Jahad Metro Plaza in Teheran by KA Architecture Studio

With a total length of 250 km, Tehran's metro network is one of the largest in the world. Nevertheless, in oil-rich Iran, the car is still the number one means of private transport. To change this and make the capital more pedestrian-friendly, the former city administration teamed up with a group of urban planners to launch the Medyangah project. They identified 100 locations in the city that were suitable for structural revitalisation.

The barrel vaults were constructed from handmade bricks on wire mesh scaffolding. © Aga Khan Trust for Culture / Deed Studio

The programme kicks off with the redesign of a triangular plot of land at Meydan-e Jahad. Previously, only an inconspicuous glass entrance building provided access to the underground; the rest of the area stood empty. The clients had actually only commissioned KA Architecture Studio to repave the square. But Mohamad Khavarian and his team wanted to do more: on an area of around 800 m², they designed a series of barrel vaults with brick roofing that cleverly makes use of the irregular shape of the square.

Floor plan, © KA Architecture Studio

The vaults provide shade and protection from the rain. They also create a series of spaces with varying degrees of intimacy where people can rest, gather for conversation or listen to street musicians. In keeping with this, the metro ticket barriers have been moved underground so that everyone can enter the entrance structure free of charge. The construction of the metro entrance took a full seven months. A modular steel grid framework was used, onto which handmade bricks were laid – a technique commonly used in Iran that does not require any special expertise. Subtle variations in the brickwork refer to the country's historical geometric brick patterns. To prevent vandalism, there are no loose furnishings. The lighting is also integrated into the ceilings and walls.