An Introduction to the Reflection of the Wisdom of Islamic Art in the Space-Making of Kamran Diba s Works

Razieh¹ Fatemeh² Narges³

1) Labibzadeh
2) Nafar
3) Davoodi

IOI Code : AACH-AABGAB
Publication : 7th.International Conference & 8th.National Conference on Civil Engineering, Architecture, Art and Urban Design(8iccacs.ir)
Abstract :
    In the context of contemporary Iranian architecture, the issue of identity and the redefinition of the relationship between tradition and modernity has always been one of the fundamental questions. Kamran Diba, as one of the prominent architects of the 1960s and 1970s, has sought to reflect concepts and elements of Islamic wisdom within the spatial structure of his works through an integrative perspective. The main question of this research is how the traces of epistemic elements of Islamic wisdom, as a philosophical and cosmological foundation, can be identified and analyzed in the spatial patterns of Diba’s architecture. This paper, aiming to clarify the relationship between Islamic wisdom and contemporary architecture—particularly in Diba’s works—examines fundamental concepts such as unity in diversity, intuitive understanding of space, meaningfulness, and the relationship between human and place. The research method is descriptive-analytical with a comparative approach. To this end, the key concepts of Islamic wisdom based on the views of philosophers like Mulla Sadra and Suhrawardi are analyzed, followed by a comparison with spatial elements in several of Diba’s notable works, including Shushtar Nou Complex, Shafaq Cultural Center, and the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art. The findings of the research indicate that Diba consciously employed patterns aligned with the Iranian-Islamic worldview and spiritual philosophy, such as spatial fluidity, emphasis on the lived experience of the user, and the use of cultural and symbolic metaphors. This study demonstrates that paying attention to the philosophical roots in spatial design can offer a way to recover the identity of contemporary Iranian architecture.

Keywords : islamic wisdom spatial design contemporary iranian architecture kamran diba meaningfulness architectural identity