Yara Mahmoudyar

Navvab Bazaarway

Connecting the divided


Navvab Bazaarway is about reconnecting a once homogeneous neighbourhood. Navvab Highway cuts through Tehran’s second largest historical fabric. What used to be 2–3 layers of housing along human-scale, 8-meter-wide local streets with shops and facilities on the ground floor was redefined in 1994 into the Middle East’s largest megacity construction. A 100m-wide strip was wiped clear to make space for thousands of housing units in medium to tall buildings, with no proportion to what was there before, and a prioritization of car movement over human life.

Because the development happened in the early 90s, its model was car-centric. Massive hard-surfaced areas were created so cars could move freely and park self-righteously. But as we know, the more we make space for cars, the more traffic jams we create. With that comes noise pollution, air pollution, health issues, higher city temperatures, accidents, and so on. By replacing the car-centric approach with a smart mobility system, we not only make transportation more efficient and frequent, but also open up space for programs—something the city desperately needs. Ever since the demolition, thousands of square meters of neighbourhood facilities and programs were removed and never rebuilt.

In this proposal, I aim to reconnect by redefining and reimagining one of Iran’s architectural and historical treasures: the Bazaar. A well-integrated urban gem, where daily social life intersects with commerce, schools, religious buildings, health centers, and more.
The Bazaarway will replace the highway and create a platform where both the neighbourhood and the city benefit mutually. 

Graduation date: 1 July 2025 
Graduation committee: Barend Koolhaas (mentor), Azadeh Arjomand Kermani, Wouter Kroeze
TAdditional members for the exam: Raul Corrêa-Smith, Ameneh Solati