Tehran - GAP 2017 by Official Global Architecture Profiling

ISBN : 978 1 6413 6448 5 GAP 2017 ÂŠ THE UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE

GAP COMMITTEE: Blair Gardiner Amos Ng Tze Way Ardalan Eddie Mastoori Bowen Ma Daniel Lee Gina Engelhardt Hanya Hoang Jade Tan Jeanette Phan Jessica Broad Jingyi Zhang Johnny Xu Nicholas Sebastian Priscilla Kwok Sara Shi Min Tan Tan Sze Ming Toro Nguyen Winnie Chiu Youjia Huang

Students within the Bachelor of Environments degree at the University of Melbourne have been responsible for curating this exhibition. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this information and to correctly source attributable content. However, there may be inadvertent and occasional errors or omissions for which we apologise. Necessary editing of translations has taken place in order to clarify content whilst endeavoring to avoid compromising the authorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s intention.

TEHRAN IRAN

28th September - 12th October, 2017 OPENING NIGHT: 28th September, 6:00pm Atrium, Melbourne School of Design The University of Melbourne, Parkville

FACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING AND PLANNING UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE

I NT RODUCT ION

Student collective Global Architecture Profiling (GAP) series aims to broaden design discourse by showcasing the works of contemporary and emerging architects in urban locations around the world. The exhibition and accompanying catalogue aims to promote contemporary architecture in cities that are often absent from major architectural publications. Curated by students in the Bachelor of Environments program at the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning at the University of Melbourne. Previous exhibitions which have been showcased include: Puebla, Mexico (2016); Casablanca, Kingdom of Morocco (2015); Seoul, Republic of Korea (2014); Reykjavik, Iceland (2013); Ljubljana, Slovenia (2012); Santiago de Chile, Chile (2011) and Bangalore, India (2010). In 2017, Global Architecture Profiling (GAP) proudly showcases its eighth annual tradition of presenting contemporary architectural production from the capital of Iran - Tehran. Tehran is both architecturally and culturally diverse because of its long running history. It places value on its roots, and the architecture celebrates the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s unique brand of Persian heritage cultural style. The tradition and culture of Tehran is manifested in the quality of architectural works presented in this catalogue. It includes a variety of selected works from each firm, accompanied by interviews from members of each firm, offering insight into their design process and philosophy behind the works exhibited. Finally, a special thanks to the GAP 2017 committee students for their tireless efforts and dedication in curating this catalogue and exhibition. All whom without the exhibition would not have been possible.

Global_Architecture_Profiling_2017

F O R EW O R D Towards a contemporised [architectural] condition Peyman Esmaeelpour

Iran, a country of one of the world’s most ancient civilisations, is located in the Middle East, a region which has been the centre of chaos in the world for many years. Geography, religion, and politics have always had direct impact on its situation; it is a place caught in the conflict between the worlds of the East and the West. From the late seventies, a series of social changes, and political issues occurred, whose strong shifts the architecture could not remain intact through. During certain times, the architecture can even be considered as a victim to these upheavals. The Iranian revolution of 1978 is key to understanding the social and political shifts through which the kingdom regime fell, and a religious republic government was raised up. Shortly thereafter, the country underwent eight years of imposed war from its neighbouring country, Iraq. This war ended in 1988, and a post war condition began. During the post war condition, Iran entered a new era. This period’s apparent characteristics are intensive construction projects, and an amplification of government buildings. These projects were more a response to the needs of a new government, rather than because of a desire to improve the quality of people’s life, or producing impressive architecture. During this phase, therefore, the role of the architect became more limited to planning. Looking at the period of ten years from the beginning of the revolution until the end of the war, it is saddening to think of what was lost, which could have been conveyed by means of art and architecture. In that specific period, Iran lost many opportunities to express the suffering and pain of the war. The country and its people have never since expressed their suffering to the extent they deserved. As a capital, Tehran never got the chance to express its emotion and feeling in response to the war condition. There are no places in Tehran which remind of those years, no battle wounds left over, or a site which bears a meaning of pain. Tehran has removed all traces of its pain from its physical artefacts.Based on current architectural discourse, the term ’contemporary’ does not deal only with the condition that is happening ‘now’.

Global_Architecture_Profiling_2017

It also refers to the term â&#x20AC;&#x2122;advancedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, and conveys that contemporary architecture is an architecture which belongs to present and is advanced. Therefore, not all architecture happening around the world currently is contemporary. The architectural experience of Iran in the eighties and nineties is different to the architectural experiences of Europe and America. In the West, a more scientific approach was promoted for architecture, and a very distinct and new architectural language developed. Architecture, which used to be understood as an artistic field was approached differently. It was a significant time of experimentation in the West, which Iran could not partake in because of its political circumstances at the time. This has affected its architecture ever since. However, Tehran of now is different. It made great progress and took every opportunity to ensure that it could become a contemporary city. Looking at the architecture, the projects are eye catching and widely published. Projects comparable to those of its contemporary Western counterparts are envisioned and realised daily. This progress was born slowly from the unwavering dedication and effort of Tehranâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s people. During the last four decades, immigration to Europe and America became commonplace for Iranians. Among them, those who studied and practiced architecture began to communicate with Iranian communities, some returning to the country with their new knowledge. This linked contemporary architecture discourse to inland architects. Some of these architects were very influential in the West and had a significant role in the development of the discipline at that time. Their architectural thinking was cutting edge and influenced a lot of young people in Iran. To name one, there is Bahram Shirdel. He was a Harvard and AA professor who was running a firm with Jeffry Kinpniss in London, before an again settling in Tehran and establishing the firm of Shirdel and Partners in 1992. He is a familiar name for the people who were studying at the AA during late eighties and early nineties.

Global_Architecture_Profiling_2017

Shirdel injected fresh terminology and a new way of architectural thinking to the displaced field of architecture in Iran. At the time, he was confronted with a lot of resistance from the conservative peoples. His office looked like a lone island in the city of Tehran among the architecture which was happening. Shirdel designed some breathtaking projects during his time in Tehran; Padideh Kish is the latest one. However, he contributed to Tehranâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s architecture more through promoting contemporary architectural thinking to young architects and teaching them. His retrospective point of view and allegiance in reviving the heritage of Tehran has carried through into this next generation of architects. He taught many young architects personally at his office, during the last 20 years. To name some, one can mention Reza Daneshmir who designed Mellat Park Cineplex, and Hooman Balazadeh and Hooman Talebi amongst others. Bahram did not continue teaching in Iran as he did at Harvard or AA, but shared his knowledge with the people who joined Shirdel and Partners. His influence was nevertheless widespread and provoked many young and keen architects to pursue a new style. In 2008, Mellat Park Cineplex was built and realised. A project by Fluid Motion Architects, it was an important moment for the architecture in Tehran, where no impressive building had been constructed since the 1978 revolution. The project was by Reza Daneshmir, a young architect who won the competition over other, more prominent and experienced architects. The design of the project was different and contemporary enough that it surprised the judges and the public. Uniquely engineered, two continuous red ramps carry you around the building, enabling an experience of new spatial moments, and liberating the design from conventional building typologies in Tehran. More importantly: it was no longer an ideal project on a paper; it was there, sitting beside the highway of Niayesh, and real. Mellat Park Cineplex promised a new architecture, and an urbanistic approach to the city and its public life. The project broke the taboo and allowed for the realisation of many other projects.

Global_Architecture_Profiling_2017

It gave a degree of braveness to young architects, and endowed them with the freedom to push the boundaries. Sharifi ha House by Alireza Taghaboni is a new, internationally published project. The structure confidently considers â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;movementâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; as a theme, and shows the potential for having a moving and responsive building. The global attention to this project is remarkable. A house with moving parts from Tehran has the potential to transform the preconceived notions of various limitations in realising a radical architectural idea. This design is proof of the rapid development of Iranian architecture, and its first step to having an international impact.

Global_Architecture_Profiling_2017

Imam Reaza Complex Architects 04 Keivani P. 40

Mellat Bank

Architect Studio 03 Kalout P. 32

Habibeh Madjdabadi P. 10

Death of Author [Installation]

Approximation Installation

Design Group 02 Hooba P. 24

House of 40 Knots

Espriss Cafe

Orsi Khaneh

White Gallery Villa for a Friend

Mosha House Villa for Younger Brother

Office 07 Next P. 74

Wave Architecture 06 New P. 64

[SHIFT] Process Practice

05 P. 50

Eilkhaneh

Sharifi-ha House

9 House of 40 Knots, Tehran, Iran, Photo ÂŠ Habibeh Madjabadi

Global_Architecture_Profiling_2017

01 HABIBEH MADJDABADI No 37, West Andisheh 1, Andisheh St., Shahid beheshty Ave., Tehran, Iran +98 21 8806 6108 www.habibehmadjdabadi.com

PROFILE Habibeh Madjdabadi is an Iranian architect with interests in photography, design and art installations. Her realizations reveal a meticulous and continuous research about the new possibilities of using contemporary artistic approach and techniques in a local context. In the recent years, she has shown particular interest in mirrors, as a traditional and contemporary material. She has tried through different architecture and art works to explore the expressive potential of the reflective surfaces.

Global_Architecture_Profiling_2017

I NTE RVI E W 1:What defines your architecture? I believe Architecture is not a matter of style or competence, it is a matter of curiosity and research. Every project must easily solve general problems. Handbooks are useful for this. When you study in depth the conditions and circumstances of your work, you discover that there are only few basic and specific key problems that require creative solutions. This provides you with the opportunity to create something authentic and unique. In my work, I try to find a clear spatial organization that solves and valorizes the unicity of the circumstances of each project. Then, I focus on finding basic elements that through repetition and variation create the whole. I consider buildings as organic beings. They are not just forms but bodies that can vary and adapt to various conditions without losing their identity.

Global_Architecture_Profiling_2017

House of 40 Knots, Tehran, Iran, Photo ÂŠ Habibeh Madjabadi

Global_Architecture_Profiling_2017

House of 40 Knots, Tehran, Iran, Photo ÂŠ Habibeh Madjabadi

2: What have been the major influences and drivers on you as an architect/ designer? Nature, geography and architecture history, conceived as a set of ideas for solving problems related to dwelling in the world. I am particularly interested in Architecture that shows intelligent approach towards specific geography, culture or society.

Global_Architecture_Profiling_2017

House of 40 Knots, Tehran, Iran, Photo ÂŠ Habibeh Madjabadi

3:What role does the architect play in society? Pedagogy: I mean educating people and refining their taste about architecture. Architects are not rewarded for their role as their clientsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; educators, but architects spend a large portion of their time on it.

4:What are the most important skills for an architect to have? A good architect has the ability to remain amateur. I am not concerned about skills and I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think skills like sketching or using computers are essential to our work. An architect should develop critical thinking, observation ability and diagnosis. Architects need to be deep, emotional and curious, and capable to transform his sentiments into architecture.

Global_Architecture_Profiling_2017

House of 40 Knots, Tehran, Iran, Photo ÂŠ Habibeh Madjabadi

5:What role does the city of Tehran play in your design process? I like Tehran. It is a city of many different layers. Tehran always has something to offer. It is heterogeneous and mysterious. You cannot discover it at a glance and you need to live it to appreciate its vitality.

Mellat Bank, Tehran, Iran, Photo © Habibeh Madjabadi

6:What role do the construction and production processes play in design? Many countries, like Iran, do not play a significant role in producing advanced technologies and products unlike those made widely available in a few advanced countries. On the other hand, philosophers, neuroscientists, psychologists, sociologists and anthropologists tell us that the consequences of this very progress are leading societies to alienation and the loss of identity. Today the dominant trends of architecture are benefiting from machines and software that take part in both design and production processes. Everything leads towards perfection and optimization. Little place is left to Homo Faber’s instinct and its imperfections in manufactured products. However, as Gillo Dorfles mentions on the latest Triennial, “human approximation” is the only way of living on earth and creating unique art. Mellat Bank, Tehran, Iran, Photo © Habibeh Madjabadi

Global_Architecture_Profiling_2017

Mellat Bank, Tehran, Iran, Photo ÂŠ Habibeh Madjabadi

Death of Author, Tehran, Iran, Photo ÂŠ Habibeh Madjabadi

7:What challenges do you see in the future of architectural design? During the Renaissance architects considered architecture as a second nature. In the past few decades, however, they have moved against nature. I think in future there will be a return to nature. I consider nature as a set of rules and sources of inspiration for architecture. Respecting nature, for me, is much more important than planting trees on roofs or reducing energy consumption in a building.

Global_Architecture_Profiling_2017

8:What is your favourite quotation? I like to quote something from Kamran Afshar Naderi, a friend of mine and my former professor: If you have expended much more than your fee for a project; If the construction work overruns the estimated budget; If the timescale is doubled; If the Client is not satisfied; If you are sued for technical defects; If you face severe critics; Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be disappointed, you have probably created a masterpiece.

Approximation Installation, Tehran, Iran, Photo ÂŠ Habibeh Madjabadi

Global_Architecture_Profiling_2017

Approximation Installation, Tehran, Iran, Photo ÂŠ Habibeh Madjabadi

Espriss 23Café , Tehran, Iran, Photo © Hooba Design Group

Global_Architecture_Profiling_2017

02 HOOBA DESIGN First floor-No 60-Alikhani Boulevard-South Sheikh Bahaei-Tehran-Iran +98 21 8806 6108 www.hoobadesign.com

PROFILE Hooba Design was established in 2009 by architect Hooman Balazadeh inTehran. Hooba design focus on developing the interactive role of the buildings and the people who inhabit them by exploring the social culture and aesthetic contexts of each project so that every architectural element is inspired by research.

Global_Architecture_Profiling_2017

Espriss Café , Tehran, Iran, Photo © Hooba Design Group

Global_Architecture_Profiling_2017

INTERVIEW 1:What defines your architecture? Creating new experiences and qualities based on the old values.

2:What have been the major influences and drivers on you as an architect? Childhood experiences are some of the most important factors which are engraved in our memory. The combined smell of the soil and the greenery when it starts to rain in the old fabrics of the city has been one of the most impressive feelings I have ever experienced. This experience was a motivation for me to pursue a contemporary architecture with the essence of historic knowledge and values.

Global_Architecture_Profiling_2017

Espriss Café , Tehran, Iran, Photo © Hooba Design Group

3:What role does the architect play in society? An architect could define the meaning of the city and the living environment in a more beautiful and memorable way. In other words, an architect could transform an everyday space into a new life experience. 4:What are the most important skills for an architect to have? To know how to live and how to create living.

Espriss CafĂŠ , Tehran, Iran, Photo ÂŠ Hooba Design Group

Global_Architecture_Profiling_2017

5: What role does the city of Tehran play in your design process? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Contextâ&#x20AC;? is the base platform for thinking and questioning in every architectural project. Site and the architectural decisions are the inseparable parts of any architectural project. Tehran urban spaces have various historical and social layers overlaid by an urban master plan. As architects, we try to create spaces which engage the inhabitants with nature and the socio-historical layers of the city. In a dense city like Tehran, creating social spaces is as important as creating private spaces, and we try to consider that in our design.

6:What role do the construction and production processes play in design? In many cases, one to one samples of the design details are built during the design process as trial and error to find the best solution. This require committed cooperation of the production sector with the design team.

Global_Architecture_Profiling_2017

Espriss Café , Tehran, Iran, Photo © Hooba Design Group

7:What challenges do you see in the future of architectural design? I believe that the following issues will be the main challenges architects have to deal with in the near future. • The shortage of land, energy, and water • Environmental health • Pollutions caused by building materials • Material recycling • Sustainable development • Architectural education

8:What is your favorite quotation? Contemporary architecture should engage the moment without forgetting the history.

Global_Architecture_Profiling_2017

Imam31 Reza Complex , Tehran, Iran, Photo ÂŠ Kalout Architect Studio

Global_Architecture_Profiling_2017

03 K A LO U T A R C H I T E C T U R E No 137, Pasargad Building , South Ekhtiarieh St, Dowlat St, Tehran, Iran +98 21 2257 9334 www.kaloutarch.com

PROFILE Known for its well awarded Imam Reza complex, Kalout architects presents architecture that engages with the past present and future context. This makes their projects special to its environments. Kalout Architecture are also able to blend their buildings into its context seamlessly respecting the preconceived cultural notions of the site while pushing for a more contemporary architectural language. This blend of past present and future is thus important in pushing for the future of architecture.

Global_Architecture_Profiling_2017

I NTE RVI E W 1: What defines your architecture? My design theory is based on presence of users and human scale considerations. I believe buildings exist in user interaction and user interaction and presence. Therefore, in my projects mostly the presence of the user is being taken into consideration.

2:What have been the major influences and drivers on you as an architect/ designer? Undoubtedly, Iranian indigenous architecture plays the most important role in shaping my design approaches. There are numerous aspects and features in Iranian architecture which have had on my design strategy, the climate, materials, stunning Iranian decoration, and most importantly the sense of Persian spirit which impresses everyone.

Imam Reza Complex , Tehran, Iran, Photo ÂŠ Kalout Architect Studio

Global_Architecture_Profiling_2017

Imam Reza Complex , Tehran, Iran, Photo Â© Kalout Architect Studio

Imam Reza Complex , Tehran, Iran, Photo ÂŠ Kalout Architect Studio

3:What role does the architect play in society? Architecture by itself can have a noticeable impact on society. The positive or negative effects of design would definitely have impact on the occupant of the space. 4:What are the most important skills for an architect to have? I believe architects must be familiarised themselves with sociology and social psychology in addition to art and construction professional knowledge.

Global_Architecture_Profiling_2017

Imam Reza Complex , Tehran, Iran, Photo ÂŠ Kalout Architect Studio

5: What role does the city of Tehran play in your design process? Unfortunately, due to lack of town planning consideration in recent decades, a massive city (Tehran) has been formed. Therefore, in the design process of projects, environmental and human considerations should be taken into account in order to create a liveable space.

Global_Architecture_Profiling_2017

6:What role do the construction and production processes play in design? There is a need in Iranian architecture to consider details in construction and implementation of a project, so that, a long lasting and magnificent outcome in Iranian architecture can be created.

7:What challenges do you see in the future of architectural design? Think about individuals and all the users of the building. In my opinion, a future designer is the one who is capable of designing for people.

8:What is your favourite quotation? I never design a building before Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve seen the site and met the people who will be using it. (Frank Loyd Wright).

Imam Reza Complex , Tehran, Iran, Photo ÂŠ Kalout Architect Studio

Global_Architecture_Profiling_2017

Orsi Khaneh , Tehran, Iran, Photo ÂŠ Keivani Architects

04 K E I VA N I A R C H I T E C T S No.7 Mahtab St, Rashid Yasemi Alley, Seoul Ave, Vanak, Tehran, Iran +98 21 2263 3365 keivani-architects.com

PROFILE Keivani Architects Studio was established in 2009 by two architect brothers “Nima Keivani” and “Sina Keivani”. Nima Keivani was born in Astara/Iran in 1981, He graduated Master of Architecture in central Tehran. From 2002 to 2008 he worked at architectural consulting companies. Sina Keivani was born in Astara, Iran on May 19, 1987. He studied Master of Architecture at the Islamic Azad University in 2015. They have been awarded 2nd place winner in INSPIRELI AWARDS 2016 - Czech Republic. They were selected as the top 50 best young architects in the world in 2016 by UIA (Iinternational Union of Architects).

Global_Architecture_Profiling_2017

I NTE RVI E W 1: What defines your architecture? It should be acknowledged that an architectural design is to be self-explanatory, so that you (as an audience) would know the answer to this question only by observing it. However, to describe our approach in my studio, we can tell that it has been originated from our culture and environment. Our main goal is to create a different atmosphere where it is peaceful and a person can develop a sense of belonging. This is an important consideration when it comes to residential architecture. Another important element to consider is nature. Perhaps one of the biggest problems today for humans is the separation from nature. We are seeking a different method to enhance the relationship between human and nature. By method, we do not only refer to bionic forms, green architecture and use of renewable energy. We are looking for a method beyond the form and energy. We basically believe that form can be originated from anything and there are various factors that could affect a form. Therefore, form has never been an issue in our studio. In fact, we value more the character of a place and interaction between inside and outside of a building and its relationship with nature.

Global_Architecture_Profiling_2017

Orsi Khaneh , Tehran, Iran, Photo ÂŠ Keivani Architects

2: What have been the major influences and drivers on you as an architect/ designer? We can say that the approach of Iranian traditional architecture towards space and architecture has affected us mostly. Iranian architecture pays special attention into sustainability considerations. Several works undertaken by Keivani Studio regarding to renovation of the historical places assisted us to identify some valuable factors in Iranian traditional architecture which are being dismissed in current architectural approaches. Today, architecture is not considered only as a type of art. It is a field which is a combination of different fields such as construction, sociology, climatology and psychology which requires an artistic point of view. It is interesting that such combination already exists in Iranian traditional architecture. Traditional Iranian architecture considers different fields such as astronomy, geometry, mathematics, philosophy and chemistry alongside with aesthetic and artistic aspects of architecture. In fact, traditional architects used to be scientists, now we endeavour to consider all those different aspects.

Global_Architecture_Profiling_2017

3: What role does the architect play in society? An architect as a person who designs different spaces might be the most influential person in a society after a philosopher. We design spaces which interact with people. Such interaction occurs in different stages. In the first stage, faĂ§ade of a building has impacts on the people who see it. Second stage refers to the impact on users of a building which becomes more important when it comes to residential buildings. A residential space is to provide a peaceful atmosphere for the residents. A resident (user of a place) is first influenced by the form and appearance of a building. However, deep down people are impacted by the atmosphere and character of a place or building which has impacts on peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s behaviour/s and characters. In fact, since peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s behaviours impact the society, it can be concluded that architecture impacts the entire society in a wider context. Undoubtedly, there would be less chance for crime and problematic behaviours in peaceful atmospheres.

Global_Architecture_Profiling_2017

4:What are the most important skills for an architect to have? Architects need to be able to analyse different data and can manage the information to be able to design the most comprehensive and applicable answers to all briefs. But in more depth, architects needs to have a very good understanding of the practical information about buildings, the essence of the materials and their effects. In addition, demonstrating the psychology and nature of human is critical to create a pervasive art that works ahead of its time.

5: What role does the city of Tehran play in your design process? Architecture cannot be created without considering context and the dominant culture of the city. Architects should always question the qualities that the work can offer to the city. We always aim to design a building that can neutralise and eliminate the effect of noise and air pollution and offer the users an unforgettable comfort in Tehran due to the fact that Tehran is a metropolis with many issues. In addition, we always try to incorporate the certain materials as well as greenery in facades, courtyards and roof gardens so that we reduce environmental pollutions. It is critical to us that sometimes the building even influences on the pedestrians passing the building. A survey from Orsi Khaneh neighbourhood demonstrates that most people have a good experience viewing the building; in particular, the residents leave their daily stress behind the door when they enter the gateway. This is the similar experience to the traditional houses in Iran.

Global_Architecture_Profiling_2017

Orsi Khaneh , Tehran, Iran, Photo ÂŠ Keivani Architects

6: What role do the construction and production processes play in design? Undoubtedly, the Executive constraints such as material, budget and structure are the main concern of architects and due to the limited access to these resources; we always try to be innovative in our projects. In some cases, we needed to create a new way in detailing and implementation, which was exclusive to that certain project. Our studio has always been very creative throughout the process from sketch to implementing of the idea into a built work.

Global_Architecture_Profiling_2017

Orsi Khaneh , Tehran, Iran, Photo ÂŠ Keivani Architects

7: What challenges do you see in the future of architectural design? Humans have been consistently harming the earth by cutting the trees and ruing the forests and replace them with buildings and in the result human is facing different crisis including climate change. Humans are not able to demolish the building and plant trees and vegetation. Our challenge in architecture; • Design and create merciful tree-like buildings; • Design a building that acts as lung and a filter for air; • Design and build a project that give back some value while providing its own; • Design a building that can accommodate both human and animals. In our opinion, reconciling with nature is a key in order to survive in future. The future of architecture is the consideration of sustainability in more depth.

8: What is your favorite quotation? Architecture influences on four main senses of hearing, smell, sight and touch and can penetrate and affects the human spirit.

Orsi Khaneh , Tehran, Iran, Photo © Keivani Architects

Global_Architecture_Profiling_2017

White Gallery, Tehran, Iran, Photo Â© [SHIFT] Process Practice

05 [SHIFT] PROCESS PRAC TICE Unit 4, no.6, rezai st., esmaili st., pesyan st., zafaraniyeh, Tehran, Iran +98 21 2243 8963 www.shiftprocesspractice.ir

PROFILE [SHIFT] Process Practice is a research-driven design and construction studio founded by Rambod Eilkhani and Nashid Nabian. The practice covers all scales pertaining to built environment ranging from infrastructures to urban settings, architectures, and even artifacts.

Global_Architecture_Profiling_2017

I NTE RVI E W 1:What defines your architecture? Our architecture is defined by challenging the dominant typologies that are praxis. We challenge the predominant language of architecture in the market and attempt to achieve our very own personal language in design. In addition, in our office, we regard perception and conception in architecture concurrently and simultaneously.

2:What have been the major influences and drivers on you as an architect/ designer? Consideration of structure and spatialisation in literature and painting and generally contemporary art have been the inspiring and brightening drivers in my personal perspective.

White Gallery, Tehran, Iran, Photo Â© [SHIFT] Process Practice

3:What role does the architect play in society? I think, generally speaking, the role of the architect has been diminished to a servicing occupation due to the capitalist hegemony condition of society in the recent era, and even if there is any existing role of the architect, it is resisting to change the direction of the dominant capitalism movement.

4:What are the most important skills for an architect to have? I suppose, the ability to convince the capital movement, discover the shared thinking points and therefore propose a response in order to increase the quality of living and/or awareness level in recent days is the most important skill for architects.

White Gallery, Tehran, Iran, Photo ÂŠ [SHIFT] Process Practice

Global_Architecture_Profiling_2017

5:What role does the city of Tehran play in your design process? Tehran is the conjugation of distinct energies with multi-core potency relations and sometimes in contradiction. Perhaps, this is the reason that for finalising a project penetrating into capital and sovereignty with dominant speech is necessary.

Global_Architecture_Profiling_2017

White Gallery, Tehran, Iran, Photo Â© [SHIFT] Process Practice

Eilkhaneh, Tehran, Iran, Photo Â© [SHIFT] Process Practice

6:What role do the construction and production processes play in design? Construction and production process in each level would depend on the budget due to the fact that basically our projects can be adapted to different financial situations. Furthermore, our country does not have the ability to compete and compare with advanced western countries in certain technologies in construction. The history of industrialisation in Iran is not aged enough, therefore in each level; the decisions are made based on the country clientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s funding.

Global_Architecture_Profiling_2017

Eilkhaneh, Tehran, Iran, Photo ÂŠ [SHIFT] Process Practice

7: What challenges do you see in the future of architectural design? The capital is moving towards unification and commodification; therefore, the main challenge is to preserve the critical identity and enlightening of architecture as well as the effectiveness of architect in the society so that this occupation does not convert to a second-grade job.

Global_Architecture_Profiling_2017

Eilkhaneh, Tehran, Iran, Photo Â© [SHIFT] Process Practice

Global_Architecture_Profiling_2017

Eilkhaneh, 61 Tehran, Iran, Photo Â© [SHIFT] Process Practice

Global_Architecture_Profiling_2017

8:What is your favourite quotation? I heard in one of Libeskind’s lecture that said, “Architecture is marathon”.

SOUTH WEST ISOMETRIC

NORTH-EAST ISOMETRIC

NORTH-WEST ISOMETRIC

SOUTH-EAST ISOMETRIC

Global_Architecture_Profiling_2017

Mosha 63House, Tehran, Iran, Photo ÂŠ New Wave Architecture

Global_Architecture_Profiling_2017

06 N E W WAV E A R C H I T E C T U R E No.7 Mahtab St, Rashid Yasemi Alley, Seoul Ave, Tehran, Tehran Province, Iran 0098-21-22438963 www.newwavearchitecture.com

PROFILE Founded in 2006, New Wave Architecture is firm based in Tehran with leading architects Lida Almassian and Shahin Heidari. The practice seeks for global language of architecture to approach an innovative and challenging contemporary movement. It explores the new ways of emerging ideas, demanding and distinctive spaces regarding the aesthetic aspects, humanity and global communication.

Global_Architecture_Profiling_2017

Mosha House, Tehran, Iran, Photo ÂŠ New Wave Architecture

I NTE RVI E W 1:What defines your architecture? Architecture is an imagination that connects time and space. The formation of individual design depends on parameters such as context climate and operation. Its individuality is defined by such parameters and activities

2:What have been the major influences and drivers on you as an architect/ designer? I cannot mention about anything in particular – As mentioned before in the previous question, my take on architecture is very influenced by the design parameters such as context to design for comfort. An example would be ‘healing architecture’ correlating to hospital design. 3:What role does the architect play in society? It is crucial for the architect to provide comfort through design and educate society on architectural discourse.

Global_Architecture_Profiling_2017

Mosha House, Tehran, Iran, Photo ÂŠ New Wave Architecture

Global_Architecture_Profiling_2017

4: What are the most important skills for an architect to have? Despite the shift towards software driven architecture, it is also important to have an architect return to analogue methods in context analysis. Thus, the architect should consider the social political and economic context of the design.

5: What role does the city of Tehran play in your design process? The city of Tehran is different with its high daily stress. This serves as a challenge in designing that may be solved by ‘healing architecture’ – correlating to hospital design. In case of Mosha House, which only is occupied on the weekends, we took the context as the most important factor into consideration. Our intention was to recover the clients from the 6 busy business days in Tehran with only one day staying in this house. So understanding the context of Tehran is always critical in starting a project.

Global_Architecture_Profiling_2017

6: What role do the construction and production processes play in design? Our major problem in Iran is the buildability and construction of the design and limited access to products, materials and modern technologies due to sanctions. In addition, there are always certain barriers for the construction process such as lack of skilled labor and unfamiliarity of conservative clients to the recent technology or products. Even if the clients are open-minded, the architects need to showcase a built project in the local context of Tehran to convince them.

Mosha House, Tehran, Iran, Photo ÂŠ New Wave Architecture

Global_Architecture_Profiling_2017

Mosha 71House, Tehran, Iran, Photo ÂŠ New Wave Architecture

Global_Architecture_Profiling_2017

7: What challenges do you see in the future of architectural design? Architecture has been changing incredibly since the 70s. On one hand it becomes very specialised, such as sustainable architecture and contextualism and on the other hand, the digital technologies have helped to achieve and analyse more accurate data to improve the quality of architecture and to create more design options. The biggest challenge for architectural design in Tehran is the city itself, urban sprawl and urban fabric. The urban fabric of Tehran has been damaged due to large investment but without considering design. In addition, every year huge number of architecture students graduate without the sufficient quality for the market. Furthermore, the decision makers for large investments in councils and ministry of housing are unqualified therefore the building/construction industry is always in bubble with unexpected and unreasonable price. Even though some of architects have been successful to go through this conservative thoughts and council restrict filters, but due to their singularities comparing to entire Tehran, the projects were not able to showcase themselves as successful examples.

Global_Architecture_Profiling_2017

07 N E X TO F F I C E No.3, 12th Alley, Hasan-e-Seyf St. Shahrak Gharb,Tehran,Iran. +98 21 8857 4027 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 8856 4663 nextoffice.ir

PROFILE Alireza Taghaboni is an Iranian architect, painter and university lecturer. He founded his own firm nextoffice where he has been practicing architecture up to present. His current team members come from professional backgrounds that include architecture, model making, fabrication, product design, sculpture, landscape design, building and facilities construction. The surrounding context and site history, climatic condition, economic and cultural background has always had a distinctive role in their project designs. They seek the synthesis coming from the design factors mentioned above. In this respect, concepts and ideas illustrated in competition project their ideals in the realm of architectural design. They believe in architectural involvement with the economy, culture and contemporary demands in the process of design.They live in hope of realising ideas and drawings integrated into the city.

Global_Architecture_Profiling_2017

Sharifi-ha House, Tehran, Iran, Photo ÂŠ Nextoffice

I NTE RVI E W 1:What defines your architecture? The practice is committed to contributing to a paradigmatic shift to the design process. At an infrastructural scale, the practice is committed to the production of urban morphologies from an architectural genome that produces formative typologies. The practice defines this mode of problem solving as a gene-driven approach. At an urban scale, the practice prioritizes small and smart interventions to surgical solutions. The practice believes in transformative role that the residual spaces between the buildings can play in redefining public realms within the urban phenomena. At an architectural scale, the practice is committed to production of inhabitable spaces that question the well-established paradigms of everyday life. The practice also challenges the dominant material culture that fosters a maximalist approach towards realization of architectural imagination with an expansive and expensive pallet of building materials and construction techniques. The practice intends for efficiency and sufficiency in its design choices without compromising the quality of spatial experience.

Global_Architecture_Profiling_2017

At an artifactual scale, the practice is committed to re-imagining the object not as a stand-alone element but as an architectural component, functioning as a spatial signifier. Across all scales of design interventions, the practice is committed to environmental, social, and economical sustainability. The practice believes in trans-disciplinarity, where paradigms from other disciplines can be re-appropriated, retrofitted, and re-interpreted in imagining innovative design solutions. The practice acknowledges the role that situated technologies and digital culture play in reconfiguring our understanding of the spatial phenomena, expanding the domain of its operation from erection of substantive, durable structures to staging temporal, ephemeral events. In this sense, the practice conducts intensive research into the potential of interactive technologies and the platforms they can provide for infrastructural, urban, architectural and artifactual sensing, networking, computing and actuation.

Global_Architecture_Profiling_2017

2:What have been the major influences and drivers on you as an architect / designer? Iranâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s contemporary architecture scene is a quite emerging one with lots of potentials. At the same time, for post-revolution Iranian architects, exponential increase in international connections has contributed to a constant flow of information from the international scene. Hence, our generation of Iranian architects benefit from a thriving national scene for promotion of architectural discourse as well as the possibility of access to international information in this regard, which in turn is constantly re-appropriated by the national context to be owned in a proper way as opposed to be merely teleported from an irrelevant context of application. As a result, both national and international conversations are helping us to dynamically configure and reconfigure our practice.

Global_Architecture_Profiling_2017

Sharifi-ha House, Tehran, Iran, Photo ÂŠ Nextoffice

Global_Architecture_Profiling_2017

3: What role does the architect play in society? It is the spatial conditions and configurations that constantly redefine the concurrent agencies of the individual and the society. Architecture has cultural and political agency in redefinition of power structure in both its domestic and societal forms. In the domestic realm it is the life style that is the subject of design and in the public realm, it is the structure of power and the relationship of the multitude and its constituencies or in other words the institution of societal acts that is subjected to design decisions.

Global_Architecture_Profiling_2017

4: What are the most important skills for an architect to have? We believe that architectural design consists of several stages that are not necessarily come in the same sequence across all programs and all scales but one way or the other architect needs to address these stages capitalizing on skills that are relevant to each: project initiation, concept design, design development, spatial rendering and construction and documentation. In all the above stages, architects may need to revisit the previous stages and the decisions that are made during that stage, which requires certain abilities in terms of refining and re-negotiation of previously made decisions in response to emerging conditions of the project. Also, in all this stages, mastery of documentation of the ideas and process of their formation and effective communication of them through techniques and different modalities of representation is what an architect needs. No need to mention that effective collaboration with all other disciplines, including but not limited to structural, mechanical and electrical engineering, that contribute to the formation of an operational built space is a skill that is required in all stages of design.

Global_Architecture_Profiling_2017

5: What role does the city of Tehran play in your design process? City of Tehran is an absurd landscape. Aggressive zoning bylaws that support transfer of air rights to the private sector, has resulted in a dense urban fabric where the only viable typology is that of infill. In such condition, most neighbourhoods are residential and forces of market and regulations does not allow for accommodation of any other architectural typology or spatial program. In such condition, in extreme cases, the scope of influence of the architect is limited to the design of the faรงade of the building which is in fact built to its maximum buildable envelope allowed by regulations. In almost all projects of Nextoffice, the regulatory and programmatic limitations of projects are challenged one way or the other. At the same time, in order to challenge the status quo, the practice is very much invested in sectional relations within the autonomous object of architecture. In a market-driven landscape that buildings compete in standing out within the humdrum of the urban context, those that are designed in our practice, try to negotiate with all limiting conditions of the context, fitting in and being humble, while complexity is created with in the confounds of the interior. No doubt, this schizophrenic approach, simplicity of the outside and complexity of the inside, has its very roots in the very tension of the private and public realm within the socio-political landscape of contemporary Iran. In such situation, the architectural threshold, operates as the regulator of all flows between the private real of the inside and the public sphere of the outside, and as such acquires a critical condition.

Global_Architecture_Profiling_2017

6: What role do the construction and production processes play in design? It is through the process of construction that architectural ideas are realized and find their way to practice of everyday life be it in the context of domestic or societal institutions. In countries like Iran where the built environment is still very much erected through traditional modes of operation, a deep understanding of potentials and limitations of non-industrial construction techniques and technologies can become a subject of design in its own right.

Global_Architecture_Profiling_2017

7:What challenges do you see in the future of architectural design? With unprecedented proliferation of images, in a predominantly digital culture, the hegemonizing forces of the global network of connections are challenging the very core idea of authorship. In such context, architecture would only thrive if architects can orient themselves efficiently and sufficiently, towards a new condition that can only be characterized as “Networked Specificity”. Networked Specificity should not be mistaken as another wave of neo-regionalism which is always in danger of losing contact with reality due to somewhat ideological orientation towards questions of identity and conservative nationalism. Particularly for nation-states who are the consumers of modernity and not the very authors of it, those of the Global South, Networked Specificity will in fact provide the very grounding to author parallel alter-modernities that are responding to specificities of socio-cultural and economico-political context of given geographies, while maintaining acceptable levels of contemporaneity. Unless such approach is entertained by architects, the question of authorship is degraded to re-compilations of already created images into spatial conditions that intrinsically cannot claim to be a part of the New Architecture. 8:What is your favourite quotation? “Every architect carries the utopian gene.” - Rem Koolhaas

Global_Architecture_Profiling_2017

C O NTR I B U T O R S MELLAT BANK DEATH OF THE AUTHOR [INSTALLATION] APPROXIMATION [INSTALLATION] Habibeh Madjdabadi Image: Supplied by Habibeh Madjdabadi

INTRODUCTION Johnny Xu FOREWARD Peyman Esmaeelpour

ESPRISS CAFE Hooba Design Image: Supplied by Hooba Design IMAM REZA COMPLEX Kalout Architecture Image: Supplied by Kalout Architecture ORSI KHANEH Keivani Architects Image: Supplied by Keivani Architects WHITE GALLERY EILKHANEH [SHIFT] Process Practice Image: Supplied by [SHIFT] Process Practice MOSHA HOUSE New Wave Architecture Image: Supplied by New Wave Architecture SHARIFI-HA HOUSE VILLA FOR YOUNGER BROTHER VILLA FOR A FRIEND Nextoffice Image: Supplied by Nextoffice

Global_Architecture_Profiling_2017

A C K N O W L E D G E M E NT The GAP 2017 Committee wishes to express our warmest thanks to the participating firms - Habibeh Madjdabadi, Hooba Design Group, Kalout Architect Studio, Keivani Architects, [SHIFT] Process Practice New Wave Architecture and Nextoffice without whom our exhibition and catalogue would not have been possible. We are grateful to Associate Professor Andrew Hutson - Deputy Dean and Dr. Ali Mozaffari - Research Fellow at Deakin University for opening the exhibition. The University of Melbourneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Event & Exhibitions, Engagement & Marketing and Facilities & Finance departments have been a significant support and we wish to extend our thanks for their invaluable assistance in facilitating this endeavour. In particular, we must mention Jasmine Budisa, Philipa Knack and Sara Brocklesby for their help in organising the logistics of the exhibition. FabLab, Hector (Visual Graphics), Nasrin Hashemi and Peyman Esmaeelpour also deserve our sincere gratitude for their support of the GAP student initiative. Finally, we wish to acknowledge and thank the University of Melbourne Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning academic and founder of GAP, Blair Gardiner for his guidance, patience and support in fostering this project. By being part of the GAP 2017 Committee, each of us has been afforded the opportunity to broaden our architectural experience through curating the GAP 2017 - Tehran Exhibition.

Global_Architecture_Profiling_2017