The Annual Forum of the Iranian Architects Society was held in the House of Iranian Artists from 29 September to 2 October 2003. In the different sessions of this gathering seven films were shown concerning architecture and architects, three book and photo exhibitions were held, and the works of three Armenian-origin Persian architects were presented. A total of fourteen speeches were given at this forum, two of which were presented by two French urban planners, Claude and Henri Nardin. The Iranian Architects Society was founded in the year 2000 and is a professional, non-political and non-profit association. A group of its members took part, on behalf of the society, in the UIA 21st Congress in Berlin. The society members are now planning to participate in the UIA 22nd Congress in Istanbul.
The forum opened with a music programme that included Iranian instruments (Master Jalil Shahnaz, Hooshang Amir Ardalan, Mohammad Hassan Mahdiyan), guitar and song (Arash Sobhani and Houman Javid), and percussion (Zarbahang Ensemble). Films screened over the three days included: a short film on architecture and water by Tadao Ando; the four German avant-garde architects (Peter Behrens, Walter Gropius, Mies van der Rohe and Erich Mendelsohn); the Bauhaus; Rem Koolhaas's Prada flagship store; Alvar Aalto; the Iranian Architects Society website; Norman Foster; and Renzo Piano's Padre Pio Pilgrimage Church.
The speeches given at the forum included: a welcome address with an introduction to the society by Kamran Shahin-Far (IAS Secretary); "The Union Internationale des Architectes (UIA) and the necessity of the society's membership" by Mahvash Mehrafshar (member of the IAS Board); "General architectural education — an architectural-design workshop for children" by Bizhan Shafe'ie (head of the society's Cultural Association) and Sarveh Naqshbandi (workshop coordinator); "Beyond the surface — the experience of the two Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron" by Iman Raeisi (member of the IAS Board, in charge of student affairs); "Call for collaboration on the 22nd UIA World Congress, Istanbul 2005" by Akbar Barzegari-Mowlan (cultural-section associate); "The architecture of imagination" by Babak Shokoufi-Moghimian (member of the cultural committee); "Protecting valuable historical buildings" by Mandana Yazdan-Shenas (member of the cultural committee); "Architects and cultural assets — the Tunisian experience" by Mohammadreza Hasari; "Protection and development of architecture and urban heritage in France" by Henri Nardin (with simultaneous translation by Taraneh Tabaa'ti); "Themes of door-handle design at Cologne 2003" by Beh-Rizan Co.; "The Third World Congress on Design and Health, Montreal" by Henri Nardin; "La Défense, the new Parisian economic centre" by Henri Nardin; "On the occasion of the exhibition of three Iranian-Armenian architects: Armen Minasian" by Claude Nardin; and the round-table on "Protection and Development of Architecture and Cultural Assets — the Paris experience and the Iran experience" with Mohammadreza Hasari, Giti Etemad, Mohammad Mansoor Falamaki, Sohrab Mashhoodi, and Henri and Claude Nardin (translation by Taraneh Tabaa'ti).
Alongside the main programme three exhibitions were held: an exhibition and sale of foreign architecture and urbanism books in cooperation with the Iran University Press Centre; an exhibition of the work of three Armenian architects in cooperation with the Hour Cultural Institute; and a photographic-architecture exhibition under the title "The Tunisian Experience"; plus "Four Views" — works of Babak Shokoufi, Arash Sobhani, Bizhan Shafe'ie and Mohammadreza Hasari.
In his opening address, Kamran Shahin-Far recalled the lineage of architectural associations in Iran — the Diploma Architects' Association (1323 SH = 1944), the Iranian Architects' Association (1346 SH = 1967) and the Architects and Environment Designers' Union (1355 SH = 1976) — and added that the Iranian Architects Society was declared into existence in 1379 SH (2000), at the same time as the founding of the House of Iranian Artists, alongside the eight associations of painting, sculpture, calligraphy, graphics, music, cinema, theatre, and poetry-and-literature, all members of the Supreme Council of the House of Iranian Artists. He defined the society as professional, non-political and non-profit; an organisation that calls for the active presence of all Iran's architects; an association whose substance is the questions of Iranian architecture and architects; and one that recognises the broad range of social activities in design and construction, manufacture, education and research, planning and management. Within the society, all members have equal rights. Its organs comprise a cultural, social and professional Association, a Board of Trustees and a Supreme Council of Architecture.
The international activities of the society since its foundation include: presence at the UIA 21st Congress, Berlin; preparation for participation in the UIA 22nd Congress, Istanbul, summer 2005; presence at the "Design and Health" Congress, Montreal, Tir 1382; the exchange of a cooperation protocol with the Moroccan Architects Society; the exchange of a cooperation agreement with the Armenian Architects Society to hold a forum in Yerevan, Armenia; and cultural relations with the cultural sections of the embassies of Canada, Italy, Germany and France for visits to exhibitions abroad and joint sessions in Iran.
Domestic activities include: holding annual and seasonal forums; specialised lectures and round-tables; presence in current and specialised publications; cooperation with the Office of Cultural Research; publication of the seasonal "Iranian Architects" bulletin; pursuing a permit to publish an architectural magazine; holding professional exhibitions; participating as jury in some architectural projects; presence in the Dialogue of Civilisations sessions; cooperation with Parliament's specialised committees; cooperation with Kashan Municipality on the Festival of Restoration and Revival of Kashan's Historic Fabric; the Specialised Forum on Development and Employment in Culture and Art; cooperation with the Hour Cultural Institute on translation and research; participation in drafting regulations on assessment and pricing of artistic works; participation in drafting the cultural sections of the country's Fourth Development Plan; presence in the Supreme Council of the House of Iranian Artists; presence in the Council for Assessing the Country's Artists; cooperation with the Esfahan Museum of Contemporary Art; commemorative ceremonies for distinguished architects; participation in events related to the Engineering Order; pursuing matters concerning the determination of professional competence of architects.
Shahin-Far closed his address by calling on all architects to support the society in drafting an architectural regulation law and a copyright law for architectural authorship.
In her speech, "We are still not members of the International Union of Architects," Mahvash Mehrafshar emphasised the necessity of the society's membership in the union. The UIA was founded in 1948 in Lausanne with the aim of uniting architects of all countries — irrespective of nationality, race, religion or school of thought — within national associations of architects. With its democratic structure, the UIA seeks to establish cultural relations and regulate the professional relations of architects worldwide; its headquarters is currently in Paris.
Since the formation of the UIA, twenty-one congresses have been held in different cities of the world, bringing together thousands of architects and architecture students from around the world; these congresses now take place every three years. The most recent was held in Berlin in 2002, where six Iranian architects took part as representatives of the Iranian Architects Society and presented its achievements at the IAS annual forum (1381 SH). The 22nd UIA Congress will be held in Istanbul in 2005 under the title "Grand Bazaar of Architectures," where active Iranian participation is hoped for.
Since 1948, at each congress the UIA awards prizes to architects who have contributed through profession and writing. The most important is the UIA Gold Medal, the highest honour the union grants — bestowed on a living architect for service to the advancement of the art of architecture. The first Gold Medal was given in 1984 at the Cairo Congress to Hassan Fathy, and the most recent in 2002 at the Berlin Congress to Renzo Piano. Other prizes awarded at every congress are the Urban Design and Environmental Development Prize, the Application of Technology in Architecture prize, the Criticism and Education prize, and the Quality Improvement prize.
The UIA does not accept individual members. It currently has 93 member associations representing the architects of 88 countries. These associations operate independently at national level and are organised into five geographical regions: Region I, Western Europe; Region II, the Middle East and Eastern Europe; Region III, the Americas; Region IV, Asia and Australia; Region V, Africa.
It is regrettable that despite Iran's first architects' association — the Diploma Architects' Association — having been founded in 1323 SH (1944), some 59 years ago and four years before the UIA itself, and despite the membership of countries with serious problems such as Palestine and the newly-independent Armenia and Azerbaijan, we still have not joined this international body. The Iranian Architects Society did, however, send a request for membership to the UIA after the start of its activity. The request was welcomed; the response noted that, since entrance dues and membership fees are calculated by population and gross national product, Iran with four voting rights would have to pay €6,820 as entrance fee and an equal amount as annual fee — total €13,660 (per UIA statement, 1380 SH).
The report concludes with a call for support: the Iranian Architects Society needs the help of architecture faculties; specialised journals of architecture and urbanism; alumni associations of architects; the Iranian Society of Consulting Engineers; the Architects' and Urban Planners' Consulting-Engineers Trade Union; the House of Iranian Artists; the Office of Cultural Research; the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance; the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development; the Plan and Budget Organisation; the Tehran Municipality; the Cultural Heritage Organization; the Centre for the Dialogue of Civilisations; and all bodies and associations in which architects are present and which value architectural art and recognise the significance of this international presence.
