AN ARCHITECTURAL ANALYSIS: THE MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART, TEHRAN, IRAN

Abstract

Kamran Tabatabai Diba is one of Iranian Architects, whose works during 60’s and 70’s are well-known among architects and scholars. His works are mostly considered as examples of Modern Style, scented by Iranian Architecture. His efforts on creating public, socio-cultural centers in Iran was a result of his concern about social matters, as well as seeking for a national, contemporary Architecture. Tehran’s Museum of Contemporary Art is one of the most popular and well-known Diba’s works. In this article an effort has been made to get a better understanding of this remarkable piece of work, and to light up the Architect’s intents and the architectural methods he used to express them. The critique is concentrated mostly on two mentioned aspects of Diba’s works: “Integrating Modern Style and traditional Iranian Architecture”, and “Creating socio-cultural centers and institutions well related to society.” The Analysis is based on the most important features of every work of Architecture: “Space” and “Form”. The author seeks for the meaning by “watching” the whole complex carefully, “giving descriptive information” about it, and in the meantime “analyzing data” with the help of “basic design methods” together with the knowledge of “Modern Style”, “Characteristics of Late Modern Movement” and “Traditional Iranian Architecture.” Text is accompanied by drawings and figures, which help for better knowing the complex. The effort is made to use a simple language, understandable not only by Architects or scholars, but by every other interested non-specialist reader.