Tehrani Taxi Terminal By Moloudi Architecture: A Contemporary Transportation Hub Inspired by Landscape and Movement

The Tehrani Taxi Terminal, designed by Moloudi Architecture, is a forward-looking transportation infrastructure project in Tehran, Iran, completed in 2025. With a built area of 1,330 m², the terminal reimagines a previously disorganized urban transit space into a clear, functional, and visually engaging public facility. The project responds to complex spatial limitations, urgent functional demands, and a sensitive natural context—most notably the iconic presence of the Alborz Mountains.

Urban Challenges and Design Intent

The project began with a series of critical challenges: undefined site boundaries, limited space for a dedicated terminal, the need to accommodate eight taxi lines, lack of weather protection, operational disorganization, and a monotonous urban streetscape. Additionally, the existing condition obstructed views toward the Alborz mountain range, a defining element of Tehran’s natural identity.

Moloudi Architecture approached these constraints as opportunities to develop a flexible, future-oriented terminal that could efficiently serve both drivers and passengers while contributing positively to the city’s visual and spatial quality. Extensive analysis of user needs, climate, urban context, and global precedents for taxi terminals informed a design concept rooted in clarity, rhythm, and movement.

Linear Organization and Functional Clarity

The terminal is organized along a linear layout, allowing each taxi line to have a clearly defined and dedicated space. This configuration improves circulation, reduces congestion, and brings order to daily operations. The linear form also ensures intuitive navigation for users, enhancing safety and comfort in a high-traffic public environment.

At the heart of the project is a continuous roof structure, designed to provide immediate shelter from sun and rain—an urgent requirement for both passengers and drivers. The roof unifies the terminal into a single architectural gesture while clearly marking it as a civic infrastructure.

Roof as Landscape and Motion

The roof design is the project’s most expressive feature. A series of arched lines, set at three height levels—4, 4.5, and 5 meters—create a sequential and interconnected rhythm across the terminal. These curves subtly reference the topography of the Alborz Mountains, translating the surrounding natural landscape into an architectural form.

Beyond symbolism, the flowing geometry evokes movement and dynamism, aligning closely with the function of transportation. The roof lines extend downward to form the columns, reinforcing structural and visual continuity and giving the terminal a cohesive and legible identity.

Cultural References and Contemporary Expression

The structural logic and the entrance–exit openings beneath the roof recall the traditional Eivan, a significant spatial element in Iranian architecture. This reference grounds the project culturally while remaining abstract and modern. Careful attention was given to the column composition and facade articulation to ensure that the terminal does not disrupt the adjacent commercial urban frontage, particularly on the southern side of the site.

Material Strategy and User Safety

Material selection balances durability, safety, and contemporary character. Cubic stone paving is used across the terminal floor to naturally reduce vehicle speed, improving passenger safety. Woodplast panels line the underside of the roof, adding warmth and texture to the space, while metal sheets define column edges and roof borders, lending the structure a modern and urban appearance suited to its context.

A New Identity for Urban Mobility

The Tehrani Taxi Terminal stands as an example of how public transportation architecture can move beyond pure utility. By integrating landscape inspiration, cultural references, and user-centered design, Moloudi Architecture has created a terminal that is efficient, recognizable, and expressive. The project enhances everyday urban experience while restoring a visual connection to Tehran’s natural backdrop.

All the photographs are works of Alireza Moloudi