This comes less than two months after the Ministry issued a statement dismissing any official endorsement for the project.
Bagherpour defended the small housing concept during a press briefing, drawing inspiration from the First Shiite Imam’s residence in Najaf. He further stated that the houses would incorporate a novel housing production concept and stressed the project’s unyielding progress.
Interestingly, despite earlier denials from the Ministry regarding any governmental role in these diminutive houses, Bagherpour confirmed their alignment with government-established legal regulations. Additionally, he shared plans for “economic housing” tailored for single individuals, with some homes as tiny as 10 square meters.
According to ILNA, the state-run news agency, a staggering 10,000 potential buyers, including legal professionals and government officials, are lining up for these 25-square-meter homes. The latter group is primarily purchasing for their workforce.
Yet, the ongoing construction of these homes flouts existing regulations: by law, homes under 35 square meters shouldn’t be given construction permits.
Potentially pointing to upcoming hurdles in homeowners obtaining property titles, Bagherpour hinted at a workaround, mentioning that these homes are erected “with the permission of hotels and residences.”
Further contradicting the narrative, both Hamidreza Saremi, Tehran Municipality’s deputy of urban planning and architecture, and the Ministry of Roads and Urban Development previously disassociated from this housing scheme. Yet, Bagherpour emphasized the plan’s submission and subsequent execution by the Union of Construction Cooperatives of Tehran. He even mentioned a contract for 1,800 homes ranging between 25 to 35 square meters in Tehran’s 19th district, aimed at young couples and priced under one billion tomans. This was, however, contradicted by the deputy mayor of Tehran.
The recent press conference and project updates strongly imply that the so-called “25-square meter matchboxes” are being constructed with official sanction. Sadly, halfway through their term, this commitment remains unachieved, exacerbating class disparities.
Recent statistics from Iran’s Statistics Center reveal a concerning trend. Since 2020, housing costs have surged 3.8-fold, while wages grew merely 2.11-fold. Consequently, a minimum wageworker would now have to labor for an implausible 178 years to acquire an 80-square meter apartment, up from 99 years in 2020.
In the backdrop of these alarming figures, the viability and efficacy of 25-square meter houses as a genuine solution remain to be seen.
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