together and making them stand out within the surrounding fabric. This can be called the primary characteristic of this alley. Therefore, any new development that ignores these layers of connectivity is an incorrect intervention that overlooks the alley's principal feature. Revitalization Based on Restoring Old or Creating New Connections — On the other hand, one of the proposed and tested solutions for revitalizing an old fabric is to create points within the fabric that serve as engines of revitalization, and through the connection of these points, the revitalization process spreads to other parts of the fabric. These points are individual buildings and patches that, despite being only small, scattered points of the fabric, achieve an impact greater than their scale through their connection to one another, ultimately leading to the revitalization of the entire fabric. Therefore, selecting appropriate points and establishing connections between them becomes critically important. Although when we speak of this connection, we mostly mean programmatic and functional connectivity, the role of physical connection should not be overlooked. In a fabric like Lolagar Alley and the broader surrounding area, which already has certain preconditions in this regard, a special situation arises. Lolagar, with its potential for intra-fabric connectivity, becomes doubly important. This alley complex can be considered one of the catalytic points for fabric revitalization, because with proper actions and planning, the speed and intensity of revitalization can be higher due to the existing connectivity preconditions. The Importance of Capital and Investment — Despite the abundant potential, we see that around this fabric, as in other parts of Tehran, similar high-rise construction occurs without regard for context. Although large-scale projects in the city center are defined less frequently than elsewhere, for example, an 11-story commercial building is currently under construction at the southern end of Azhari Alley (the extension of Lolagar that leads to Hafez). The construction of commercial buildings and high-rises, due to economic profit, inevitably occurs spontaneously in response to existing needs. Alongside this type of construction, there are also investors who preserve old buildings and undertake their revitalization — unfortunately, in a city like Tehran with today's conditions, the presence of such investors sometimes surprises even architects. One of the questions that the revitalization of the Lolagar fabric — given its potential — can answer is: what strategies can offer an alternative to typical construction, in which, in addition to the return of capital and economic profit, valuable old fabrics (like Lolagar and its surroundings) are preserved, and moreover, create public benefit that serves everyone rather than a specific group? The revitalization process, beyond preserving the physical fabric, must also aim to preserve the social network, ensure economic viability, encourage investment, and in subsequent stages, moderate it to prevent future damage. The Start of the Revitalization Current in Lolagar: The First Domino Piece — The revitalization current in Lolagar Alley began with the Ataei House, now known as Aran Gallery and Cafe Reira. The owner (Mr. Ataei), motivated by family attachment, decided to revitalize this house, and the Dayereh Architecture Office and Emarat-e Khorshid Consulting Engineers undertook the project. The reuse of this historic house with a new program drew public attention to Lolagar Alley and its unique position. In addition to increased foot traffic, individuals became interested in investing there. The Continuation of the Revitalization Current in Lolagar: Setting the Domino in Motion — In various parts of Tehran and other cities, there are many first domino pieces, and unfortunately, in many cases, the revitalization current does not continue. In the revitalization of valuable old fabrics, the continuation of this current after the first step is of far greater importance, and most efforts should be concentrated on sustaining the revitalization process. As explained, in the case of Lolagar Alley, due to the tight connection of its buildings, a foundation has been created whereby any action toward fabric revitalization spreads more easily to the surroundings. Therefore, when one house is revitalized, the groundwork exists for this action to spread like dominoes to the other buildings, and in a broader view, this can affect the surrounding fabric and even the city center area. Defining Strategy — Given the points discussed, it must be said that the specialist working in this field must see the initiation and continuation of the revitalization current together from day one and plan for it from the outset. It is essential to encourage investors interested in investing in the city center fabric to purchase properties in Lolagar Alley. A similar initiative should also be undertaken for the fabric surrounding the alley. Given the importance of the connection between the buildings of a complex, the primary issue here is the intensification of these connections through architectural means. This connection has been observed in several new layers that, when laid upon the old layers, strengthen the fabric.
The Connectivity Layer of Use in the Fabric — The past use of Lolagar Alley was residential, but with the changes in the surrounding area and the increasingly complex relationships in the greater city of today's Tehran, the following points must be considered regarding the determination of uses and physical planning: New uses must be diverse and heterogeneous, creating a combination of varied uses that meets the current needs of this district. Diverse uses must be selected in such a way as to attract people from different groups to this place, and must not lead to the homogenization of the social fabric — a very serious and dangerous harm. New uses must not lead to the destruction of informal uses of the alley (such as the use by Pizza Davood's customers). Preserving the existing social fabric must be a priority; otherwise, new changes will face resistance and negative reactions. For abandoned buildings in the surrounding area, new uses can be envisioned that support both the resident population and the creative class, such as schools and subsidized housing for artists. In this regard, the participation of philanthropists — who are very active in Iran — as well as the collaboration of various institutions and the private sector with municipal support can be utilized. Uses must encourage diverse activities during both day and night, so that life flows through them at all hours and security is ensured. Economic viability and the return of capital cannot be ignored. It must be borne in mind that the alternative to preserving a historic building is high-rise commercial construction with greater profit. Therefore, the profitability of the project — at minimum to the extent of making the complex self-sustaining — is essential for the success of the building revitalization operation.
Access: Preserving and Strengthening Past Layers and Adding a New Rooftop Layer — One of the notable features of Lolagar Alley is the access between houses through the intermediate space (the courtyard). This connection had been weakened through various renovations carried out in different periods. As a first step, the aim is to restore the lost connections to the Lolagar buildings. To achieve this, related uses were created on the lower levels of the Lolagar houses so that the connection between these buildings through the courtyard is revived for new users. Additionally, through architectural approaches and playing with ground levels, this connection is strengthened and its appeal is enhanced. These connections extend from the courtyards to the street and to the basements. In addition to strengthening access from these levels in coordination with the new uses, it was decided to add a new layer to these connections: access from the rooftop. This new layer, by becoming visually distinctive, informs people of this connection and coordination — much as the alley's symmetry once emphasized (and continues to emphasize) the connection of these buildings to one another.
Visual Connection in the New Development — As stated, the houses of Lolagar Alley reflected their internal connections in their external appearance, visible in the symmetry, the materials used, and the emphasis on distinctive forms (circular balconies). In the new development, this connection is strengthened: This visual connection in the new development is established first by restoring the houses to their original condition, making this similarity and symmetry more prominent. Opening the courtyard to the street is the next step, so that this connection becomes more visible and noticeable. In this state, additional layers showing the continuation of this symmetry — hidden behind courtyard walls — are revealed. Making the rooftop connectivity layer distinctive is another emphasis on this subject. Furthermore, visual connection with the distant view is on the agenda. For example, the Lolagar building complex can be seen from the tall buildings surrounding it, such as the Charsoo complex, and in a way, they establish a connection with them like links in a chain.