URBAN MORPHOLOGIES in the EM.ME Region between Identity, Emergency, Migrancy. (Shiraz)

The challenge for professionals in urban heritage lies in striking a balance between maintaining the historical significance and adapting urban areas for contemporary purposes. Most Iranian cities face an even bigger problem, due to their rich historical heritage, in implementing new construction while maintaining the authenticity of the current buildings. This process often meets opposition, especially when trying to incorporate contemporary infrastructure into the older, historic areas. Yet the crucial challenge with such urban areas is not only to adapt them to contemporary needs but also to preserve all the cultural and architectural features of those areas. Such an issue can be clearly faced by the central part of Shiraz, especially along the Zandieh axis. Recent development has caused huge damage to the historical fabric of this city. The changes take place without a systematic approach grounded on evidence, thus creating a loss in the levels of cultural and architectural integrity. Shiraz has a typical urban design in which the social, cultural, and economic aspects are very much entwined, thus representing an important case to review how the historical urban areas can change without losing their historical values. To intervene effectively in these kinds of environments, a prior knowledge of the historic city context is necessary; then a selection of suitable methods shall be adopted, giving attention to a holistic approach that is concerned with environmental, social, and cultural problems. It is especially vital in such cities as Shiraz, where these approaches have almost always been denied. This careful analysis forms the core basis on which interventions could be done, lest one may cause damages to architectural identity and cultural heritage. The heart of Shiraz, formed by the dialectical interaction of local architectural traditions and nature, is a perfect case study for studying the issue of how new urban elements answered a historical context. The aim of this work is to investigate how the heritage fabric of the city could be retained, in the process of bringing in required modern features. The following article examines the urban layout of Shiraz in order to determine how new interventions can be integrated naturally into the overall plan of this city, filling the gaps without modifying the architectural vocabulary. Conclusively, the results will provide guidelines toward urban development at historic sites, ensuring that new methods meet modern needs without losing the essence of the surrounding environment.