ZAV is a Tehran-based architectural practice established in 2006 by Mohamadreza Ghodousi and former partner Parsa Ardam. The office explores how architectural innovation can embody resilience in response to sociopolitical and economic challenges, by incorporating processes that go beyond the discipline’s conventional boundaries. ZAV draws inspiration from traditional Iranian practices of resourcefulness, such as rug-making, which transform simple, at-hand, and often overlooked resources into valuable products – embracing imperfections and the realities they reflect. This approach is self-reliant and rooted in the present – for the here and now.

ZAV first gained national attention with Barbad Fruit House (2008, featured in The New York Times) and Pedari Guest House (2011), establishing itself as a young practice with a distinct voice. In the years that followed, it became a prominent figure in Iran’s alternative architectural scene through projects like Habitat for Orphan Girls (2014), Farsh Film Studio (2017), and Rong Cultural Center (2017), working across Iran and engaging local communities and subcultures. Having received several international awards, ZAV gained wider global recognition with Majara Residence (2020) and continues to expand its international presence.

Website:

https://zavarchitects.com

Source: Aga Khan Award for Architecture