The "Moving Towards the Roots" Sports Coexistence Event took place in the historic Saghariasazan neighborhood of Rasht, aiming to bridge past and present while reviving the identity of this culturally rich district in northern Iran. Over the past two centuries, Saghariasazan has evolved organically, producing a network of social and economic spaces—including a market, mosque, teacher training school, coffeehouse, and artisan workshops—interwoven with a rich residential life. These spaces reflect a history of dynamic, community-centered growth and a balance of coexistence across social classes and urban functions.
However, the last three decades have seen disruptive changes that often disregarded the area's social and cultural context. New developments have led to high-density housing, eroding significant aspects of Saghariasazan’s historical identity and undermining its cultural values. In response, the "Saghariasazan, City, Life" project, launched in 2019, seeks to foster a sustainable renewal perspective that honors the area’s heritage and prioritizes the needs of local residents. By living and interacting within the community, the project team has developed a nuanced understanding of the neighborhood’s needs and challenges, allowing for an approach rooted in respect for its "hidden layers" of history and identity.
The idea for the "Moving Towards the Roots" sports event emerged from the team’s on-the-ground observations, including a notable lack of recreational and sports spaces. Recognizing the potential of an underused gray space in the neighborhood, the team transformed it into a venue for the event. In collaboration with "Elephant tusk Acrobatic Basketball," led by Pedram Ashouri, head of Rasht's street basketball team, the event gave young people and the historic environment alike a voice. Ashouri noted: "Although we are young, we, like these forgotten buildings, have been neglected. Authorities overlook both our potential and the identity of this region."
This sports event was more than a gathering; it promoted autogestion—or self-management—where residents directly shape the spaces they inhabit. By reclaiming and repurposing urban spaces, the project set out to demonstrate that transformation can arise from the community itself—a bottom-up model of urban revitalization that contrasts with conventional, top-down planning. This approach envisions the city as a space for democratic change, empowering residents to take ownership of urban development and foster sustainable, community-driven renewal.
Architect regenerator: Ronak Roshan gilvaei
Team work:
Davood boroojeni
Alireza Elmiyeh
Hanie Shafiei
Pedram Ashouri
Elephant tusk Acrobatic Basketball
Adnaninbeat
Amir Tehrani
Photos credite: Negin Eynavipour
