WE.BRIDGE
Leftover City
Sector
Public
Location
Tehran, Iran
Year
2019
Powered by
TUIC and Tehran Municipality
Category
Urban Reanimation
Role
Design and Execution member
Tehran is currently facing a shortage of public spaces that are accessible to all citizens and allow for a wide range of activities, fostering a strong sense of community.
Recognizing this need, the We-Bridge workshop was initiated with the goal of activating the neglected spaces beneath intracity bridges. These spaces span a significant area of nearly 822,000 square meters across the city and are currently off-limits to permanent structures but remain open to public use.
We-Bridge proposed that reimagining the function of these underutilized spaces under the bridges begins with small steps. Over the course of a one-week collaboration, a team of architects gathered to devise solutions for a temporary urban intervention beneath the Roshandelan Bridge in Tehran.
The result of the project was a collaborative placemaking effort, undertaken hand in hand with local residents, which unfolded over a few hours during a weekend. Activities ranged from playing traditional street games to constructing upcycled furniture and hosting street music performances. Through these activities, the bridge served as a literal and metaphorical bridge, bringing together individuals seeking respite from their daily routines and leaving a lasting impact on the public space of their city.