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Introducing Arash Aliabadi and His Projects

April 6, 2025 On April 6, 2025

Arash Aliabadi, born in 1981, is a prominent Iranian architect and a graduate of the University of Tehran (School of Fine Arts) and Iran University of Science and Technology. He has designed and architected various projects both in Iran and internationally.
Recognized as a leading figure in contemporary Iranian architecture, he has created several noteworthy works. He is the founder and CEO of DAAZ Office, based in Tehran since 2018. Before that, from 2007 to 2017, he was the co-founding partner of VAV Studio, an architectural group that was dissolved in 2020.

DAAZ Architecture Office

DAAZ Architecture Office, founded and led by well-known Iranian architect Arash Aliabadi, is actively involved in the design and execution of various architectural projects. With a creative and modern approach, the office focuses on residential, commercial, office, and cultural developments, both in Iran and abroad.
With the support of an experienced and skilled team, DAAZ provides high-quality services that reflect the needs and expectations of each client. The office is known for its creative designs, attention to proportions and aesthetics, use of modern materials and technologies, and a strong focus on environmentally conscious architecture.

Awards and Achievements of Arash Aliabadi

Aga Khan Award for Architecture, 2019–2022
Memar Award in Iran
First place in the Memar Award (Public Category) for the “Jadgal School” project
Participation in the Architecture Biennale, 2016
Collaborated on various projects with Nader Tehrani and Alejandro Aravena

Selected Works by Arash Aliabadi

Jadgal School Architecture
Mehr Residential Building Architecture

Jadgal School

The design of this school was based on the idea that education should be interactive, two-way, and based on dialogue. With this approach, traditional school spaces were reorganized to support communication and participation.
The school wall was turned into a soft, open, and welcoming layer rather than just a divider—inviting people into the courtyard and encouraging gathering and conversation. Classrooms were designed to reduce hierarchy and support curiosity, aiming to reflect the simple concept of a school as a place to be together.
Built in the village of Seyedbar, the school is one story and covers 480 square meters. It includes four classrooms that can be connected, a library, a multi-purpose hall for events and exams, and main and secondary play areas. The goal was to make the school a community center for the village, offering education to everyone.

Location: Seyedbar, Iran
Year: 2020
Area: 480 m²
Architecture Firm: DAAZ Architecture Office
Lead Architect: Arash Aliabadi
Design Team: Mahsa Hosseini, Nazanin Mojtahed

Mehr Residential Building

This project involved the construction of a four-story residential apartment with an underground parking level. The client’s goal was not financial profit, but rather to build a personal living space. As a result, the designers approached the project without commercial pressures.
Before this apartment was built, an old house stood on the site where the client had lived for 20 years. The challenge for the architects was to transform the property from a single-family home into a multi-unit apartment. The client also requested wide, open views from inside the apartments.
The variation in interior layouts led to geometric diversity on the building’s exterior. Different shapes and sizes of openings soften the horizontal floor lines and give a sense of unity and vertical continuity. The southern façade was carefully designed to create a strong connection between the exterior and interior spaces. This was achieved through thoughtful planning, the placement of windows, and the selection of materials and façade elements.