Domus Eyes on Iran؛ A turning point in Iranian and Italian art

Tehran (IP) - The Italian Embassy in Tehran unveiled Episode 5 of 'Domus Eyes on Iran' named 'Qajar Tehran: The Glass and Ceramics Museum and the Italian Residence'.

Iran PressIran News: On March 19, the Embassy of Italy in Tehran launched the fifth episode of its exclusive documentary series on architecture and design, 'Domus Eyes on Iran', produced in cooperation with Domus magazine. The new episode, titled 'Qajar Teheran: the Glass and Ceramics Museum and the Italian Residence', was screened at the Italian Ambassador’s Residence in Tehran. 

Picking up on a Domus article on the Glass and Ceramics Museum from 1980, the documentary highlights the Qajar villa's unique story in downtown Tehran housing it. The mansion belonged to one of the Prime Ministers of that time, Mr. Ahmad Qavam, and was later transformed at the end of the 1970s into the Museum of Glass and Ceramics.

The building, erected for residential purposes, was renovated by Hans Hollein, a prominent Austrian architect and interior designer, who was able to successfully mix the historically dense and sophisticated Qajar era mansion with cutting-edge, exquisitely modern interiors designed by himself. The documentary focuses on the exquisite multiple-shaped display stands designed by Hollein to showcase the pieces of the collection of the Museum.

Another example of Qajar time architecture featured in the documentary is the complex hosting the Italian Ambassador’s Residence in Tehran, purchased by the Italian government in 1940. The architectural value of the complex’ buildings is enhanced by its 61,750 sqm impressive garden, which represents a rare example of a Persian garden still preserved in Tehran. 

Through the analysis of works created over the last few decades, the 'Domus Eyes on Iran' series highlights the importance of the cooperation between Iranian and Italian architects and designers, which helped shape today’s Iran’s architectural scene.

The first episode of the series is dedicated to Iranian architect Alireza Taghaboni and his 'Villa for an Older Brother', published by Domus magazine in 2018.

The second one sheds light on the visionary project for the Tehran’s National Library in 1977 by Gaetano Pesce, a forerunner of architectural trends that emerged in later decades.

The third episode features the relationship between Iranian architecture and nature through the example of the 'Saba' apartments by architects Sara Kalantary and Reza Sayadian.

The fourth one describes how tradition and modernity in Iranian architecture successfully merged in the reinterpretation of the Orsi window by the Keivani brothers. 

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