A digital information system designed to introduce visitors to the historic fabric of District 12 in Tehran, taking its name and interaction model from the traditional Shahr Farang devices once common in old Tehran.
Historic districts often hold rich cultural stories, but this information is not always easy for visitors to access in an engaging way. In many cases, information is limited to static signs or scattered sources, which makes it difficult for people to understand the historical context of a place while moving through the city. At the same time, many public spaces lack interactive elements that invite people to pause, explore, and connect with their surroundings.
The project was developed through a design thinking process that explored how digital interaction could support people's experience of a historic district. The team looked at how visitors experience these areas, paying attention to moments when people try to find their way, pause, or discover something new. Instead of designing an isolated object, the goal was to create a system that supports both navigation and storytelling.
The proposal is based on a connected experience that spreads discovery across a public touchpoint and a personal one. Rather than concentrating information at a single point, a public information kiosk introduces the system and hands the experience to a companion mobile app, so visitors can carry the story of the district with them as they walk.
The experience begins when visitors encounter the Shahr Farang kiosk in the city or at a metro station. Through NFC technology, the app is transferred directly to the visitor's phone, and from there they explore stories and locations within the historic district as they walk.
Visitors find the Shahr Farang stand at a metro station or public space within the district.
A small fee is paid with a public transportation card, then the phone is placed on the marked panel.
The Shahr Farang app transfers directly to the phone, ready to use immediately.
The app guides visitors through nearby stories, photographs, and places as they walk the district.
An interactive information kiosk works as the public access point for the system. Its form references motifs found in the historical context of District 12, and its interface is designed to be simple and intuitive, guiding a visitor through payment and NFC transfer in a few clear steps.
In addition to the kiosk, the mobile app allows the experience to continue beyond one location. By linking digital content to physical places, visitors can discover historical stories, compare archival and present-day photographs, and track their progress as they move through different parts of the district.
Selected among the Top 20 proposals at the 2nd National Street Furniture Design Festival, organized by the Tehran Beautification Organization.
16-hour seminar, "Human, Public Spaces, and Urban Life Quality," held alongside the festival at Cinema Mellat Gallery Complex, Tehran.
Urban Heritage Interaction System was developed collaboratively by a team of four designers, Soraya Khavasi, Saba Saboursadeghzadeh, Coolan Zargami, and Mahsa Haghipanah, exploring how digital interaction could improve people's experience of historic city districts.
This project explores how digital interaction can support exploration and learning in public space. By connecting a public kiosk with a personal mobile app, the concept creates an experience where visitors can navigate the area, pause, and access historical information while moving through the city.
The project was also an early attempt to think about design as a system. Instead of creating an isolated object, the digital touchpoints were designed to work together and shape a shared experience, making the cultural and historical layers of the city easier for visitors to discover and understand.