About

I graduated from the Berkeley School of Architecture and returned to Iran in the early 1980s, at the threshold of the Islamic Revolution. While at UC Berkeley, I took my first steps into photography—an informal practice that became a quiet way of seeing. I wandered the campus with a camera, drawn to the International House at the end of Bancroft Way, the Church of Maybach, and the fleeting rhythms of student life at Cal in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

My understanding of traditional architecture was shaped profoundly by the teachings of Christopher Alexander, whose presence in Berkeley left a lasting imprint on my thinking. His vision—where architecture emerges from patterns of life, place, and human need—resonated deeply. Together with the technical discipline of photography, it guided me toward documenting built environments. This convergence became the foundation of a decade-long journey across Iran, during which I sought to capture architecture shaped by climate, culture, and craft.

Over time, this work grew into a collection of nearly 2,500 slides—images that lay dormant in a closet for more than forty years. It was my son, Parham, who brought them back into the light. Through months of careful work, he digitized the archive, reviving photographs that time had softened and dimmed. With the help of contemporary restoration technologies, many of these images have regained their presence and are now shared in this gallery.

In 1997, I continued my studies at the University of British Columbia, pursuing a master’s degree in Advanced Studies in Architecture. There, I encountered the work of Hassan Fathy, the Egyptian architect whose devotion to vernacular building traditions deeply influenced my thinking. His work informed my thesis, Intelligent Intervention: Toward a Definition for the Process of Design in Design/Build Architecture, and strengthened my interest in indigenous knowledge, where generations of builders have cultivated a deep understanding of materials, construction, and climate.

This gallery is not merely a collection of images but a meditation on the values embedded in traditional Iranian architecture. It reflects a legacy shaped by harmony with nature, ingenuity in the face of constraint, and continuity across time. Through these photographs, I hope to offer a small window into that enduring world.

Credits and Acknowledgments:

Although this architectural photo gallery is presented under my name, it is, in truth, the result of a collective effort. The images featured here have been recovered from more than 2,500 slides taken over forty years ago. They were meticulously selected, restored, and digitized by my son, Parham Pourzand, whose dedication and care have been fundamental to the realization of this project.

I am deeply indebted to my friends Mojdeh Marashi and Ali Ebtekar, whose guidance was instrumental throughout the process. Their technical expertise in developing and refining the platform made this work possible, and their encouragement and thoughtful insights were invaluable at every stage.

I am also sincerely grateful to my friend Hamid Khani, whose steadfast support and perceptive perspective inspired me to begin this journey and sustained me through to its completion.

Finally, I wish to acknowledge that the photographs presented here were captured with the constant support of my beloved Mina Moubedi, who stood by my side throughout this decade-long endeavor. This work is dedicated to her—her love and memory are inseparable from it and will endure always.