ZAV Architects

ZAV Architects
ZAV Architects
Practice information
Key architects	Mohamadreza Ghodousi, Fateme Rezaei Fakhr, Golnaz Bahrami
Founders	Mohamadreza Ghodousi, Parsa Ardam
Founded	2006
Location	Tehran
Significant works and honors
Projects	Majara Residence, Type-less Building, Farsh Film Studio
Awards	AD100, Memar Awards, ArchDaily Building of the Year, AR New into Old Award, Dezeen Awards, AR House Awards
Website
	https://zavarchitects.com/

ZAV Architects (Persian: طراحان و بناکنندگان زاو) is an architectural practice based in Tehran, Iran.

Background

ZAV Architects was established in 2006 by architects Mohamadreza Ghodousi and Parsa Ardam. The firm is known for an adaptable architectural approach, which emphasizes resourcefulness and the use of local materials and workforce.

Awards

ZAV Architects was named an Honoree in the AD100 Best Designers in the Middle East and Africa in 2024 and 2025. The firm has won the following awards:

Aga Khan Award for Architecture (2025) for Majara Residence

ArchDaily Building of the Year (2021) for Majara Residence
AR New into Old Award (2021) for Farsh Film Studio
Dezeen Awards (2019) for Rong Cultural Center
AR House Awards (2018) for Habitat for Orphan Girls

Notable works

Majara Residence, Hormuz, Iran, 2020 - An accommodation complex on Hormuz Island featuring 200 domes constructed using the Superadobe technique.
Type-less Building, Hormuz, Iran, 2022 - A two-story educational and community center designed with adaptable spaces, recycled materials, and low-tech construction to follow a circular economy.
Rong Cultural Center, Hormuz, Iran, 2017
Farsh Film Studio, Tehran, Iran, 2017 - Conversion of a 1930s house in Tehran into a film school and underground cinema, using reclaimed materials.
Baba Beski Tomb, Gonbad-e Kavus, Iran, 2020
Pedari Guest House, Khansar, Iran, 2011
Habitat for Orphan Girls, Khansar, Iran, 2014

References

↑ Charlesworth, Esther; Fien, John (2022-12-30). Design for Fragility: 13 Stories of Humanitarian Architects. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-000-81392-0.
↑ "Majara Residence Case Study (J.E.D.I Voices)". Archived from the original on 2024-12-31. Retrieved 2024-12-31.
↑ Sarup, Pratyush (2024-12-04). "AD100 2025: The Best Designers in the Middle East and North Africa". AD Middle East. Retrieved 2024-12-31.
↑ Staff, Round City (2020-12-17). "Interview: Iranian studio ZAV Architects shares manifesto for a better architecture". Round City. Retrieved 2024-12-31.
↑ Fresku, Linda (2024). What are the reasons leading Iranian contemporary architects towards traditional know-hows? Rediscovering the sustainable and affordable character of implementing such elements (Thesis thesis). Technische Universität Wien.
↑ Louie, Elaine (2009-12-23). "Beyond the Clamor of Tehran". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-01-04.
↑ Sarup, Pratyush (2023-12-04). "AD100 2024: All the Winners". AD Middle East. Retrieved 2024-12-31.
↑ Sarup, Pratyush (2024-12-04). "AD100 2025: The Best Designers in the Middle East and North Africa". AD Middle East. Retrieved 2024-12-31.
↑ "Winners of the 2025 Aga Khan Award for Architecture announced". Aga Khan Development Network. Retrieved 2025-12-13.
↑ "Building of the Year 2021". Building of the Year 2021. Retrieved 2024-12-31.
↑ Peirson, Ellen (2021-06-29). "Farsh Film Studio in Tehran, Iran by ZAV Architects". The Architectural Review. Retrieved 2024-12-31.
↑ "Rong Cultural Centre by ZAV Architects | Dezeen Awards". Dezeen. Retrieved 2024-12-31.
↑ "AR House 2018". The Architectural Review. Retrieved 2024-12-31.
↑ "Zav Architects Creates an Environmentally-Sensitive Complex on the Island of Hormuz". Interior Design. Retrieved 2024-12-31.
↑ Architects, Z. A. V. (2023-12-21). "zav architects reuses discarded materials to form educational center in south iran". designboom | architecture & design magazine. Retrieved 2024-12-31.
↑ Peirson, Ellen (2021-06-29). "Farsh Film Studio in Tehran, Iran by ZAV Architects". The Architectural Review. Retrieved 2024-12-31.

External links

Official website
Recorded video ZAV Architects delivering an online lecture for AIA Los Angeles, on Hyper-Connected Architecture in Iran - Majara Residence Case Study (J.E.D.I) Voices
Recorded video of founder of ZAV Architects, delivering his TEDx talk titled The Unknowns on regeneration in challenging environments (in Persian, English summary available here).

[1] Charlesworth, Esther; Fien, John (2022-12-30). Design for Fragility: 13 Stories of Humanitarian Architects. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-000-81392-0.

[2] "Majara Residence Case Study (J.E.D.I Voices)". Archived from the original on 2024-12-31. Retrieved 2024-12-31.

[3] Sarup, Pratyush (2024-12-04). "AD100 2025: The Best Designers in the Middle East and North Africa". AD Middle East. Retrieved 2024-12-31.

[4] Staff, Round City (2020-12-17). "Interview: Iranian studio ZAV Architects shares manifesto for a better architecture". Round City. Retrieved 2024-12-31.

[5] Fresku, Linda (2024). What are the reasons leading Iranian contemporary architects towards traditional know-hows? Rediscovering the sustainable and affordable character of implementing such elements (Thesis thesis). Technische Universität Wien.

[6] Louie, Elaine (2009-12-23). "Beyond the Clamor of Tehran". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-01-04.

[7] Sarup, Pratyush (2023-12-04). "AD100 2024: All the Winners". AD Middle East. Retrieved 2024-12-31.

[8] Sarup, Pratyush (2024-12-04). "AD100 2025: The Best Designers in the Middle East and North Africa". AD Middle East. Retrieved 2024-12-31.

[9] "Winners of the 2025 Aga Khan Award for Architecture announced". Aga Khan Development Network. Retrieved 2025-12-13.

[10] "Building of the Year 2021". Building of the Year 2021. Retrieved 2024-12-31.

[11] Peirson, Ellen (2021-06-29). "Farsh Film Studio in Tehran, Iran by ZAV Architects". The Architectural Review. Retrieved 2024-12-31.

[12] "Rong Cultural Centre by ZAV Architects | Dezeen Awards". Dezeen. Retrieved 2024-12-31.

[13] "AR House 2018". The Architectural Review. Retrieved 2024-12-31.

[14] "Zav Architects Creates an Environmentally-Sensitive Complex on the Island of Hormuz". Interior Design. Retrieved 2024-12-31.

[15] Architects, Z. A. V. (2023-12-21). "zav architects reuses discarded materials to form educational center in south iran". designboom | architecture & design magazine. Retrieved 2024-12-31.

[16] Peirson, Ellen (2021-06-29). "Farsh Film Studio in Tehran, Iran by ZAV Architects". The Architectural Review. Retrieved 2024-12-31.