Minarets Reimagined by Iranian Architect

Architect and visual artist Mohammad Hassan Forouzanfar continues his photo series Retrofuturism by reimagining minarets with new functions through imaginary illustrations.

Iranian architect Mohammad Hassan Forouzanfar combines contemporary landmarks with traditional Iranian houses, palaces, and monuments in a photo-series titled “Retrofuturism”. Mohammed with his love for historical buildings and technical expertise attempts to instill more respect to old buildings perhaps even see them in a new light, through his conceptual work.

While taking this in a new direction, in his most recent version, Mohammed has reimagined old minarets giving them multiple functions.

Most of the minarets that he has picked up for his series are in present-day Iran or on the Silk Road.

“As the minarets are small in area, there is no attempt to maintain or revive them, and they have been reduced to a mere decorative object. The old minarets of Iran and the region of Central Asia with the approach of industrial archeology have taken a different shape and their previous functions have changed,” he explains.

“In the past, minarets, which are considered tall structures, and which literally means place of light, were built at the entrances of cities or between main roads to guide travelers and also acted as a watchtower. Today, however, with the advancement of technology, the minarets have lost their function and are unused,” says Mohammad.

In this project, an attempt has been made to create new functions for these brick towers through imaginary illustrations, and on the other hand, their potentials have flourished.

Mohammed feels that it is much easier to revive and reimagine minarets than other old structures and buildings.

Does he as an architect wish to instill new life in these old buildings by rebuilding them as he has conceptualized?

“The purpose of redesigning these minarets is not to realize and build them. Rather, these images try to pay attention to these ancient structures as well as inspire ideas to bring them to life. In fact, minarets can be used in other ways,” stresses Mohammed.

 

All Images Conceptualised by Mohammed Hassan Forounzanfar