According to some estimates, a single building at the University of Tehran alone holds more theoretical value as a starting point for the development of modern architecture in Iran than the majority of contemporary works. Regardless of one's critical position, the influence of modern architecture can be traced through the wide-ranging initiatives that emerged during the early decades of the twentieth century in Iran. Attempts at systematic analysis of modern architecture in Iran have typically been limited to a few general observations. The broader understanding of our modern architectural heritage has remained incomplete and fragmentary, largely because the necessary analytical frameworks have only recently begun to take shape.
Iran's modern architecture cannot simply be understood as a single homogeneous phenomenon. It is essential to recognize that this architecture embodies a plurality of approaches, ideas, and formal strategies. Some of these approaches emerged from direct encounters with Western models, while others grew out of efforts to reconcile traditional Iranian spatial concepts with the demands of modernization. The documentation of these varied trajectories is not merely an academic exercise; it is fundamental to preserving the cultural memory of a transformative period in Iran's built environment.
Modern architecture in Iran is characterized by a complex interplay of imported ideas and local adaptations. The works of architects such as Mohsen Foroughi, Houshang Seyhoun, Vartan Hovanessian, and others represent a spectrum of responses to modernity that deserve careful study and cataloging. Their buildings, many now threatened by demolition or unsympathetic renovation, constitute an irreplaceable archive of architectural thinking and experimentation.
The documentation process proposed here encompasses several interconnected dimensions. First, a comprehensive survey of surviving buildings from the modern period, including their current state of preservation. Second, the collection of original drawings, photographs, and written accounts from the architects themselves or their offices. Third, an analytical framework that situates each work within its historical, cultural, and professional context. Fourth, the development of a classification system that acknowledges the diversity of modern architectural production in Iran rather than reducing it to a single narrative.
The urgency of this project cannot be overstated. Buildings are being lost at an accelerating rate, and with them, the physical evidence of an entire chapter of Iranian architectural history. Mahmoud Maher al-Naqsh and Rouzbeh Moini, in 1373 (1994), produced a catalogue of some 1,400 buildings from this era across 12 provinces. This pioneering work demonstrated both the scale of Iran's modern architectural patrimony and the enormous gaps in our knowledge.
This call therefore seeks to mobilize architects, historians, students, and all those concerned with Iran's architectural heritage toward a collective effort of recognition and documentation. The goal is not nostalgia but understanding: to comprehend the choices that were made, the constraints that were faced, and the visions that were pursued during a decisive period in the formation of Iran's modern built environment.
The project envisions the following phases: (1) The establishment of criteria for the identification and evaluation of significant modern buildings across Iran. (2) A nationwide survey coordinated through regional teams. (3) The creation of a centralized archive, both physical and digital. (4) The publication of findings. (5) The development of legal and institutional frameworks for the protection of the most significant examples.
We invite all interested parties to participate in this endeavor. The recognition and documentation of Iran's modern architecture is not merely a scholarly pursuit but a civic responsibility. These buildings are part of our shared cultural inheritance, and their fate should not be decided by default or neglect.