Inconsistent Perceptions of Early Modern Iranian Architecture

Abstract

The secular and patriotic character of Iranian government officials during the 1920s and 1930s, and their successes in the modernisation of the traditionally structured Persian society and government have established the first Pahlavi’s image as influential as a Nietzschean Übermensch in the ideology of Iranian nationalism. This has confused some Iranian architectural historians, who exaggerate his impact on early modern Iranian architecture. Three main architectural tendencies can be identified during the first Pahlavi period: Europeanising and modern designs by foreign architects and Iranian architects trained in the Europe; ambivalent westernising and pre-Islamic Iranian designs by tradit..