Niayesh-Sadr Tunnel Entrance Competition
Client: Tehran Municipality
Location: Niayesh-Sadr Tunnel /Tehran
Term of design & construction: 2012-
Total floor area: 1000 m²
Function: Public Space
Competition 1st Place
Oxygen Pavilion
This proposal is conceived not only as an architectural and urban intervention, but also as a reminder of an essential yet increasingly neglected relationship: the relationship between people and the city.
Over the past century, the priorities of architecture, urban planning, and urban decision-making have gradually shifted toward quantity rather than quality. Urban arteries, squares, streets, and infrastructural spaces are often designed primarily to resolve vehicular movement, while pedestrian experience and the human qualities of public space remain secondary.
As a result, the relationship between the human being and the city has increasingly been replaced by the relationship between the automobile and the city. We believe that before—or at least alongside—the resolution of traffic and mobility challenges, urban design must give serious attention to the qualitative, human-centered dimensions of the city.
The main design idea is derived from the Heluchin / Khagi arch, one of the oldest historical arch forms and among the most stable in terms of structural geometry. Through the non-uniform repetition and subtle displacement of this arch, the design defines the main entrance portals of the tunnels and extends above them to create a new public space.
The spaces between the shifted arches are enclosed with double-glazed glass panels, providing both air sealing and acoustic insulation. Within this protected environment, an irregular ramp guides visitors through a sequence of plants, stones, and changing perspectives, creating a gradual spatial experience rather than a purely functional passage.
This elevated public space can accommodate programs such as an exhibition gallery presenting the tunnel construction process, a café, landscaped areas, and places for pause and observation. In this way, infrastructure is transformed from a purely technical object into an active civic place—one that reconnects movement, memory, public life, and the urban landscape.
The use of oxygen blowers within this symbolic space forms an architectural response to the issue of urban air pollution. For this reason, we named the project the Oxygen Pavilion: a space that is both experiential and critical, offering a poetic yet direct commentary on the environmental conditions of the contemporary city.
Due to the structural behavior of the arch system, the proposed elements can be constructed with lightweight and refined materials, allowing the intervention to remain visually delicate while maintaining structural clarity.
Beyond the pavilion itself, we strongly recommend that serious attention be given to the design of the external edges of the main highway. Pedestrian routes, areas for pause, and safe pedestrian access should be carefully integrated into the broader urban design strategy. Existing and future functions—such as bus stations, pedestrian entries, and connections to surrounding urban complexes—should be reconsidered as part of a more comprehensive human-centered approach.
Ultimately, this urban landmark is a composition of two intentions: the creation of a recognizable civic sign, and a renewed respect for humane urban space. It seeks to transform infrastructural necessity into a meaningful urban experience—one that restores the presence of people within the city.
