Type: Urban Planning
Date: 2019
Location: Isfahan, Semirom.
Client: Isfahan Province Department of Roads and Urban Development

Semirom County lies in the southwestern reaches of Isfahan Province, set within the elevated landscapes of the Zagros. It borders the provinces of Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari, Kohgiluyeh va Boyer-Ahmad, and Fars, forming a natural crossroads shaped by mountains, valleys, and ancient routes. Its position within the watersheds of the Karun and Zayandeh Rud rivers, combined with dependable water resources, rich pastures, and ecological diversity, gives the region a distinctive environmental profile and a strategic role in regional and urban planning. The county’s deep historical roots, archaeological traces, and resilient local culture reveal a landscape long shaped by movement, settlement, and adaptation to its highland environment.
Semirom’s position within Isfahan Province’s road network, particularly along the Isfahan–Shahreza–Semirom highway, makes it a key corridor for the movement of goods and passengers. This north–south axis divides the region into eastern and western sections while serving as an essential link in regional mobility. Despite this advantageous location, Semirom’s share of interprovincial travel remains disproportionate to its population, indicating the need for strengthened transportation infrastructure. At the same time, the county’s mountainous terrain, waterfalls, expansive natural scenery, and archaeological heritage offer strong potential for tourism development, opening pathways toward broader economic growth.
Semirom stands as one of Isfahan Province’s principal agricultural hubs, with more than 80% of its orchards dedicated to apple production, alongside significant harvests of walnuts, grapes, and pomegranates. Beyond horticulture, cold-water fisheries, trade services, and tourism add further layers to the region’s economic capacity. The strength of its agriculture, the richness of its natural environment, and the depth of its historical identity form a triad shaping Semirom’s trajectory toward sustainable development.
The recent revision of Semirom City’s boundary was undertaken to curb unnecessary horizontal expansion, preserve orchards and agricultural lands, and address scattered, unregulated construction. In previous plans, despite the city’s negative population growth, fertile lands had been incorporated into the urban area and assigned residential use. In the new approach, peripheral orchards, farmland, and the northern highlands were removed from the urban boundary, allowing these areas to serve as a mountain park and potential tourism zones. Meanwhile, scattered developed plots on the southeastern and southern edges were consolidated into the city limits, and the boundary was refined based on property lines, natural topography, and the existing road network. These measures aim to safeguard valuable land, prevent uncontrolled development, and strengthen the city’s natural and tourism-oriented identity.