studio chahar
A community-based urban intervention using recycled materials and collective design
The Urban Waste Workshop, held in March 2024 in the historic Sangelaj neighborhood of Tehran, brought together 30 participants—including architects, artists, environmentalists, municipal staff, and local residents (shopkeepers, youth, women, and individuals struggling with addiction)—for a two-day hands-on intervention. Organized around the Jalal Al-e Ahmad House, a future house museum, the workshop addressed the environmental crisis caused by shoe production waste, a long-standing issue in this area near Tehran’s Grand Bazaar.
Participants studied the historical fabric of Sangelaj and collaboratively transformed discarded shoe materials into public art and spatial installations. The first day focused on material exploration, cultural context, and ideation; the second was dedicated to fabrication and installation in public space. The results included benches, sculptural lighting, and textile-inspired installations that revived neglected alleys and fostered neighborhood pride.
Follow-up investigations confirmed that the specific waste problem in this part of the neighborhood was fully resolved in the weeks following the workshop. Shoemakers changed their disposal habits, the municipality increased its cleanup efforts, and even individuals previously contributing to the waste issue became engaged in maintaining the area—demonstrating the power of inclusive, creative engagement.
What makes this workshop unique is its blend of environmental action, cultural memory, and grassroots design. The Jalal House became more than a museum—it was activated as a civic platform, connecting the past with urgent urban challenges. This initiative stands as a replicable model for cities seeking to use waste as a resource, and culture as a catalyst for sustainable, inclusive urban regeneration.
Collaborators Credits:
Project Designer: Yasaman Esmaili
Project Manager: Kimia Amini
Consultants: Seyyed Ahmad Modit Tabatabai, Negar Naderipour, Ali Mirzaei
Project Team: Amirhossein Pasha, Saba Robati
Production and Installation Team: Fatemeh Mortazavi Moghaddam, Zahra Abdolkhani, Rojin Soltani, Saba Azami, Pourya Samandari, Hamidreza Naranji Nejad, Mehdi Gohari, Tina Sangelaji, Parastoo Manteghi, Donya Izadi, Saba Robati, Naeem Abdolkarimi, Negar Memarizadeh, Ali Mirzaei, Shadi Davari, Mahdieh Jafari, Rahim Moqaddas, Asghar Moharami, Fatemeh Soleimani, Hossein Torkaman, Reza Shamagani, Alireza Samadian, Mahmoud Mousavi, Amirhossein Pashamoghadam, Dorna Lotfi, Mansoureh Baghgeraei, Moloud Pilevar Abrisham, Zahra Nikoorai, Mehrnoosh Kashi