FACULTY OF BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

TEHRAN UNIVERSITY, IRAN

Completed 1980

The growth of Iran's industry, business and international trade in the 1970's prompted Tehran University to establish a Faculty of Business Management and subsequently engage the Architect to program and design the new facilities.
The hub of activities is a central "hayat" (quadrangle) inspired by the examples of traditional colleges (Madrasd's) throughout the Moslem world. The undergraduate classes, administrative offices and he student union surround this hayat with a reflective pool at the centre. Two Smaller square hayat's access diagonally from corners at the main hayat, house the library and the postgraduate department. The 45 degree entry to these hayat's creates interesting vista points which recall the views created by diversion of axis in Persian mosques in order to face the "Qibleh" direction. The layout of the building and the hayat's follows the rhythm, geometry and order of Perso-Islamic examples. The walls are hyphenated by portals in the middle at each side. The main entry is through the eastern portal while another portal at the south provides a transparent connection to an open space, a future hayat for further expansion.
Addressing ecological concerns, the building faces the southern exposure and the walls have been shaped to shade windows and protect them from direct sun. Daylighting has been enhanced through skylights which let the light in and screen out the heat. The buff coloured brick load-bearing walls and reinforced concrete, all from local materials, are designed to withstand seismic forces and provide required thermal insulation values.