Mohsen Mirheydar

Biography

Mohsen Mirheydar (born 1938 in Hamedan) is one of Iran's most distinguished architects and a founding partner and chairman of Pirraz Consulting Planners, Architects & Engineers. He holds a degree from the Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Tehran and pursued advanced studies in urban planning and design at the Architectural Association (AA School) in London. Early in his career he worked in the offices of BBPR in Milan and Marcel Breuer in New York, absorbing the highest traditions of European and American post-war modernism before returning to Iran. He has taught at the Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Tehran, and has authored research and articles on the history of architecture and urban planning in Iran. Among his major built works are the National Library of Iran in Tehran (designed 1995–98, built 1996–2004, Aga Khan Award nominee 2007), the Extension to the Shrine of Hazrat Masoumeh in Qom (1999–2005, 53,937 m²), the Islamic Summit Assembly Hall, the Bank Markazi currency printing facility, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, and Cinema Rivoli (Sahara) in Tehran. In 2001 he served as a juror for the inaugural Grand Memar Award, contributing to the recognition of Iran's best independent architecture of the preceding five years.