ZAV Architects (Persian: طراحان و بناکنندگان زاو) is an architectural practice based in

Tehran Tehran (; , ''Tehrân'') is the capital and largest city of Iran. It is the capital of Tehran province, and the administrative center for Tehran County and its Central District (Tehran County), Central District. With a population of around 9. ...

Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and also known as Persia, is a country in West Asia. It borders Iraq to the west, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia to the northwest, the Caspian Sea to the north, Turkmenistan to the nort ...

Background

ZAV Architects was established in 2006 by architects Mohamadreza Ghodousi and Parsa Ardam. The firm is known for an adaptable architectural approach, which emphasizes resourcefulness and the use of local materials and workforce.

Awards

ZAV Architects was named an Honoree in the AD100 Best Designers in the

Middle East The Middle East (term originally coined in English language) is a geopolitical region encompassing the Arabian Peninsula, the Levant, Turkey, Egypt, Iran, and Iraq. The term came into widespread usage by the United Kingdom and western Eur ...

and

Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent after Asia. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 20% of Earth's land area and 6% of its total surfac ...

in 2024 and 2025. The firm has won the following awards: *

ArchDaily ArchDaily is a website covering architecture, architectural news, projects, products, events, interviews and competitions, opinion pieces, among others, catering to architects, designers and other interested parties. It is currently based in San ...

Building of the Year (2021) for

Majara Residence Majara Residence (Persian: ماجرا meaning adventure) is a seaside accommodation complex in the Hormuz Island, island of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf, South of Iran. The building consists of 200 colorful domes of varying sizes and shapes built wit ...

* AR New into Old Award (2021) for Farsh Film Studio *

Dezeen ''Dezeen'' is an online architecture, interiors and design magazine based in London, with offices in Hoxton, as well as New York City and Shanghai. History ''Dezeen'' was launched in London by Marcus Fairs at the end of November 2006. Its New ...

Awards (2019) for Rong Cultural Center * AR House Awards (2018) for Habitat for Orphan Girls

Notable works

, Hormuz, Iran, 2020 - An accommodation complex on Hormuz Island featuring 200 domes constructed using the Superadobe technique. * Type-less Building, Hormuz, Iran, 2022 - A two-story educational and community center designed with adaptable spaces, recycled materials, and low-tech construction to follow a circular economy. * Rong Cultural Center, Hormuz, Iran, 2017 * Farsh Film Studio, Tehran, Iran, 2017 - Conversion of a 1930s house in Tehran into a film school and underground cinema, using reclaimed materials. * Baba Beski Tomb,

Gonbad-e Kavus Gonbad-e Kavus () is a city in the Central District of Gonbad-e Kavus County, Golestan Province, Iran, serving as capital of both the county and the district. The modern name, meaning "the tower of Kavus", is a reference to the most impo ...

, Iran, 2020 * Pedari Guest House, Khansar, Iran, 2011 * Habitat for Orphan Girls, Khansar, Iran, 2014

References

External links

* {{official website, https://zavarchitects.com/
Recorded video ZAV Architects delivering an online lecture for AIA Los Angeles
on Hyper-Connected Architecture in Iran - Majara Residence Case Study (J.E.D.I) Voices
Recorded video of founder of ZAV Architects, delivering his TEDx talk titled The Unknowns
on regeneration in challenging environments (in Persian, English summary availabl
here
. Companies based in Tehran