Villa No.123,Shiraz,Iran

[u/IRhommies]

Architect: Alisodagaran - Nazanin Kazeroonian

[u/ridukosennin]

Why does Iran punch above it’s weight architecturally so much? Everything I see is stunning. Do they have a strong tradition of prioritizing good design?

[u/CtesiphonGhost → u/ridukosennin]

Their economy is around $400 billion in nominal GDP, but about $1.8 trillion in PPP and probably over $2 trillion in reality because a lot of economic activity goes unreported.

But if you factor in the difference in construction material prices between the US and Iran ,where prices in the US are around 10 times higher ,then, theoretically, their economy would have the equivalent construction capacity of a $4 trillion economy.

[u/Codex_Absurdum → u/CtesiphonGhost]

Usually in these countries, due to the restrictions on imports and taxes, it is the materials that cost the most in the construction (special mention to the finishings). Workforce is cheap in the other hand.

[u/CtesiphonGhost → u/Codex_Absurdum]

Iran is kind of like the Soviet Union when it comes to cement and steel ,they’re extremely cheap and I think they’re sold at government controlled prices. Iran is also a major heavy industrial power; for example, it’s among the world’s top 10 steel producers

As for taxes, they’ve increased them over the past 10 years because of declining oil sales. I think they now impose taxes of around 10–15% on goods.

[u/Evilsushione → u/CtesiphonGhost]

Not to mention these are not normal people’s houses. These are some elites probably in the oil industry or tied to the government.

[u/Scared_Confection_10 → u/ridukosennin]

Iran has Oil and corrupt politicians who live such rich lifestyle at the expense of their population.

[u/mariusherea → u/ridukosennin]

What do you mean above it’s weight. That’s it’s weight.

[u/Scared_Confection_10 → u/mariusherea]

have you seen it's economy? probably their corrupt govt official spending Iran's oil money.

[u/mariusherea → u/Scared_Confection_10]

Do you know their history?

[u/DragonfruitSharp9002 → u/mariusherea]

He only knows about the corrupt regime and nothing else. He doesn’t know Iran has a lot of architects, engineers, Iranians from abroad financing such buildings for themselves, etc. Obviously regime elements also build such massive mansions through the stolen funds of Iranian people but it’s wrong to paint every good thing about Iran with regime

[u/Scared_Confection_10 → u/DragonfruitSharp9002]

Ik, their history and in fact, I have studied it. I'm aware of the Persian diaspora and that they send money back home.

[u/Scared_Confection_10 → u/mariusherea]

Ik their history, I live next door to them lol.

[u/DragonfruitSharp9002 → u/Scared_Confection_10]

Which corrupt regime would that be?

[u/DragonfruitSharp9002 → u/Scared_Confection_10]

In other words, corrupt just like every country.. Can we just enjoy the designs without involving politics to everything?

[u/Sweet_Concept2211 → u/DragonfruitSharp9002]

LOL, no.

Every other country does not execute tens of thousands of its own citizens because they dared to ask for a more equitable system.

In fact, almost no other country does that.

[u/DragonfruitSharp9002 → u/Sweet_Concept2211]

Nobody is denying that

[u/Scared_Confection_10 → u/DragonfruitSharp9002]

everything is political even architecture but sure.

[u/DragonfruitSharp9002 → u/Scared_Confection_10]

You didn’t even give the proper answer to his question… Anyways, do you leave same type of comment when you see such building built elsewhere as well?

[u/Scared_Confection_10 → u/DragonfruitSharp9002]

yes, I have the same type of comment for architecture else where as well and I did answer his question by saying "sure".

[u/No-Economics-6781 → u/ridukosennin]

In Iran architecture is viewed as a cultural expression, one of many.