Residential Semifinalists
Weekend House, Shiraz
Ali Sodagaran, Nazanin Kazerounian
Nader Tehrani noted the project can be compared to the Two Brothers, Two Offices finalist — beautifully built and elegant, but taking no particular architectural stance and solving no special problem. Mojgan Hariri saw echoes of Swiss Ticino Valley architecture and found no strong reason to keep or eliminate it. Nasrin Seraji praised its solid construction quality, important in a country where well-executed projects are rare.
Location: Sadra, Baharestan, Shiraz · Area: 1,000 m² site, 140 m² built · 2005–2010 · Client: Alireza Ghaedian
Mohammad Shahr Villa, Karaj
Makan Rahmanian, Kamran Heirati
Hadi Tehrani called it a good villa for living with a fine courtyard. Mojgan Hariri raised the eternal question of when craft becomes art, noting the project has multiple problems such as the rotated building corners, yet agreed it is a good place to live. Nasrin Seraji emphasized that as jurors, they must not give the impression they oppose well-built projects, and this one is good and well-constructed, though it does not advance architectural discourse. Nader Tehrani disagreed about the execution quality, comparing it unfavorably to 1950s–60s modern architecture in Iran.
Location: Boulevard Shahrdari, Nistan 3, Karaj · Area: 4,000 m² · 2008–2010 · Client: Hossein Kiani
Pipe Shelter, Karaj
Barsav Architecture Group, Alireza Asadpour
This experimental project using industrial pipes generated the most debate. Nasrin Seraji was ambivalent — she disliked the appearance but acknowledged it as an interesting simple space for spending an afternoon, questioning whether the pipes were a reaction to the previous year's residential first prize. Mojgan Hariri worried that if sustainability was the intent, given Iran's windcatcher tradition, it should have been done more elegantly, and keeping it might suggest sustainable architecture can be ugly. Hadi Tehrani found it beautiful in its ugliness, like an Alfa Romeo car, calling it an experimental project. Gisue Hariri admired the designer's courage but questioned the spatial quality, comparing it to Arizona waste-material construction projects. Nader Tehrani noted the remarkable pipe-bending at the roof edge deserved better documentation.
Location: Golhaye 4, Viladasht, Karaj · Area: 350 m² site, 35 m² built · 2010 · Client: Alireza Asadpour
Linear Villa, Rouyan
Hossein Mahmoudi
Nasrin Seraji noted that if the same attention given to the plan and terracing had been applied to the roof, it could have been an excellent project, referencing Hudson and Yang Ho Chon's integration of buildings with landscapes. Mojgan Hariri felt the designer lacked full awareness of what he had achieved, suggesting the project was partly lucky. Nader Tehrani firmly disagreed, arguing all architectural tactics were intentionally chosen for a "good house" but the problem was that the designer set no limitations, over-indulging in every detail. Hadi Tehrani found it very foreign-looking, resembling a Tuscan villa. Gisue Hariri found the plan subdivision interesting but said the unified roof made it hotel-like.
Location: Ab Pari Road, Peymoud Village, Rouyan · Area: 1,000 m² site, 250 m² built · 2004–2005 · Client: Abadgaran Mehregan Co.
Public Semifinalists
Shirkam Golestan Dairy Products Factory, Golestan
Padiav Parth Architectural Group (Bahram Shokouhian)
Nasrin Seraji championed this project, emphasizing that architecture should not be limited to important buildings but should happen in unexpected places like factories and warehouses. Hadi Tehrani agreed with the principle but found the design not very good. Gisue Hariri agreed with Seraji but wished the designer had better utilized the mountains and surroundings, and hoped the production process would be reflected in the design. Nader Tehrani praised the designer's understanding of factory spatial dimensions and creation of a proper relationship with the environment, noting this addresses the common criticism of industrial buildings being out of scale. Gisue Hariri concluded that "architecture" had indeed occurred here.
Location: Minoodasht Industrial Town, Golestan · Area: 2,240 m² site, 1,136 m² built · 2004–2006 · Client: Shirkam Golestan Factory
Organization of Construction Engineering, Qazvin
Parisa Alimohammadi, Alireza Taghaboni
Mojgan Hariri praised the bold and powerful form, especially the material choices and volumetric composition diagram, but identified a critical execution error where the two volumes meet that undermines the entire project. Gisue Hariri questioned whether a single detail failure means the project fails, while Mojgan insisted that failing to properly execute the core concept — two volumes merging — constitutes project failure, though she appreciated the punched windows. Nasrin Seraji agreed the volumetric intersection was incorrectly diagrammed in the original but executed wrong. Gisue Hariri valued the clarity and simplicity of the office building. Hadi Tehrani praised the interior spaces. Nader Tehrani highlighted the two public spaces created between volumes.
Location: Beheshti Blvd, Qazvin · Area: 2,500 m² built · 2006–2009 · Photo: Ali Daghigh, Parham Taghioff
Dentistry Clinic, Shiraz
Seyyed Hossein Mirzaee
Hadi Tehrani praised the project's narrative of dentistry in the design, creating engaging spaces unlike typical sterile dental clinics where patients stare at blank ceilings. Mojgan Hariri argued that dental clinics being boring worldwide doesn't justify this one being interesting just for being different, and found the curves one-dimensional and repetitive. Nasrin Seraji wanted the architect to have pushed further into full spatial transformation, noting everything remained two-dimensional, like dental veneers rather than actual teeth. Gisue Hariri compared it to Disneyland. Nader Tehrani had two criticisms: the overly literal interpretation of oral/dental imagery, and the missed opportunity for three-dimensional geometric exploration in an era of advancing 3D understanding.
Location: Afifabad, Ghasrdasht St, Shiraz · Area: 110 m² · 2007 · Client: Dr. Salehi