Farrokh Derakhshani

Biography

Farrokh Derakhshani is an Iranian architect and the Director of the Aga Khan Award for Architecture, a position he has held since joining the organization in 1982. Over more than four decades with the Award, he has shaped its direction and brought together architects, builders, and planners from across the Muslim world and beyond. Derakhshani trained as an architect and urban planner at the National University of Iran (1970-1978) and later continued his studies at the School of Architecture in Paris (UP1). His professional work has encompassed the design and construction management of large-scale public works and infrastructure projects in Iran, as well as architectural design in Paris and Geneva. His primary field of specialization is the contemporary architecture of Muslim societies. He has organized and participated in numerous international seminars, colloquia, and professional workshops addressing architecture in Muslim contexts. He has served as a jury member and lecturer at architecture schools across Europe, Africa, and Asia. In 2018, he was named an International Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) in recognition of his contributions to the global architectural discourse. He is the editor or author of nine books and has published over sixty articles in international journals and monographs. In Iran, he served on the jury of the 7th Memar Award (2007).