Sep 4, 2017 -  the autumn workshop of the Academy for Architectural Culture (aac) was launched. Under the title „Tehran Garden City: Designs for a New Civic Center - Shaping Public Life on the City‘s Former Airport Area“, the participants are working out drafts for the conversion of Iran‘s first airport in its capital Tehran. The workshop is led by Prof. Dr.-Ing. h. c. Volkwin Marg and Dipl.-Ing. Hubert Nienhoff. An excursion to the former airport in Tehran and further reference points in Iran as well as three lectures and critiques from well-known figures in the architecture world thematically accompany the workshop, which ends with a public exhibition of the results. 

“According to information received, two British airplanes will shortly fly over Tehran. The Iranian Government has already been informed and requested to nominate a location for their landing. The police department has been duly instructed to prepare and level an appropriate site outside the city gate for this purpose”, recounts an Iranian newspaper from June 27th, 1922. The report witnesses the first international flight to today‘s megacity Tehran. Presently, 95 years after the opening of the Ghale Morghi Airport, it has been replaced by more modern buildings. This fallow site has been vacant for seven years; however, the derelict former airfield is surrounded by urban city life. 

The topic of this year’s autumn workshop, taking place from September 4th until 29th under the guidance of Prof. Dr.-Ing. h. c. Volkwin Marg and Dipl.-Ing. Hubert Nienhoff, is the redevelopment of the former airport in Iran‘s capital, Tehran. Student designs for parts of the area shall make a substantial contribution to the conversion of the former airport area. An open inner-city site of this scale offers excellent possibilities for a megacity like Tehran regarding the expansion and densification of the city. A public park with Iranian garden architecture and four neighborhoods with different themes of urban administration, science, religion, and cultural interaction are to be created here. 

Based on a recent masterplan proposal for the area, which covers approximately 270 hectares, the assignment of aac’s autumn workshop is to design a center for cultural interaction as a place of community, communication and integration. The main focus is the culture and event center, which will be integrated into an ensemble including a library, an art center, a movie theater and a bazaar. Cultural events such as pop concerts and lectures as well as movie festivals could be held here. Moreover, it is also intended to serve as an international convention center. 

The designs developed in the workshop shall add impulse to the future and the development of one of the largest undeveloped inner-city areas worldwide. The tutors are expecting well thought-out solutions, demanding participants to deal with the necessities of a large modern city of the 21st century while considering the unique cultural characteristics of the country. The international three-and-a-half week workshop takes place with selected participants from around the world at the aac Studios on Campus Rainvilleterrasse. An excursion to the site in Tehran and to further reference locations in Iran is part of the workshop. Expert lectures and critiques by renowned visiting professors accompany the design process at the premises of Campus Rainvilleterrasse in Hamburg, resulting in a public exhibition of all proposals. 

Public events during the workshop

2017 September 14th, 7 pm, ground floor

Jette Cathrin Hopp, Snøhetta, Oslo

„People Process Projects“ 

2017 September 20th, 7 pm, ground floor

Prof. Enrique Sobejano, Nieto Sobejano Arquitectos, Madrid, Berlin

„The Space of Culture“ 

2017 September 21st, 7 pm, ground floor

Viggo Haremst, Henning Larsen Architects, Munich

„Human Interaction“ 

2017 September 29th, 11 am, ground floor

Final critique and evaluation of the workshop results

Prof. Dr.-Ing. h. c. Volkwin Marg

Greeting and exhibition opening 

All events will take place in the Academy of Architectural Culture (aac) at Rainvilleterrasse Campus,

Rainvilleterrasse 4, 22765 Hamburg.

Admission is free. 

Please register under  www.aac-hamburg.de/anmeldung.html or via e-mail  Email Contact

To download the announcement poster in high resolution use the following link:

http://www.gmp-architekten.com/news/press-release.html 



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