It seems we are on the brink of a new era, and today’s global issues demand a new kind of architecture. Factors such as drought, increasing social inequality, environmental pollution, and—perhaps most significantly—the tangible decline in quality of life compel us to reflect on contemporary architecture and seek new solutions.
In the series of talks titled “Masonry Structures,” we will explore a crucial yet narrow perspective in architecture, searching for solutions or missing elements that can provide meaning to architecture in response to these challenges. This perspective will focus on structure and materials.
We will examine five main pathways: the natural environment, society, economy, historical connections, and design approaches in architectural responses to these issues. This exploration will continually traverse historical and contemporary spectrums in the talks, aiming to clarify new paths or reveal the dark spots in today’s architecture.
It seems we are on the brink of a new era, and today’s global issues demand a new kind of architecture. Factors such as drought, increasing social inequality, environmental pollution, and—perhaps most significantly—the tangible decline in quality of life compel us to reflect on contemporary architecture and seek new solutions.
In the series of talks titled “Masonry Structures,” we will explore a crucial yet narrow perspective in architecture, searching for solutions or missing elements that can provide meaning to architecture in response to these challenges. This perspective will focus on structure and materials.
We will examine five main pathways: the natural environment, society, economy, historical connections, and design approaches in architectural responses to these issues. This exploration will continually traverse historical and contemporary spectrums in the talks, aiming to clarify new paths or reveal the dark spots in today’s architecture.
Session 1: Mega Structures
Curator: Pouya Khazaeli
Speaker: Hooman Fazli
Date: September 2, 2022
Time: 19:00
This documentary portrays the challenges faced during the initial attempts to return to adobe architecture. It follows “Ehsan,” a resident of the village of Esfahak, as he undertakes the construction of a gathering place in the old part of the village, seeking assistance from skilled craftsmen from Esfahak and surrounding areas. Simultaneously, the “Esfahak Clay Architecture Research Center,” which began its activities in the village’s old school, is exploring methods to implement the village’s adobe arches, hoping to facilitate this return through a different approach. Thus, academic and hands-on methodologies are depicted side by side in this film, creating an enlightening combination.
Session 2: Zarbeie Avval
Curator: Pouya Khazaeli
Date: March 2, 2023
Time: 17:30
Featuring: Personalities and director of the film “Zarbeie Avval”
The seminar series “Masonry Structures” explores solutions and overlooked possibilities that can give meaning to architecture in response to current challenges. We focus specifically on structure and materials.
Throughout this process, we will examine five main pathways: natural environment, society, economy, historical connection, and how design responds to these factors. Our exploration will always cover both historical and contemporary perspectives, aiming to clarify new paths and reveal shortcomings in today’s architecture through comparison and connection.
Session 3: Historical Achievements and Contemporary Masonry Construction
Curator: Pouya Khazaeli
Speakers: Faramarz Parsi and Sajad Ramshteh
Date: 5 May 2023
Time: 17:00
It seems we are on the verge of a new era, and today’s global issues call for innovative architecture. Drought, increasing class disparities, environmental pollution, and perhaps most critically, the tangible decline in quality of life are factors that compel us to reflect on contemporary architecture and seek novel solutions. In the series “Masonry Structures,” we explore this vital architectural dimension through a focused lens, searching for solutions or lost points that can lend meaning to architecture in response to these challenges. This lens is the structure and materials.
In this process, we examine five main paths: the natural environment, society, the economy, historical links, and how design responds to these aspects. This examination will proceed through both historical and contemporary perspectives in the sessions to clarify new pathways or illuminate the dark spots of today’s architecture.
Session 4: Compressed Stabilized Earth Block (CSEN)
Speaker: Satprem Maiini
Date: June 16, 2023
Time: 5:30 PM
It seems we are on the verge of a new era, and today’s global issues call for innovative architecture. Drought, increasing class disparities, environmental pollution, and perhaps most critically, the tangible decline in quality of life are factors that compel us to reflect on contemporary architecture and seek novel solutions. In the series “Masonry Structures,” we explore this vital architectural dimension through a focused lens, searching for solutions or lost points that can lend meaning to architecture in response to these challenges. This lens is the structure and materials.
In this process, we examine five main paths: the natural environment, society, the economy, historical links, and how design responds to these aspects. This examination will proceed through both historical and contemporary perspectives in the sessions to clarify new pathways or illuminate the dark spots of today’s architecture.
Session 5: Architecture from a Craft Perspective
Curator: Pouya Khazaeli
Speaker: Yasaman Esmaeili
Date: July 14, 2023
Time: 6:00 PM