Pardisan was envisioned as a unique recreation and education enterprise. Its theme was the process of adaptation in plants, animals, and humans as illustrated by exhibits of the major ecosystems of the world, each with their characteristic plant, animal, and human communities.
Pardisan: An Environmental Park describes the ideas behind the project, the program, and the design for the park. Although it was never constructed as conceived (construction was halted in 1979 following the fall of the Shah), the planning and design for Pardisan influenced and inspired subsequent zoo design in North America.
The report was produced by Wallace McHarg Roberts & Todd (WMRT) for the Iran’s Ministry of the Environment. I was assistant project director and co-authored the report with Ian McHarg, Narendra Juneja, and W. Robinson Fisher.