Date of Graduation

2023

Document Type

Problem/Project Report

Degree Type

MLA

College

Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design

Department

Landscape Architecture

Committee Chair

Stefania Staniscia

Committee Member

Elisabeth Orr

Committee Member

Jennifer Thornton

Abstract

Historical cities are the most complete and, indeed, the most tangible incarnation of culture. They show the relationships of different generations of inhabitants with their life context. The strata of their urban topography speak about various phases of evolution and transformation as well as growth or decline. The city of Shushtar (Khuzestan, Iran) is a perfect example of a historic city formed based on sustainable and close interactions between man and nature. Its historical hydraulic system was registered in Unesco world heritage sites in 2009. This system - combining numerous elements in a practical and harmonious entity - shows ingenuity and impressive technical achievements. Generally speaking, almost the whole aspects of the life of residents were anchored around the river and in close relationship with water.

Decade after decade, because of modernity and lifestyle changes, the close relationship between people and rivers, and subsequently the leading natural feature of the city, has changed such that it almost doesn’t exist anymore. The spiritual values and perceptual interconnections between people and their city are also gone. This study aims to restore the values that make this city unique without preserving physical values like objects in a museum. The daily life of people and their relationship with water has always been part of the city’s identity that needs to be revived with landscape architecture and design magic.

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