Abdol-Aziz Mirza Farman Farmaian
Encyclopedia
Abdol Aziz Farmanfarmaian (Shiraz
, 1920) is an Iran
ian architect, offspring of Persian
nobleman Abdol Hossein Mirza Farmanfarma
and a member of the Qajar dynasty of Iran
.
In 1976, the company known as AFFA - Abdol Aziz Farman-Farmaian and Associates was created for the design of the Azadi Stadium
.
In 1928, at the age of 8 he was sent to school in France, where he remained for his primary, and secondary school at Lyée Michelet in Paris until 1938. A brief trip to Iran during the short summer of 1935 was his first contact as an adolescent with his family.
His Baccalaureate degree was received in 1938. Abdol Aziz Farman-Farmaian and three other brothers were extremely lucky that their father, Prince Abdol Hossein Mirza, Had organized for them as guardian Mr. Desiré Roustan a leading French philosopher and writer. They in fact owe to him a happy childhood and excellent education away from home.
Architectural studies were initiated in the Ecole Speciale d’Architecture, where he started to prepare for the Beaux Arts School. The onset of WWII broke the continuity of his studies and had to leave for Iran in 1940 where he stayed until 1945. During this period of worldwide uncertainty he worked at different jobs such as: Teheran Municipality, Karnsaks, and the Ministry of Culture (Vezarate Pishehonar).
In 1942 he married with Leila Gharagozlou and formed a family having a son.
After the end of WWII Abdol Aziz Farman-Farmaian came back to Paris with his family to continue his studies and was admitted at the Atelier of Mr. Nicot at the world famous Ecole des Beaux Arts where he received his degree in 1950. The final project presented as his thesis was the design for a modern caravanserai to be situated in southern Iran. This project received the prize for “the best thesis (diploma) of the year.”
In 1950 Abdol Aziz Farman-Farmaian moved back to Teheran for good until 1979, where he proceeded to create one of Iran’s most important modern-day architectural legacies.
The initial years- The Razmara period followed by the Mossadegh years- where marked by an unstable political and economical situation. Abdol Aziz Farman-Farmaian started to work as a civil servant at the university of Teheran in the Department of Construction where he became departmental director after a few years. During the same period he was given a professorial chair at the Teheran University school of Architecture (Daneshkadeh Honarhaie Ziba), where he taught students architecture until 1957-8.
In 1954 Abdol Aziz Farman-Farmaian was admitted by the “Plan Organization” as a recognized consultant, At this time when Abdol Aziz Farman-Farmaian designed numerous private residences for his extended relatives, friends and clients. The legal entity that was set up was known as “Moassessehye Abdol Aziz Farman-Farmaian.” In 1976, the company known as “AFFA” Abdol Aziz Farman-Farmaian and Associates was created for the design of the Stadium and in accordance with the directive of the Plan Organization to be associated with younger architects. The new associates were belonged to Mr. Reza Majd and Mr. Farokh Hirbod both graduates from first class American universities. AFFA's associates were increased with the years.
He permanently moved to Paris in 1980 and still lives there today. He is also in close contact with his partner Reza Majd, who still practiced architecture until recently in Palma, Mallorca, Spain.
WORKS:
Office Buildings
- Ministry of Agriculture, 22 story headquarters office building, 1976
- National Iranian Oil Company Headquarters (in collaboration with Yahya Etehadieh), 13 story office in Tehran, 1961
- Telecommunication Center, 2 story tower in Tehran (sub-contract from Aneg), 1974
- Ministry of Roads, 14 story headquarter building, 1959
- National Iranian Television Center, Studios, offices and other facilities in Tehran, 1972
- Beh Shahr Group Office, Offices and other facilities, 1969
- Khaneh Center Commercial Complex, 3 three-story towers of 200,000 square metes half finished,
- Bank Saderat Isfahan Branch Office, Banking facilities, 1978
- Bank Kar Building, 23 story building offices, 1960
- Bank Etebarat/Credit Lyonnais, Offices and banking facilities, 1968
- Oil Consortium Head Offices (in collaboration with Wilson, Mason and Partners), 8 story office building, 1960
- Cement Company Office, Built at the Plant, 1960
Teheran Olympic Center
- Track and field and football stadium, 100,000 seat stadium with all related facilities with an artificial lake at the north of the complex, 1970
- Multi purpose covered stadium (in collaboration with S.O.M San Francisco), 12,000 seat, 1979
- Covered swimming and diving pool (in collaboration with S.O.M San Francisco), 3000 seat, 1974
- Office Building and press center, 1974
- Shooting range, Hand gun and riles, 1974
- Trap shooting range, 1974
- Out door training fields, Hockey, track and field, 1974
- Out door tennis court and field hockey, For training purposes, 1974
- Connecting roads and bridges to main Karaj road, 1974
Hosting Projects
- Saman 1 apartment building, Two 22 story towers with 170 apartment units, 1970
- Saman 2 tower apartment building, 3 thirteen story towers, totaling 400 apartments, 1972
- Vanak Park Apartment Complex, 4 towards (6 & 20 story each), 1978
- Sarcheshmeh housing complex, 2,500 building units of single family housing for the copper mining industry employees, 1978
- Polyacr residential community, Employee housing in 154 units, 1978
- Bid Boland housing project (U.I.O.E) (in collaboration with Yahya Etehadieh), 500 units of lousing for the gas pumping station workers, 1968
- Khaneh Karaj, Different housing types recreational community, 1977
- Darya, Second Home Community 700 single family, 1977
- Isfahan, Single family detached homes, townhouses, and apartments, 1978
Palaces
Airports
- Mehr-abad Airport Expansions Program
· Apron, 38 aircraft positions with underground service road and underpass network, 1972
· Terminal N02, International passenger service facility, 1972
· Terminal N03, Facilities for Hajji Pilgrims leaving and returning, 1970
· Terminal N04, International passenger service facility, 1974
· Government Pavilion, Reception areas, lounges, kitchen, and dining facilities
Educational Buildings, 1978
- Iran education project (in collaboration with Scandiacnsuk Intl-World Bank Project), Master planning, site selection, design and construction of 49 schools and colleges in 19 cities and towns in Iran, 1974
- University of Tehran
- Tehran School of engineering laboratories, Electro mechanical laboratories, 1965
- Atomic Energy Project for University of Tehran, 1965
Health and Hospital
- Social Welfare Organization, Office building in 5 stories, 1964
- University of Ahwaz Hospital, 300 bed facility with doctors' training center, 1965
- Iranian army general hospital, Tehran, 200 bed hospital with a major surgical department, 1968
- Hospital, Abadan (in collaboration with Wilson, Mason and Partners), 250 bed facility with orthopedics and rehabilitation center, 1959
Miscellaneous
- Carpet Museum, 2 floors including exhibition hall, research library and carpet treatment facilities, 1978
- Iranian Pavilion, EXO 67, 8,000 square meter exhibition hall in a building with blue Isfahan tile exterior, 1957
- PIT postal sorting center (with the UK General Post Office), Automated central mail sorting complex, 1975
- Shemshak ski resort hotel, 30 rooms with sport resort facilities plus restaurant and locker rooms
Industrial Buildings
- Arj industrial complexes, 20,000 square meter factory and shop facility plus 5,000 square meters of office space units of staff apartments, 1965
- Darou Pakhsh Group Pharmaceutical Plan (with Wilson, Mason and Partners), 20,000 square meters of plant, laboratories and offices 300, 1965
- Pfizer pharmaceutical center (with Wilson, Mason and Partners), 8,000 square meters of offices, 1965
- Squibb industrial offices (with Wilson, Mason and Partners), 7,000 square meters offices, 1965
- Shopping center of the Iranian army, 20,000 square meters in 3 floors plus basement level, 1966
- Telecommunication and earth satellite station for Northup Page Communications, 1970
Master Plans
- Comprehensive master plan of Tehran (with Gruen Associates), 25 years growth plan and policies, capital improvement program, land use and development controls regarding direction of growth for capital of 5.5 million population, arranged in 10 linear towns along an east-west axis, major rejuvenation of residential and southern sectors of Tehran
- Lavizan New Town, Master plan of 3,200 hectares for 280,000 population community on east axis of Tehran, 1977
- Kan New Town, Middle and upper income community of 260,000 population on 4,000 hectares on the west axis of Tehran, 1977
- Sarcheshmeh Community, 2,500 units, Residential development for the copper mining industries staff, 1978
- Khaneh Community Development
· Isfahan, 140 hectare development for a community of 15,000 persons, 1978
· Darya, Resort community on 250 hectares extensive beach from
· Karaj, Second home community for 700 single family units on 63 hectares, 1977
- Greater Tehran Parking Study, Study of the potential for development of underground public parking structures in major squares throughout central Tehran, 1969
- Note1, between years 1950 and 1965 construction of 100 houses for friends and family. Some of these houses have been destroyed. Residence of the Belgian Ambassador still exists.
- Note2, Since 1955 up to 1970, all now basic work for Oil Operating Company (Consortium), as schools, houses, clubs houses, hospital, clinics, etc. has been designed and built by AFFA and Wilson & Masons of London.
- Note3, Designed but not built, New Tehran International Airport-Terminal Building and about 100 different support facilities, (in collaboration with T.A.M.S New York), Construction of runways, started in 1978
- Air Force Academy near Isfahan (in collaboration with S.O.M Chicago Office)
- Royal House Society and Hippodrome
- Central Bank of Iran and Crown Jewels Museum in Abbas-abad, Tehran
Shiraz
Shiraz may refer to:* Shiraz, Iran, a city in Iran* Shiraz County, an administrative subdivision of Iran* Vosketap, Armenia, formerly called ShirazPeople:* Hovhannes Shiraz, Armenian poet* Ara Shiraz, Armenian sculptor...
, 1920) is an Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
ian architect, offspring of Persian
Persian people
The Persian people are part of the Iranian peoples who speak the modern Persian language and closely akin Iranian dialects and languages. The origin of the ethnic Iranian/Persian peoples are traced to the Ancient Iranian peoples, who were part of the ancient Indo-Iranians and themselves part of...
nobleman Abdol Hossein Mirza Farmanfarma
Abdol Hossein Mirza Farmanfarma
Prince Abdol-Hossein Mirza was one of the most prominent Qajar princes, and one of the most influential politicians of his time in Persia. He was born to Prince Nosrat Dowleh Firouz Mirza 1859, and died in November 1939 at the age of 80. He was the 16th grandson of the Qajar crown prince Abbas...
and a member of the Qajar dynasty of Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
.
In 1976, the company known as AFFA - Abdol Aziz Farman-Farmaian and Associates was created for the design of the Azadi Stadium
Azadi Stadium
The Azadi Stadium formerly Aryamehr Stadium is Iran's national stadium and the largest in the country. The Azadi stadium officially has a capacity of 100,000 people and was built to host the 1974 Asian Games...
.
Biography
Abdol Aziz Farman-Farmaian was born is Shiraz in 1920 as the tenth son to Prince Abdol Hossein Mirza Farman-Farma, at the time Governor General of the province of Shiraz.In 1928, at the age of 8 he was sent to school in France, where he remained for his primary, and secondary school at Lyée Michelet in Paris until 1938. A brief trip to Iran during the short summer of 1935 was his first contact as an adolescent with his family.
His Baccalaureate degree was received in 1938. Abdol Aziz Farman-Farmaian and three other brothers were extremely lucky that their father, Prince Abdol Hossein Mirza, Had organized for them as guardian Mr. Desiré Roustan a leading French philosopher and writer. They in fact owe to him a happy childhood and excellent education away from home.
Architectural studies were initiated in the Ecole Speciale d’Architecture, where he started to prepare for the Beaux Arts School. The onset of WWII broke the continuity of his studies and had to leave for Iran in 1940 where he stayed until 1945. During this period of worldwide uncertainty he worked at different jobs such as: Teheran Municipality, Karnsaks, and the Ministry of Culture (Vezarate Pishehonar).
In 1942 he married with Leila Gharagozlou and formed a family having a son.
After the end of WWII Abdol Aziz Farman-Farmaian came back to Paris with his family to continue his studies and was admitted at the Atelier of Mr. Nicot at the world famous Ecole des Beaux Arts where he received his degree in 1950. The final project presented as his thesis was the design for a modern caravanserai to be situated in southern Iran. This project received the prize for “the best thesis (diploma) of the year.”
In 1950 Abdol Aziz Farman-Farmaian moved back to Teheran for good until 1979, where he proceeded to create one of Iran’s most important modern-day architectural legacies.
The initial years- The Razmara period followed by the Mossadegh years- where marked by an unstable political and economical situation. Abdol Aziz Farman-Farmaian started to work as a civil servant at the university of Teheran in the Department of Construction where he became departmental director after a few years. During the same period he was given a professorial chair at the Teheran University school of Architecture (Daneshkadeh Honarhaie Ziba), where he taught students architecture until 1957-8.
In 1954 Abdol Aziz Farman-Farmaian was admitted by the “Plan Organization” as a recognized consultant, At this time when Abdol Aziz Farman-Farmaian designed numerous private residences for his extended relatives, friends and clients. The legal entity that was set up was known as “Moassessehye Abdol Aziz Farman-Farmaian.” In 1976, the company known as “AFFA” Abdol Aziz Farman-Farmaian and Associates was created for the design of the Stadium and in accordance with the directive of the Plan Organization to be associated with younger architects. The new associates were belonged to Mr. Reza Majd and Mr. Farokh Hirbod both graduates from first class American universities. AFFA's associates were increased with the years.
He permanently moved to Paris in 1980 and still lives there today. He is also in close contact with his partner Reza Majd, who still practiced architecture until recently in Palma, Mallorca, Spain.
Project List
In 1975 AFFA's rating in the plan organization was ranked first in Iran as a design and engineering consultant organization.WORKS:
Office Buildings
- Ministry of Agriculture, 22 story headquarters office building, 1976
- National Iranian Oil Company Headquarters (in collaboration with Yahya Etehadieh), 13 story office in Tehran, 1961
- Telecommunication Center, 2 story tower in Tehran (sub-contract from Aneg), 1974
- Ministry of Roads, 14 story headquarter building, 1959
- National Iranian Television Center, Studios, offices and other facilities in Tehran, 1972
- Beh Shahr Group Office, Offices and other facilities, 1969
- Khaneh Center Commercial Complex, 3 three-story towers of 200,000 square metes half finished,
- Bank Saderat Isfahan Branch Office, Banking facilities, 1978
- Bank Kar Building, 23 story building offices, 1960
- Bank Etebarat/Credit Lyonnais, Offices and banking facilities, 1968
- Oil Consortium Head Offices (in collaboration with Wilson, Mason and Partners), 8 story office building, 1960
- Cement Company Office, Built at the Plant, 1960
Teheran Olympic Center
- Track and field and football stadium, 100,000 seat stadium with all related facilities with an artificial lake at the north of the complex, 1970
- Multi purpose covered stadium (in collaboration with S.O.M San Francisco), 12,000 seat, 1979
- Covered swimming and diving pool (in collaboration with S.O.M San Francisco), 3000 seat, 1974
- Office Building and press center, 1974
- Shooting range, Hand gun and riles, 1974
- Trap shooting range, 1974
- Out door training fields, Hockey, track and field, 1974
- Out door tennis court and field hockey, For training purposes, 1974
- Connecting roads and bridges to main Karaj road, 1974
Hosting Projects
- Saman 1 apartment building, Two 22 story towers with 170 apartment units, 1970
- Saman 2 tower apartment building, 3 thirteen story towers, totaling 400 apartments, 1972
- Vanak Park Apartment Complex, 4 towards (6 & 20 story each), 1978
- Sarcheshmeh housing complex, 2,500 building units of single family housing for the copper mining industry employees, 1978
- Polyacr residential community, Employee housing in 154 units, 1978
- Bid Boland housing project (U.I.O.E) (in collaboration with Yahya Etehadieh), 500 units of lousing for the gas pumping station workers, 1968
- Khaneh Karaj, Different housing types recreational community, 1977
- Darya, Second Home Community 700 single family, 1977
- Isfahan, Single family detached homes, townhouses, and apartments, 1978
Palaces
- New Niavaran Palace, 1967
- Old Niavaran Palace renovation, 1967
- Queen Mothe's Sad-abad residence, 1972
- Prince Mahmoud Reza's Sad-abad residence, 1965
Airports
- Mehr-abad Airport Expansions Program
· Apron, 38 aircraft positions with underground service road and underpass network, 1972
· Terminal N02, International passenger service facility, 1972
· Terminal N03, Facilities for Hajji Pilgrims leaving and returning, 1970
· Terminal N04, International passenger service facility, 1974
· Government Pavilion, Reception areas, lounges, kitchen, and dining facilities
Educational Buildings, 1978
- Iran education project (in collaboration with Scandiacnsuk Intl-World Bank Project), Master planning, site selection, design and construction of 49 schools and colleges in 19 cities and towns in Iran, 1974
- University of Tehran
- Tehran School of engineering laboratories, Electro mechanical laboratories, 1965
- Atomic Energy Project for University of Tehran, 1965
- Technical school auditorium, 500 Seats, 1965
- School of agriculture hydraulics laboratories, 1958
- School of agriculture residential facilities, 1960
- School of veterinary sciences clinics, 1967
- School of science atomic research center, 1959
- Residential buildings for students in Amir-abad, 1959
- Restaurants for students in Amir-abad
Health and Hospital
- Social Welfare Organization, Office building in 5 stories, 1964
- University of Ahwaz Hospital, 300 bed facility with doctors' training center, 1965
- Iranian army general hospital, Tehran, 200 bed hospital with a major surgical department, 1968
- Hospital, Abadan (in collaboration with Wilson, Mason and Partners), 250 bed facility with orthopedics and rehabilitation center, 1959
Miscellaneous
- Carpet Museum, 2 floors including exhibition hall, research library and carpet treatment facilities, 1978
- Iranian Pavilion, EXO 67, 8,000 square meter exhibition hall in a building with blue Isfahan tile exterior, 1957
- PIT postal sorting center (with the UK General Post Office), Automated central mail sorting complex, 1975
- Shemshak ski resort hotel, 30 rooms with sport resort facilities plus restaurant and locker rooms
Industrial Buildings
- Arj industrial complexes, 20,000 square meter factory and shop facility plus 5,000 square meters of office space units of staff apartments, 1965
- Darou Pakhsh Group Pharmaceutical Plan (with Wilson, Mason and Partners), 20,000 square meters of plant, laboratories and offices 300, 1965
- Pfizer pharmaceutical center (with Wilson, Mason and Partners), 8,000 square meters of offices, 1965
- Squibb industrial offices (with Wilson, Mason and Partners), 7,000 square meters offices, 1965
- Shopping center of the Iranian army, 20,000 square meters in 3 floors plus basement level, 1966
- Telecommunication and earth satellite station for Northup Page Communications, 1970
Master Plans
- Comprehensive master plan of Tehran (with Gruen Associates), 25 years growth plan and policies, capital improvement program, land use and development controls regarding direction of growth for capital of 5.5 million population, arranged in 10 linear towns along an east-west axis, major rejuvenation of residential and southern sectors of Tehran
- Lavizan New Town, Master plan of 3,200 hectares for 280,000 population community on east axis of Tehran, 1977
- Kan New Town, Middle and upper income community of 260,000 population on 4,000 hectares on the west axis of Tehran, 1977
- Sarcheshmeh Community, 2,500 units, Residential development for the copper mining industries staff, 1978
- Khaneh Community Development
· Isfahan, 140 hectare development for a community of 15,000 persons, 1978
· Darya, Resort community on 250 hectares extensive beach from
· Karaj, Second home community for 700 single family units on 63 hectares, 1977
- Greater Tehran Parking Study, Study of the potential for development of underground public parking structures in major squares throughout central Tehran, 1969
- Note1, between years 1950 and 1965 construction of 100 houses for friends and family. Some of these houses have been destroyed. Residence of the Belgian Ambassador still exists.
- Note2, Since 1955 up to 1970, all now basic work for Oil Operating Company (Consortium), as schools, houses, clubs houses, hospital, clinics, etc. has been designed and built by AFFA and Wilson & Masons of London.
- Note3, Designed but not built, New Tehran International Airport-Terminal Building and about 100 different support facilities, (in collaboration with T.A.M.S New York), Construction of runways, started in 1978
- Air Force Academy near Isfahan (in collaboration with S.O.M Chicago Office)
- Royal House Society and Hippodrome
- Central Bank of Iran and Crown Jewels Museum in Abbas-abad, Tehran
External links
- Abdol Aziz Farman Farmaian. Biography.
- The Qajar (Kadjar) Pages
- Qajars Dynasty Turkoman dynasty of the Shahs of Persia
Sources
- Daughter of Persia; Sattareh Farman FarmaianSattareh Farman FarmaianSattāreh Farmānfarmā'iān is one of the daughters of Persian nobleman Abdol Hossein Mirza Farmanfarma of the Qajar dynasty.Sattareh Farman-Farmaian, daughter of Abdol Hossein Mirza Farmanfarma , prince of the Qajar dynasty, and Massumeh , was born in Shiraz, Iran, in 1921, the fifteenth of...
with Dona Munker; Crown Publishers, Inc.,New York,1992