Read with your partner and make a bullet list of important facts/key aspects to sustainable urban development?

A case study of sustainable urban planning principles in Curitiba (Brazil) and their applicability in Shiraz (Iran)

3.1.7. Social justice, quality of life and public health Improving the quality of life has been a guideline for Curitiba's municipality. Since 1980s the city has begun a project called the Faris de Saber (Lighthouses of Knowledge). These Lighthouses are free educational centres which include libraries, Internet facilities, and other social resources. Job providing programs and sustainable income policies are followed in the decision making process as well as action plans. The concentration of social programs is on poor citizens to provide social justice. The city's public housing program has built one of the largest plots of available lands as the home for 50,000 poor families called Novo Bairro (New Neighborhood) (Smith and Raemaekers, 1998). Besides environmental benefits, money raised from selling materials goes into social programs. City employs the homeless and recovering addicted people in its garbage separation plants (Brendan, 1998). Sanitation and waste management programs are developed by utilizing local prescriptions to improve citizens' welfare and social justice. From the Curitiba example it becomes clear that social, environmental and economic solutions can be integrated with holistic approaches to promote the quality of life. 3.2. Shiraz: city of civilization, gardens, and poets Shiraz is the sixth biggest city in Iran and is the capital of Fars Province. It is located in the southwest of the country on the 'Rudkhaneye Khoshk' seasonal river; 200K m from south seashore of Iran. It is built over a green plain of the Zagros Mountains, 1500 meters above sea level with a moderate climate and regular seasons. Fars province is the origin of two biggest Persian empires from 550 BC to 630 AD (Achaemenian Empire from 550 BC to 330 BC and Sassanid Empire from 241 AD to 630 AD) and most of historical sites of these two dynasties are located in this area (Gershevitch, 1985). Shiraz has been a regional trade centre since the 8th century AD (the earliest reference to the city is dated on 500 BC). In the 13th century AD, it had become a leading centre of visual arts and publications for three centuries. Shiraz was the capital of Iran (historical Persia) during the Buwayhid dynasty in 11th century AD and the "Zand" dynasty in 18th century AD (Khoobnazar, 2001). Shiraz has a population of 1.3 million in 2011 (Figure 4). According to an official survey, the shares of the different modes of travel in this city are as follows: private cars and taxis: 66 percent, buses: 19 percent and the other modes: 15 percent which is an unsustainable trend in a longer term. Therefore, the public bus is the main mode of public transportation (Soltani and Esmaeili Ivaki, 2011; Soltani and Marandi, 2011). For the time being, public transportation in Shiraz relies mainly on the bus network and the subway system is not opened yet. The metropolitan area consists of 9 Zones each of which has its own municipal authority. Shiraz historical zone consists of different public spaces and buildings such as bazaar, mosques, schools, houses and palaces as well as traditional squares and streets. Shiraz is known as the city of poets and flowers. It is also considered to be the "city of gardens", due to the numerous gardens and fruit trees existing in the city. Shiraz economy is based on agriculture, electronic industries and trade (crafts and electronics). International Journal of Development and Sustainability

4.1. Comparative description Table 1 compares the differences exist between Curitiba and Shiraz in terms of some basic urban and transport characteristics. It sounds that two cities are similar in density level, however, Curitiba has better figures in those items related to sustainability: Green space (per capita), recycled waste, public transport usage. Table 1. Comparison of Curitiba and Shiraz City Population density (person per hectare) Car ownership (per household) Green space per capita (m2) Recycled waste (percent) Public transport share Curitiba 102 0.85 52 70 83 Shiraz 94 0.92 17 3 19 4.2. Integrated sustainability approach The Integrated sustainability approach based on "social democracy" is the success point of Curitiba. City sustainability achievement has three dynamic factors: sustainable decision making, environmental sustainability and social sustainability. Shifting the emphasis on transport system or economic is due to the context of each city. City as a unity needs an integrated sustainability approach with comprehensive and continuous long-term planning and practice. 4.3. Applying sustainability principles in Shiraz Integration of planning process with concentration on local opportunities and small-scale changes are milestones of the proposed system, which aims to apply extracted sustainability Shiraz with the special consideration on its historical zone. 4.3.1. Historic district preservation and regeneration There are several shortages in infrastructural services (sewage system, gas, etc.) and efficient public transportation especially in Shiraz historical zone. This shortage in addition to social problems and land development policies force original occupants to emigrate from the central zone. They are replaced by occasional resident as well as poor dwellers. These new occupants have not deep relationship with the local heritage and also have low incomes. So the area faces a serious social-economic situation. There are more than 200 historical houses, 10 palaces, 7 historical gardens, and 30 famous mosques and schools in the historical zone of Shiraz. Although some of them have been used as museums and cultural organization, but the majority of these historical buildings are free of urban functions. Furthermore, the lack of appropriate accessibility affects the daily life. Utilizing the tourism industry is considered as a multipurpose solution for a number of historical zone problems. In this proposal, historical houses are revitalized as small-scale hotels. Because of special pattern of the historical zone, there is an opportunity to combine a few houses to shape bigger tourist-oriented areas. Bazaar-Vakil is a 2 km sheltered-linear shopping area with the plenty of supporting small productive industries in the heart of the historical zone. It can be rehabilitated and empowered by a few number of small scale acupunctural changes in its entrances. Bazaar shops are mostly owned by original occupants of the old town, and it is an opportunity to utilize Bazaar as an activity generator in urban regeneration and citizens' participation. Tourist Oriented Planning (TOP) provides new job opportunities for occupants, which can lead to more sustainable and vibrant society and local economy. The existing areas which have not spatial values can be redesigned to serve essential functions. Some related urban organizations such as architectural consultant companies, social welfare institutions, cultural organizations, traditional restaurants, souvenir shops, and small-scale educational centres can be relocated in this zone. The TOP can be utilized in the whole city. Shiraz has a moderate climate; however, there is only one hour flight to rich Arab countries which have very hot and arid climate. Therefore Shiraz can be a destination for many travelers and this can bring new opportunities for the local economy. On the other hand, Fars province has lots of famous historical sites and natural tourism attractions. These all together make a potential ground International Journal of Development and Sustainability Vol.1 No.2 (2012): 120-134 130 ISDS www.isdsnet.com for tourism development. They can be considered as great heritage interests to promote local social and economical situations. 4.3.2. Pedestrian-oriented urban design Shiraz has some problems to serve daily transportation. This causes some urban projects to widen the streets in the central zone. In reality, however, because of private ownership of surrounding properties, the strategy has not been implemented in many cases. Furthermore, the widespread patterns of physical growth have been acted as a motivator to use private cars more. So pedestrian and bike oriented strategies are practical solution for the long term. In addition to opportunities for people to be connected to the identical built environment, it has some advantages to preserve old buildings from further damages. Car accessibility for emergency usage is available through "needle access". Pedestrian realm of the city is a great opportunity for citizens to reconnect to their history, environmental identity and cultural activities. It represents a different view of life to visitors which is safer, more beautiful and more convenient. 4.3.3. Integrated transport system Shiraz city transportation needs to be equipped with collective fast modes such as BRT and subway. Construction of "Shiraz Metro System" (train access) has begun in 2002 to decline the traffic congestions and high mobility demand in the whole city. It is estimated to be operational by 2015. The needle-access streets will be connected to two city express lanes which consist of express buses in addition to the metro system. Each express lane will be supported by two slower traffic lines besides. 4.3.4. Environmental preservation, riverside and productive gardens Shiraz has over 400 hectares of fruit productive inner-city gardens inside its metropolitan area. Most of these gardens are located in North- West of the city in "Ghasr-Dasht" area. A few of these gardens have expensive buildings within them. Lemon and orange trees are traditionally grown in private properties (e.g. Bagh-eEram) as well as public areas as. There are also local plantains trees grow up without any special care. There is a cultural event in each February (Bahman) when people plant trees one month before the spring, the so called "planting ceremony" (jashn-e-derakhtkari). It is suggested that the city municipality must provide some tree plantation in this festival. Such location can be used as public green space and as mentioned formerly if local trees are utilized, they do not need special care to grow. The city river that is a seasonal waterway has a landscape which needs to be promoted as a linear recreational space for citizens. The city bike line is currently stretched through the river and by some small changes in landscape design and safety promotion, it has potential to improve citizens' health. International Journal of Development and Sustainability Vol.1 No.2 (2012): 120-134 ISDS www.isdsnet.com 131 4.3.5. Waste management system, agriculture and local industries Environmental sustainability will not be achieved without separating waste in cities it is suggested that household waste must be separated into four section including food waste, paper waste, plastic waste, and material and glass waste. Food waste can be composed into garden fertilizers; paper waste can be recycled locally in paper industries; plastic waste can be recycled in packaging of goods; metal and glass waste can be reused in related industries (Lehmann and Crocker, 2012). Shiraz has fertilized soil and is one of agricultural centres of the country. It has numerous food production industries, as well as the potential to improve it further. It is suggested that the waste management system, food production and packaging industries must be taken into consideration in an integrated manner. The concluding diagram for how/what Sustainability principles in Curitiba can be practiced in Shiraz situation can be like Figure 4 5. Conclusion Sustainability of cities can be achieved by balancing four integrated factors: sustainable decision making, sustainable society, sustainable environment and sustainable economy. The balance between these factors is totally related to the context potentials in local, regional and global scales. Every urban environment has its specific opportunities and constraints, but still there are many things to learn from other cities'. Crucial is to investigate successful principles based on existing precedents, analyze them with the consideration of their local context and moderate them in order to apply in other contexts. In the case of Shiraz, it has developed from a historical core, which arise strong social, cultural and economic opportunities for the city. As such, the practiced sustainability principles in Curitiba need to be moderated to some extent to be able to match Shiraz specific context. It is also vital to consider limitations of case study research findings regarding to generalization and application of findings. Due to complexity of physical, social, cultural and environmental systems in sustainable urban planning, strategic planning for a city needs to inspire from several successful precedents and contextual opportunities and constraints. Implementation of strategies is the other vital criteria which need to be investigated locally. This paper does open the door to interdisciplinary investigation of sustainability, but generally remains within the limited territory of physical planning. The most interesting hypothesis-"contextually" adapting planning principles appropriated from a unique urban context-is investigated indirectly. In other words, the "principles" behind Curitiba's many success stories are described as physical planning strategies. As a result, the application of Curitiba-like strategies to the context of Shiraz is theoretically limited. Curitiba and Shiraz are both governed and planned by technocracies, their political contexts are different. What emerges from this more critical strand of thinking is that Curitiba is not that different from other Brazilian metropolitan areas (in terms of its spatial and environmental contradictions). Moreover, considering the paper's emphasis on qualitative and context specific analysis, much analysis on actors, institutions and the planning and management framework in the city of Shiraz are possible through further research. These are crucial for a deeper understanding of the possibility of the Curitiba narrative "to travel" to Iran. In other words, it is important to identify the drivers which have positive and/or negative influences on the process in each of the two case studies. The sustainability principles need to be directed according to the identified drivers.