Calque Studio Documents Tehran's Modernist Architecture Amid Threats of Erasure

Calque Studio, led by architect Kamal Kamoune, is documenting Tehran's modernist architectural heritage, which faces erasure due to ongoing urban development and political instability. Tehran, located at the foot of the Alborz mountains, has a history of seismic activity and political upheaval, leading to cycles of reconstruction and demolition. The city's architecture reflects a mix of Persian masonry, European neoclassicism and baroque, and a significant modernist period from 1930 to 1980. Calque Studio's work highlights the urgent need to preserve these modern vestiges before they are lost. The project was published on September 14, 2026, with photography by Ali Mirshafi. The article, written by Camilla Ghisleni, originally appeared in English on ArchDaily. The documentation serves as a critical record of Tehran's architectural evolution and the constant negotiation between memory and erasure in a city shaped by both geological and political instability.