Studio Project - Group of two - Vanak Square Monument

There was a group project in which we were to design a monument for Vanak square, one of the major squares in Tehran. This square which once lay outside of the city was surrounded by Ash Tree gardens and the name of the square comes from the Persian word for Ash tree, Van. Garden, a symbol of paradise in Persian architecture, with ponds and fountains all over it, is depicted in almost all Persian miniatures.

Now, Vanak square is located between uptown, luxurious residential areas and modern financial centers of Tehran. Most of the Ash tree gardens have now turned into modern shopping malls, making Vanak square one of the main destinations for youngsters.

I designed the structure using the form of Ash Tree as a memento of long-lost garden-paradise and made it out of tabular steel, representing the contemporary commercial identity of the square.