Using Glass in Building Façade Limited to 50% - Tehran Municipality (http://www.tehran.ir/Default.aspx?tabid=5215)

http://www.tehran.ir/DesktopModules/Articles/MakeThumbnail.aspx?Image=%2fPortals%2f25%2fImage%2f1388%2f06%2f22042009-1.jpg&w=475

Tehran Municipality’s director general for architecture and construction announced that according to the law, using glass in façade of buildings cannot be more than 50 percent in continuous façade and non-continuous use of glass will be also subject to special regulations.
IRNA quoted Seyed Sabahoddin Mottaqi as saying that a circular has been sent to municipalities of Tehran districts declaring that issuing permit for façade of buildings will only take place after the design of the façade is produced and only buildings whose façade has been issued with a permit will be given final construction permit.
The official added that the ground line considered for the building should be in line with neighboring buildings and the skyline should be limited in terms of height. Use of paints and construction materials should be evident in blueprint of the façade.
Mottaqi also stated that buildings more than 50 percent of whose façade is made of glass should pay fine.

^^i don't get it since my english is not that good... is it good or bad?

he didn't give the reason!? LOL weird law

^^i don't get it since my english is not that good... is it good or bad?

It depends on your point of view. When it comes to modern design, glass is a must. When it comes to cost efficiency, glass is important. When it comes to earthquake safety, less glass is sometimes better... If you own a window cleaning company for taller buildings, less glass sucks ;) So it depends

^^did they say to use no glass on buildings?

he didn't give the reason!? LOL weird law

It's quite obvious why: organizing designs and building heights.

I'm personally not sure.

Why I'm against it:
- We have enough concrete skyscrapers and they make the city look boring.
- Concrete absorbs smoke, dust and dirt.
- Full glass buildings give a futuristic edge to the city
- The height restriction might be against skyscrapers in Elahiyeh (Tehran's current scraper cluster area)

Why I'm for it:
- This law will keep the mid-rise apartments in the streets look neat.
- Concrete buildings don't always look bad, just look at U.S. bank tower in LA. It's one of my favourites.
-Maybe it'll be against tacky designs and weird colours?
- No more than 50% doesn't mean concrete, a mix of metal and glass can still be used (like the B-3 tower)

^^did they say to use no glass on buildings?

Not exactly. If you want to design a building, it should not have more than 50% of it covered with glass in a continuous way (like the building in the picture) unless it is permitted by the municipality.

^^thanks,that's sad! and what about the height?

^^thanks,that's sad! and what about the height?
Height restrictions will depend on the height of buildings already built in the area.

What height restrictions can do:

http://i43.tinypic.com/33kd2x5.jpg

^^pfffffff, now we never will get a skyline.....

^^pfffffff, now we never will get a skyline.....

We already have one! don't underestimate it :D

I'm not really sure if this law is against skyscrapers. Because Elahieh already has 20-33 story towers so they could consider the area as a highrise area.

The official added that the ground line considered for the building should be in line with neighboring buildings and the skyline should be limited in terms of height. Use of paints and construction materials should be evident in blueprint of the façade.

For me there is just one argument for this law and this is the earthquake resistance, but it could be resolved by other laws for more earthquake-protection. This law isn't okay, because it has many consequences, so I am strict against the law. I hope they remove this law as soon as possible.

Totally negative. I love glass!

Well I dont think glass is that important for a building. Use of glass can result in really stupid looking buildings like some in Dubai if you dont have the right architect. Keeping height appropriate to the area and not clashing wth neighburing buildings is something Tehran needs. Also their should never be surprises on what the completed building looks like sprung on the planning authorities. Its their job to make sure the building will not be an eyesore or look out of place.

Not really related to glass, but more about construction regulations:

Standard Construction Materials to Become Obligatory by Year-end - Tehran Municipality (http://www.tehran.ir/Default.aspx?tabid=5215&ctl=Details&mid=22486&ItemID=91327)

Tehran Municipality’s Town-planning and Architecture Deputyship cannot improve construction operations on its own and if other sectors cooperated with it, use of standard construction material would become obligatory before the end of the current Iranian calendar year (started March 21, 2009).

SAMA quoted Hirbod Ma’soumi, official in charge of the deputyship, as saying that promoting the quality of construction will be on the agenda in the second half of the year by announcement of instructions for use of standard construction material and if all related organizations fulfilled their duties in this regard.
He said standard concrete and welding was made obligatory last year and supervising engineers should confirm those issues.
Ma’soumi said the municipality was planning to make use of such materials as polystyrene, which is used to build lighter buildings, obligatory by year-end and also observing standards for all other construction materials will become obligatory.

More about planning, management and regulations. Limiting the use of glass might be a part of this plan:

Attention to City Landscape by Emphasis on Iranian and Islamic Architecture - Tehran Municipality (http://www.tehran.ir/Default.aspx?tabid=5215&ctl=Details&mid=22486&ItemID=98510)

According to Tehran’s strategic plan, which is part of Tehran Municipality’s five-year plan, prompting transnational, national, and regional roles of the city by taking advantage of physical, social, human, financial, and economic capacities and assets are major goals set out for Tehran.

SAMA reported that the strategic plan also follows other goals which include, inter alia, determination of suitable limits for Tehran while protecting its integrity and enforcing urban management within the limits of the city.
Other goals include stabilizing area of residential quarters and suitable use of urban land to develop public spaces for a population of about 9.1 million as well as to bring prosperity to economic activities in Tehran by taking good advantage of those spaces and creating new jobs.

I am against the regulation because it holds back architects, however if it is based on the grounds of safety i.e. during an earthquake a rain of glass will fall upon the sidewalks/pavements, then fair enough it is in place for public safety. In Europe we put up with plenty of bonkers regulations in the name of public safety.

^^pfffffff, now we never will get a skyline.....

Tehran is just so vast there will only ever be like now with small concentrated pockets of high rise towers.

What about anti-shatter glass? I don't think Qalibaf has heard of these stuff?!

This law doesn't make any sense! I live in Tokyo which is just (if not more) earthquake prone, and most of the new buildings here are all glass! It just requires the architects and engineers to design properly and not use shoddy materials.

Glass Façade Not Suitable for Tehran Climate and Culture | Tehran Municipality (http://en.tehran.ir/Default.aspx?tabid=5215&ctl=Details&mid=22486&ItemID=111888)

Tehran deputy mayor for town-planning and architecture noted that glass facades for buildings are not compatible with climatic and cultural conditions in Tehran.

Hirbod Ma’soumi told Shahr.ir that since Tehran is located on major fault lines, using such facade is not reasonable and the municipality is trying to prevent it.

“Unfortunately, glass facade is being increasingly used in commercial and administrative buildings and this is not in line with our Islamic culture,” he said.
The official added that no mayor plan has been made on details of buildings, but studies have begun to end in formulation of a plan on such details, especially building facade.

___________

Islamic culture? How about taking a cup of shut the f*** up! Glass is probably a western material according to this person.

I'd like to see the day when someone cares about our Iranian culture.

^^islamic culture? lol

maybe they will give buildings hijab to but instead of chador they will give them concrete xD

maybe they will give buildings hijab to but instead of chador they will give them concrete xD

Perhaps windows are too exposing for 'Islamic culture' too, may they all get blocked :lol:

^^who knows...I'll don't be suprised if they would do that! hehe

sheet glass was invented by Pilkington who figured out the method of pouring molten glass on molten tin. sure a western innovation but does that mean that Tehran municipality is going to cut the phone and electricity lines on the same reason also? hmmm I think the author of the article was clutching at straws to fill up his word limit.

I've been repeatedly saying on these threads that this rubbish about glass not being compatible with Islamic culture is the real reason for the government's ban on glass use. I live in Tokyo which is just as earthquake-prone as Tehran (if not more), and most of the commercial buildings here all have glass facades.

I prefer other materials than nur class for Tehran. Its tacky if you over use it. Look at Dubai. I like a lot of aspects of Dubai due to my cultural linkage but the architecture these days is tacky and nouveau rich. We don't want Iran to turn in something like that. Look at Istanbul, beautiful city with maybe 20 only class buildings.

I prefer other materials than nur class for Tehran. Its tacky if you over use it. Look at Dubai. I like a lot of aspects of Dubai due to my cultural linkage but the architecture these days is tacky and nouveau rich. We don't want Iran to turn in something like that. Look at Istanbul, beautiful city with maybe 20 only class buildings.

There's just too many people on this part of the forum calling Dubai tacky, and there are too many apologists for some of these concrete monstrosities!

^ Let's face it, both are tacky.

PS: Welcome to the forum!

with the state of corruption and poor general enforcement of bi-laws i think some developers will get around it.

I think it is good to make restrictions. When they make buildings in Iran of glass it looks like they copy things from the cold western world or they should cover it carefully with wood or something. Some good examples in Iran already showed us that they can make architecture without looking to much to the western world. I say this as an Western. ;)

Here some good examples:

just amazing buidling of Arsh design group in Tehran
http://desmena.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/arsh_khorsand_12.jpg

another example in Mahallat
http://desmena.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/ramin_mehdizadeh_mahallat_05.jpg

source: www.desmena.com

unique and beautiful