Project goals

The project aims to redefine the landscape as a representation of the unique natural character of Hyrcanian forests in North Iran and to recognize the ecological and cultural values of the Golestan Region. The Park is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Gholam-Ali Beski – a physician, humanist, and environmentalist. The project overally tries to expand the limits of the designed landscape to a greater national and international milieu and act as a catalyst in the sustainable social and cultural development of the Golestan region and the natural preservation of the Hyrcanian forests.

• Raising awareness about hyrcanian forests
• Supporting the preservation of hyrcanian forest
• Hommage to Dr Beski
• Re-shaping the identity of Gonbad city
• Empowering local community

Concept

The Hyrcanian forests as a “global natural heritage is a key concept in the main design approach of this project. These forests, together with the regional, national, and international functions of the project will link the designed landscape into a larger human and natural ecosystem. The proposed plants for Beski Park are a combination of Hyrcanian species and non-native ornamental plants. The project overally tries to expand the limits of the designed landscape to a greater national and international milieu and act as a catalyst in the sustainable social and cultural development of the Golestan region and the natural preservation of the Hyrcanian forests.

Topography Development

Topographical interventions on the site have created several hill-shaped areas which are vegetated with native plants of the region. The landforms shape a natural landscape. Each vegetated area is devoted to a unique “family of plants” that are usually found to live together in symbiosis in Hyrcanian forests. The planting concept adds both ecological and symbolic values to the park. In shaping the project’s topography, we considered a range of design criteria and environmental factors:

• Views from inside to outside
• Natural landsacape and forest
• Defining relation of building and park
• Undergound water level and plantation consideration
• Human scale
• Spatial organization within landscape

Connection to site in different Scales

We established multiple layers of connection with the city through various architectural and landscape strategies.

• Local scale: Restaurant, Music School, Playground, Shops...

• National & International scale: Hyrcanian as a laboratory, Multifunctional Cultural Spaces

Planting Plan

The proposed plants for Beski Park are a combination of Hyrcanian species and non-native ornamental plants. We envisioned a two-phase strategy for planting. In the first phase, ornamental plants suitable for the climate of Gonbad were introduced. Over the course of six months, these ornamental species are intended to be gradually replaced with native vegetation from the Hyrcanian forests, ensuring both ecological compatibility and long-term resilience.

In the second phase, a variety of plant species gradually identified and collected from the Hyrcanian forests are introduced. These species are planted once the site has been prepared to provide suitable conditions for their growth. By selecting plants of varying sizes and incorporating evergreens, views are carefully controlled, directing the gaze as much as possible from the street toward the interior of the site. The process is estimated to take a maximum of six years.

The Hyrcanian plants needed for this project are currently being propagated in a nursery founded specifically for this project.

Within the created topography, each hill is dedicated to one of the main plant families of the Hyrcanian forest.This approach gives each zone its own unique atmosphere and ecologycal calendar. These families include the following six groups:

• Alnus
• Popula
• Acer
• Parrotia persica
• Gleditsia caspica
• Quercus

The building with a surface of 2000 m2 is a multi-functional space for cultural and recreational activities. It comprises three cinemas, a music school, an exhibition space for the biographical museum of Dr. Beski, a restaurant, a coffee shop, and two small shops. The Park with a surface of 15800m2 incorporates a plaza, a playground, picnic areas, and a reclusive space with a pond that creates a place for reflection and peace within the landscape.