Formation of Public Space in Suburban Towns in South of Tehran: a Comparative Study

This paper presents the results of a comparative study conducted in three suburban towns in south of Tehran: Varamin, Qarchak, and Islamshahr. The former town boasts a long history, while the latter towns were initially developed as informal settlements in the chaotic post revolution period. The notion of public space is first defined based on sociopolitical and planning approaches to include four types: i) urban space; ii) religious space; iii) green space; and iv) potential public space. A comparison of these spaces in the three towns in terms of physical, functional, and social criteria reveal drastic differences and a significant correlation with their history and formation. While Varamin boasts public spaces with a strong identity, Qarchak and Islamshahr demonstrate an effort towards achieving an urban identity through their civil life and dynamism.