In Iran, the word ‘paradise’ has been used to describe various architectural typologies. Despite ... more In Iran, the word ‘paradise’ has been used to describe various architectural typologies. Despite sharing terminology with the traditional notion of ‘paradise’ as a walled enclosure often associated with gardens of delights, these spaces differ significantly in conveying a sense of bliss. Several scholars and architects delve into the intricate societal dichotomies of this term, aiming to disrupt the cycle of past repetition and encapsulate its core. Their insights emphasize the role of the Self in the dissolution of unity, echoing Eliot’s concept of choosing tradition and understanding its significance through substantial effort. Through the transformation of social narratives, these scholars provide a solid basis for reimagining and reorganizing traditional or forgotten elements into new configurations, thus reshaping the narrative and the potential of urban spaces. Consequently, the act of reuse becomes a transformative force in constructing and reconstructing cultural identities.
The COVID-19 pandemic is a transitional period that represents a turning point in the history of ... more The COVID-19 pandemic is a transitional period that represents a turning point in the history of Europe. This crisis led to the realisation that a previous spatial transformation that involved removing factories from the urban fabric caused the cities’ dependency on global supply chains. To mitigate this, a new democratisation of the economy, in collaboration with new urban policies, could bring qualitative changes to the structure of cities and their businesses. This paper examines the design framework, Building Block Vision (BBV), which is the solution proposed by the Flanders government for the city of Ghent. In devising this framework, Flanders, by following the principle of thinking small first, examined the local architectural typology for inner-city urban areas. These inner-city urban areas once hosted economic activities, something which has gradually diminished over time. By formulating a spatial strategy for revitalising these inner areas and reintegrating them into local economic activities, the opportunity arises to introduce new ways of living. This endeavour incorporates principles of interchangeability, adaptability and innovation. ‘Research by design’ is the approach used to identify the inherent potential of the inner areas of each building block. Through this spatial analysis, the Flanders government anticipates that social and environmental gains can make a significant impact to the economy, rather than being an afterthought.
studies in History and Theory of Architecture, 2020
In Iran, the urban transformation was mostly related to politically motivated uprisings. Not only... more In Iran, the urban transformation was mostly related to politically motivated uprisings. Not only analyzing the reasons that lead to an uprising but also having a closer look at places where demonstrations occur is prominent. In the case of Iran, as Asef Bayat noted, demonstrations have been mainly urban movements. Massive uprisings of people have been mostly held in downtown Tehran. Although spatial and social transformation had been mostly controlled by the top-down modernization of the Pahlavi regime, local modernists’ confrontation with the past, made the ordered transformation archaic. Their architectural opposition took shape by modernizing Persian archetypes like a courtyard and the Persian garden. Through applying semi-public character of these voids to their commissions, architects offered the city an opportunity for social and political expressions. Their projects represent the modern urban theatre of contention par excellence. These architects believed that the ethical responsibility of architecture does not conflict with its aesthetic value, and politics was aesthetically negotiated in their commissions. They also challenged postmodern architecture to a new vision of Critical Regionalism. This article will look at the aesthetic value of projects that linked the everyday life of citizens to the decentralized political spaces.
studies in History and Theory of Architecture, 2018
Economically, from the late fifties Pakistan and Iran aligned themselves with America to vied for... more Economically, from the late fifties Pakistan and Iran aligned themselves with America to vied for its support. Increasing the oil revenue from the seventies, however, changed the circumstance for Iran. Among the different strategies of control, it was the time for the Pahlavi regime to reveal its control over the region, politically and architecturally. However, those creative interventions rooted in previous decades, both in local and in international levels of competition with Pakistan. While Iran was pioneer in the political transformation, Pakistan replicated all the same policies architecturally, via American support and architects, like Louis Kahn. In fact, what happened in region was a part of the U.S. plan for the Middle East for maintaining the stability of traditional regimes through encouraging them toward moderate reforms. However, these architectures were symptom of a larger cultural condition, caused by the rapid introduction of modern institutions into traditional societies. Inevitably, not only modern Western architecture had been imported, but also the forms and formalities of modern Western democratic institutions. As a consequence, such pseudo-democratic ideology and practice effected on local architects to act as an antidote to both regimes. This paper studies Pakistan – Iran relations, politically and architecturally, in regard to these policies.
Faculteitsbibliotheek Ingenieurswetenschappen en Architectuur, 2022
This publication, and the accompanying exhibition at VANDENHOVE Centre for Architecture and Art, ... more This publication, and the accompanying exhibition at VANDENHOVE Centre for Architecture and Art, was made on the occasion of Professor Bart Verschaffel's retirement from the Department of Architecture and Urban Planning at Ghent University. With texts by Dirk De Meyer, Maarten Delbeke, Yves Schoonjans, Wouter Davidts, Sven Sterken, Lionel Devlieger, Rajesch Heynickx, Andrew Leach, Bruno Notteboom, Maarten Van den Driessche, Maarten Liefooghe, Christophe Van Gerrewey, Pieter-Jan Cierkens, Richard Venlet, Niloofar Amini, and Eleni Kamma.
In Iran, the word ‘paradise’ has been used to describe various architectural typologies. Despite ... more In Iran, the word ‘paradise’ has been used to describe various architectural typologies. Despite sharing terminology with the traditional notion of ‘paradise’ as a walled enclosure often associated with gardens of delights, these spaces differ significantly in conveying a sense of bliss. Several scholars and architects delve into the intricate societal dichotomies of this term, aiming to disrupt the cycle of past repetition and encapsulate its core. Their insights emphasize the role of the Self in the dissolution of unity, echoing Eliot’s concept of choosing tradition and understanding its significance through substantial effort. Through the transformation of social narratives, these scholars provide a solid basis for reimagining and reorganizing traditional or forgotten elements into new configurations, thus reshaping the narrative and the potential of urban spaces. Consequently, the act of reuse becomes a transformative force in constructing and reconstructing cultural identities.
The COVID-19 pandemic is a transitional period that represents a turning point in the history of ... more The COVID-19 pandemic is a transitional period that represents a turning point in the history of Europe. This crisis led to the realisation that a previous spatial transformation that involved removing factories from the urban fabric caused the cities’ dependency on global supply chains. To mitigate this, a new democratisation of the economy, in collaboration with new urban policies, could bring qualitative changes to the structure of cities and their businesses. This paper examines the design framework, Building Block Vision (BBV), which is the solution proposed by the Flanders government for the city of Ghent. In devising this framework, Flanders, by following the principle of thinking small first, examined the local architectural typology for inner-city urban areas. These inner-city urban areas once hosted economic activities, something which has gradually diminished over time. By formulating a spatial strategy for revitalising these inner areas and reintegrating them into local economic activities, the opportunity arises to introduce new ways of living. This endeavour incorporates principles of interchangeability, adaptability and innovation. ‘Research by design’ is the approach used to identify the inherent potential of the inner areas of each building block. Through this spatial analysis, the Flanders government anticipates that social and environmental gains can make a significant impact to the economy, rather than being an afterthought.
studies in History and Theory of Architecture, 2020
In Iran, the urban transformation was mostly related to politically motivated uprisings. Not only... more In Iran, the urban transformation was mostly related to politically motivated uprisings. Not only analyzing the reasons that lead to an uprising but also having a closer look at places where demonstrations occur is prominent. In the case of Iran, as Asef Bayat noted, demonstrations have been mainly urban movements. Massive uprisings of people have been mostly held in downtown Tehran. Although spatial and social transformation had been mostly controlled by the top-down modernization of the Pahlavi regime, local modernists’ confrontation with the past, made the ordered transformation archaic. Their architectural opposition took shape by modernizing Persian archetypes like a courtyard and the Persian garden. Through applying semi-public character of these voids to their commissions, architects offered the city an opportunity for social and political expressions. Their projects represent the modern urban theatre of contention par excellence. These architects believed that the ethical responsibility of architecture does not conflict with its aesthetic value, and politics was aesthetically negotiated in their commissions. They also challenged postmodern architecture to a new vision of Critical Regionalism. This article will look at the aesthetic value of projects that linked the everyday life of citizens to the decentralized political spaces.
studies in History and Theory of Architecture, 2018
Economically, from the late fifties Pakistan and Iran aligned themselves with America to vied for... more Economically, from the late fifties Pakistan and Iran aligned themselves with America to vied for its support. Increasing the oil revenue from the seventies, however, changed the circumstance for Iran. Among the different strategies of control, it was the time for the Pahlavi regime to reveal its control over the region, politically and architecturally. However, those creative interventions rooted in previous decades, both in local and in international levels of competition with Pakistan. While Iran was pioneer in the political transformation, Pakistan replicated all the same policies architecturally, via American support and architects, like Louis Kahn. In fact, what happened in region was a part of the U.S. plan for the Middle East for maintaining the stability of traditional regimes through encouraging them toward moderate reforms. However, these architectures were symptom of a larger cultural condition, caused by the rapid introduction of modern institutions into traditional societies. Inevitably, not only modern Western architecture had been imported, but also the forms and formalities of modern Western democratic institutions. As a consequence, such pseudo-democratic ideology and practice effected on local architects to act as an antidote to both regimes. This paper studies Pakistan – Iran relations, politically and architecturally, in regard to these policies.
Faculteitsbibliotheek Ingenieurswetenschappen en Architectuur, 2022
This publication, and the accompanying exhibition at VANDENHOVE Centre for Architecture and Art, ... more This publication, and the accompanying exhibition at VANDENHOVE Centre for Architecture and Art, was made on the occasion of Professor Bart Verschaffel's retirement from the Department of Architecture and Urban Planning at Ghent University. With texts by Dirk De Meyer, Maarten Delbeke, Yves Schoonjans, Wouter Davidts, Sven Sterken, Lionel Devlieger, Rajesch Heynickx, Andrew Leach, Bruno Notteboom, Maarten Van den Driessche, Maarten Liefooghe, Christophe Van Gerrewey, Pieter-Jan Cierkens, Richard Venlet, Niloofar Amini, and Eleni Kamma.
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the structure of cities and their businesses. This paper examines the design framework, Building Block Vision (BBV), which is the solution proposed by the Flanders government for the city of Ghent. In devising this framework, Flanders, by following the principle of thinking small first, examined the local architectural typology for inner-city urban areas. These inner-city urban areas once hosted economic activities, something which has gradually diminished over time. By formulating a spatial strategy for revitalising these inner areas and reintegrating them into local economic activities, the opportunity arises to introduce new ways of living. This endeavour incorporates principles of interchangeability, adaptability and innovation. ‘Research by design’ is the approach used to identify the inherent potential of the inner areas of each building block. Through this spatial analysis, the Flanders government anticipates that social and environmental gains can make a significant impact to the economy, rather than being an afterthought.
Although spatial and social transformation had been mostly controlled by the top-down modernization of the Pahlavi regime, local modernists’ confrontation with the past, made the ordered transformation archaic. Their architectural opposition took shape by modernizing Persian archetypes like a courtyard and the Persian garden. Through applying semi-public character of these voids to their commissions, architects offered the city an opportunity for social and political expressions. Their projects represent the modern urban theatre of contention par excellence.
These architects believed that the ethical responsibility of architecture does not conflict with its aesthetic value, and politics was aesthetically negotiated in their commissions. They also challenged postmodern architecture to a new vision of Critical Regionalism. This article will look at the aesthetic value of projects that linked the everyday life of citizens to the decentralized political spaces.
While Iran was pioneer in the political transformation, Pakistan replicated all the same policies architecturally, via American support and architects, like Louis Kahn. In fact, what happened in region was a part of the U.S. plan for the Middle East for maintaining the stability of traditional regimes through encouraging them toward moderate reforms.
However, these architectures were symptom of a larger cultural condition, caused by the rapid introduction of modern institutions into traditional societies. Inevitably, not only modern Western architecture had been imported, but also the forms and formalities of modern Western democratic institutions. As a consequence, such pseudo-democratic ideology and practice effected on local architects to act as an antidote to both regimes.
This paper studies Pakistan – Iran relations, politically and architecturally, in regard to these policies.
Books by Niloofar Amini
the structure of cities and their businesses. This paper examines the design framework, Building Block Vision (BBV), which is the solution proposed by the Flanders government for the city of Ghent. In devising this framework, Flanders, by following the principle of thinking small first, examined the local architectural typology for inner-city urban areas. These inner-city urban areas once hosted economic activities, something which has gradually diminished over time. By formulating a spatial strategy for revitalising these inner areas and reintegrating them into local economic activities, the opportunity arises to introduce new ways of living. This endeavour incorporates principles of interchangeability, adaptability and innovation. ‘Research by design’ is the approach used to identify the inherent potential of the inner areas of each building block. Through this spatial analysis, the Flanders government anticipates that social and environmental gains can make a significant impact to the economy, rather than being an afterthought.
Although spatial and social transformation had been mostly controlled by the top-down modernization of the Pahlavi regime, local modernists’ confrontation with the past, made the ordered transformation archaic. Their architectural opposition took shape by modernizing Persian archetypes like a courtyard and the Persian garden. Through applying semi-public character of these voids to their commissions, architects offered the city an opportunity for social and political expressions. Their projects represent the modern urban theatre of contention par excellence.
These architects believed that the ethical responsibility of architecture does not conflict with its aesthetic value, and politics was aesthetically negotiated in their commissions. They also challenged postmodern architecture to a new vision of Critical Regionalism. This article will look at the aesthetic value of projects that linked the everyday life of citizens to the decentralized political spaces.
While Iran was pioneer in the political transformation, Pakistan replicated all the same policies architecturally, via American support and architects, like Louis Kahn. In fact, what happened in region was a part of the U.S. plan for the Middle East for maintaining the stability of traditional regimes through encouraging them toward moderate reforms.
However, these architectures were symptom of a larger cultural condition, caused by the rapid introduction of modern institutions into traditional societies. Inevitably, not only modern Western architecture had been imported, but also the forms and formalities of modern Western democratic institutions. As a consequence, such pseudo-democratic ideology and practice effected on local architects to act as an antidote to both regimes.
This paper studies Pakistan – Iran relations, politically and architecturally, in regard to these policies.