We believe several architects have been influential in modernization of Iranian architecture helping it enter the modern era. Among these, many of the most influential ones were Iranian Armenians: architects mostly educated in the West who could play, each in their own way, an important role in the evolution of Iranian architecture. Their influential presence is felt not only in construction of build- ings, but also in the changes of lifestyle of the people, or at least part of the population. They have influenced the concept of habitation and settlement in Iran. This has hap- pened not only through construction but also education, writing and enlightenment. The presence of Armenians as part of the population of this country dates back several centuries, to the time when they built the St. Thaddeus Church in Chaldoran, or even earlier. However, the fact that Shah Abbas had a large number of Armenian families moved to the centre of Iranian Plateau made their pres- ence more felt among the population. This was to such an extent that we consider a town next to Isfahan, Shah Abbas’s capital, as their place of residence. Supported by the Shah, these newcomers rebuilt themselves, their houses and the city according to the characteristics of their new settlement: at first the houses, then the churches, later the streets, schools, bridges and the city. It was such that their role in bringing about changes started from that time. It is interesting that if they lay behind influences, they were also heavily influenced themselves. The wall of their churches changed from stones to bricks while the dome of their churches transformed into Iranian domes. A couple of centuries later, however, they built the theatre of the capital on the model of European examples. The aim of this issue is not to introduce Armenian archi- tects of Iran (although it does introduce architects and their lesser-known buildings). The focus of the issue is to demonstrate the influence of Armenian architects of Iran on the architecture of this country. We shall also consider the mutual influence of Iranian architecture on Armenian architects.
St. Mary church, Shiraz St. Thaddeus church, chaldoran