Semifinalists — Public Buildings
The Editor
Public Buildings

Ali Kermanian is an Iranian architect and urban designer. He served as Managing Director of Ali Kermanian & Associates from 1990 to 2008, overseeing nearly 160 architectural design and development projects in Tehran. He earned a Grade 1 professional architect status in 2000 and became a member of the Iranian Architects' Association in 2004. In 2005, he was one of four Iranian representatives in the Union of International Architects (UIA). He previously worked at Price & Dusek architects in London (1988-1990) and served as Head of the Faculty of Architecture at Central Azad University in Tehran (1993-1995).

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).
The 7th Memar Architecture Award (2007) focused on public buildings, marking a departure from the previous editions' emphasis on residential architecture. Held at the Iran National Library in Tehran on November 9, 2007, the event recognized outstanding achievements in public architecture across Iran. From 46 submitted projects, a jury of five distinguished architects — Faryar Javaherian, Iraj Kalantari, Farokh Derakhshani, Mohsen Padidar, and Ali Kermanian — selected five winners, with the Paykar Bonyan Panel Factory by ARAD Design Co. taking first place. The total prize fund was 170 million Rials.
The jury evaluated 46 submitted public building projects through site visits and deliberation sessions. Projects were assessed on architectural quality, responsiveness to public needs, innovation in spatial design, and contribution to the built environment. The jury selected five ranked winners from first to fifth place, without dividing entries into sub-categories.

Tehran · 2006