The Cinematograph

The Cinematograph of the Cinema Museum in Tehran, designed by Sakhtar-e-Tarh Architectural Office (Houman Salamat), is a small but inventive cultural facility located within the Bagh-e Ferdows complex near Tajrish Square. Built on a constrained 563-square-meter site with a total area of 920.5 square meters, the project is an extension of the existing Cinema Museum, completed in 2008.

The building is notable for its distinctive tent-like tensile roof structure supported by white steel masts, creating a dramatic canopy over the entrance courtyard. The design employs warm brick and travertine cladding that harmonizes with the historic garden setting, while steel and glass elements introduce a contemporary vocabulary. The interior houses a 300-seat amphitheater, coffee shop, exhibition spaces, and administrative offices distributed across upper and lower ground floors.

The project won third place in the Public Buildings category of the 8th Memar Award (2008). Juror Farokh Ghahremanpour noted: "This is a very interesting small project. The way the architect has worked with the site constraints and created a distinctive form is notable. The tent-like roof structure is a creative response to the program."