Oudlajan Neighbourhood Regeneration
A multi-year programme to revive one of Tehran’s oldest quarters by upgrading lanes, restoring houses and bringing residents back.
Oudlajan, in the heart of old Tehran beside the bazaar, had lost its residents over decades as houses were demolished or turned into warehouses. The district municipality asked us to develop a regeneration strategy that avoided demolition-led renewal.
From lane to house
Work began by repaving the main lanes in brick and stone. In parallel, fourteen historic houses were restored in partnership with their owners and converted to mixed residential, workshop and guesthouse uses.
- Three small public courtyards reopened as play spaces
- A design guide for new construction in the quarter
- Training for local craftsmen in brick and timber repair
After four years, the resident population within the project area has grown by more than twenty per cent, and several new small businesses have opened along the lanes.
