Re-reading Spatial Narrativity in Iranian Art Deco Architecture with Emphasis on the Relationship between Form, Meaning, and Narrative
Keywords:
Art Deco Architecture, Spatial Narrativity, Form and Meaning, Collective Memory, Contemporary TehranAbstract
The present study aims to analyze the triad of form, meaning, and narrative in Iranian Art Deco architecture in order to elucidate the narrative capacities of architecture within the cultural and historical context of the country through an examination of prominent examples of this style in Tehran. The research adopts a qualitative, review–analytical, and comparative approach and is conducted through documentary analysis, examination of architectural plans and visual documents, and case study analysis of buildings such as Radio City Cinema, the Jeep Building, and Laleh Guesthouse. In this study, characteristics such as symmetry, geometric forms, symbolic entrances, spatial sequencing, and thematic ornamentation are identified as narrative-generating components within the spatial structure. The findings indicate that Art Deco architecture in Iran is not merely a reflection of Pahlavi-era modernity, but also plays an effective role in the production of cultural meanings, the representation of collective memory, and the shaping of urban experience. This research provides a theoretical framework for reinterpreting narrative in contemporary Iranian architecture and lays the groundwork for comparative studies across other cities and architectural styles.
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Copyright (c) 1404 Nima Hoqouqnia (Author); Mahnaz Mahoudi Zarandi; Neda Ziabakhsh (Author)
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