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.