Abolghasem Mohandesi is one of the most renowned architects of Shiraz who endowed the city with his innovative buildings. His enduring works in Shiraz include a cistern located in the Arme- nian quarter within the historical texture, the building of the cur- rent Faculty of Architecture, the dome of Shah Cheragh shrine, and the Khalili Garden. The Shapoori Building, an extremely creative work in its own time and probably among the first built with such courage and free spirit, serve as a proper example to analyze Haj Abolghasem Mohandesi’s architectural style. Until 1926 (the year when the building was constructed) all gardens were built symmetrically along a central axis. In the Shapoori Garden, on the contrary, the access to the pavilion is not from the main axis. Rather, the building is to be reached laterally from the northern wing and in a direction perpendicular to the axis. Upon entrance, the visitor is confronted with a staircase. The location of the staircase is an innovation of the architect and is unprecedented in Iranian traditional architecture. The staircase was traditionally regarded as a structural element and was usu- ally located at the corners connecting different storeys. Among the architect’s other innovations, it is how he dedicates a specific function, such as the master bedroom or children’s bedroom, to each room. In the traditional architecture of the time, each room would serve various functions at the same time and could have been used as a bedroom, living room, dining room, etc. Here, each room is designed according to a specific function and multifunctional rooms are not part of the design.
Architect’s old house (by himself)
Architect’s old house (by himself)
Architecture faculty Architecture faculty Khalili garden
Architect’s maps, tools and ornament designs