Shams Al-Ziafe
Hotel, commercial, residential and healthcare complex
The old urban fabric of Mashhad has been through extraordinary transformations in the past two decades. The destruction of the foremost parts of the memorable and identifying elements of the urban fabric including the interlaced network of walkways, functions and activities blended with the incorporated culture of neighboring individuals surrounding the holly shrine of Imam Reza, thus disregarding the notion of interconnecting the fabric with the existing community. Consequently these changes resulted in dramatic alterations in the fabrics population structure and the evacuation of the past residence. Today we depict that the revival of the values governing the old fabric in consideration with the contemporary societies needs, cannot be achieved without attention to the concept of sustainability (environmental – social – economical).
The Shams-Al-Ziafe project with its unique location, diverse and adaptive programs can be effective in constructing a space for the revival and development of the sustainability concept. An inevitable necessity of this project is responding to the various society needs of the projects consumers including the neighbors and the Imam Reza pilgrims. People’s constant presence and programs accumulative permeability within the various project levels provides the possibility of creating a lively and active space.
Nurturing the urban space and social quarters and increasing walkability can be effective for the cultivation of social sustainability. Additionally the creation of a memorable space accompanied with the preservation of the past fabrics remaining elements such as the historic house, mosque and the old trees in the yards will be effective to the cultivation of the projects cultural and social roots. Special attention to the public, semi-public and private landscape in various parts of the project together with obtaining new energies envisions environmental sustainability; and flexible programing in accordance with market studies ensures economic sustainability of the project.