Iranian architect Alireza Taghaboni has been named as the recipient of the 2018 Royal Academy Dorfman Award, honouring an international talent that represents the future of architecture by the Royal Academy of Arts.

A distinguished international jury praised the architect for "providing contemporary responses to traditional Iranian architecture, taking into account climatic conditions, the economic, political and socio-cultural context of the country and peculiarities of each project’s site."

Guyim Villa, Shiraz, Iran (2017). Image courtesy of Next Office

The Guyim Villa is a continuation of the Next Office's projects developed in 2017, which pursues ideas such as applying tension to cubic forms, creating duality in geometry, and the use of pendent structures. The architect employed a method to create a combination of a cube with the traditional Four-arch dome structures. As a result, he created the hybrid space which stands on the defining boundaries of the cube and the dome could be created.

The new annual award, supported by the Dorfman Foundation, is given as part of the RA’s increased commitment to architecture and was decided by a distinguished international jury, chaired by the architect and Royal Academician Louisa Hutton. 

Distinguished jury members included architect Richard Rogers RA, Dean of Harvard Graduate School of Design Mohsen Mostafavi, BBC broadcaster Razia Iqbal, artist Conrad Shawcross RA and winner of the inaugural Royal Academy Architecture Prize Itsuko Hasegawa.

Alireza Taghaboni has been practicing architecture since 2004 and founded his own firm Next Office in 2009. Based in Tehran, Next Office develops contemporary responses to traditional Iranian architecture, taking into account account climatic conditions, the economic, political and socio-cultural context of the country and peculiarities of each project’s site. 

Sharifi-ha House in Tehran, Iran (2010-2013). Image © Salar Motahari

Sharifi-ha house in Tehran is one of the most notable projects of the architect completed in 2013. The house features rotating rooms that adapt to Iran’s fluctuating lifestyles and offers a critical response to building regulations and zoning by-laws, was shortlisted at the World Architecture Festival 2014.

Alireza Taghaboni said that "I am overjoyed to win the first Royal Academy Dorfman Award for Architecture. I want my architecture to have a productive purpose in a country where the context is political."

"We congratulate Alireza Taghaboni on his extraordinary achievement in realising buildings of high architectural quality in today’s turbulent context of Iran. Despite the political challenges, Alireza remains rooted to the local and social issuers of his country. These uncertainties, however, do not stop him experimenting with material, form and construction, working towards his own distinctive aesthetic," said Louisa Hutton RA, chair of the jury.

Sadra Artists Forum, Fars (in progress). Image courtesy of Next Office

"I am delighted to be the patron of these new international architecture awards and congratulate Alireza Taghaboni on becoming the inaugural winner," said Lloyd Dorfman, Trustee of the Royal Academy Development Trust, entrepreneur and philanthropist.

"We wanted to champion an exceptional emerging global talent in architecture. Architecture is important socially, culturally, economically and in so many other ways. This is an exciting part of the RA’s historic 250th anniversary."

Safadasht Villa, Karaj, Iran (2015-2016). Image © Parham Taghioff    

"Its been a thrill to have the five shortlisted practises in London for the first Royal Academy Architecture Awards, and hear them talk passionately about their work, aspirations and ideals," said Kate Goodwin, Head of Architecture and Drue Heinz Curator, Royal Academy of Arts.

"We look forward to following all of these practises as they continue to become inspiring leaders in their particular locations and across the globe."

Villa for Younger Brother, Tehran, Iran (2012-2015). Image © Parham Taghioff    

Alireza Taghaboni was selected from a shortlist of five architects forthe Royal Academy Dorfman Award, including Architectura Expandida (Colombia), Go Hasegawa, Founder, Go Hasegawa and Associates (Japan), Anne Holtrop, Founder, Studio Holtrop (The Netherlands and Bahrain) and Rahel Shawl, Founder, RAAS Architects (Ethiopia). 

Alireza Taghaboni will receive a £10,000 cash award and be presented at a ceremony at the Royal Academy of Arts, following public presentations by each finalist.

The 2018 Royal Academy Dorfman Award is part of the inaugural Architecture Awards Week (3-6 July). The week of talks and events includes the Royal Academy Architecture Prize Lecture by Japanese architect Itsuko Hasegawa and discussion panels and presentations by students and educators.

Top image © Tristan Fewings

> via The Royal Academy of Arts