In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful.
Now, with the transformations of global architecture and the progress of knowledge and information technology shaping the new century, in our country Iran, various perspectives and diverse views confront us in this era. Each school of thought in architecture has its own following. The past four decades of architecture education in Iran have produced different — and at times contradictory — generations of architects who view the profession through entirely different lenses.
The gap between the older and newer generations of Iranian architects is considerable. Some look to the past with admiration, drawing from an architectural heritage spanning more than four thousand years, finding in it sources of inspiration and valuable lessons for today. Yet others focus on the future, believing that only by embracing new technologies, new materials, and the global exchange of ideas can Iranian architecture find its rightful place in the contemporary world.
Our country's architecture schools, more than forty of them now, each approach the discipline differently. Some emphasize history and conservation; others focus on technology and modernism. The result is a fragmented professional landscape where graduates emerge with dramatically different — sometimes incompatible — worldviews about what architecture should be and do.
Iran's architectural heritage has suffered immensely over the past century. The transformations of modernization, wars, urbanization pressures, and sometimes sheer neglect have damaged or destroyed countless buildings of historical and cultural significance. The task of reparation — of compensating for these losses — requires a collective effort from all segments of the profession.
This reparation is not merely about physical restoration of old buildings, though that remains critically important. It is about repairing the severed connection between Iran's rich architectural past and its contemporary practice. It is about acknowledging that the country's traditional architecture embodies profound environmental, cultural, and social wisdom that modern practitioners ignore at their peril.
The Islamic Revolution brought fundamental changes to every sphere of Iranian life, including architecture. The politicization of culture, the severing of many international connections, and the economic hardships of the Iran-Iraq war all left deep marks on the profession. Yet architects continued to work, to build, and to think about the meaning of their craft in a changing society.
Today, as we approach the end of the twentieth century, Iranian architecture stands at a crossroads. The opening of cultural exchanges, the growth of architectural publications and exhibitions, and the emergence of a new generation educated in both Iranian and international traditions create unprecedented opportunities. But these opportunities can only be seized if we honestly confront what has been lost and commit to its reparation.
Architecture is not merely a technical discipline; it is a cultural practice that reflects and shapes the society in which it operates. The reparation of damages to Iranian architecture therefore requires more than technical skill — it demands cultural sensitivity, historical awareness, and a genuine commitment to the public good. Only through such comprehensive engagement can we hope to create an architecture worthy of Iran's extraordinary heritage and its promising future.