Editor in chief speech - German Villas Edition
Humanity & Technology Together
On the occasion of the Launch of the Villa Magazine "German Villas Issue".
February 17 th 2022.
WELCOMING
Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention, please!
Thank you so much for joining us this evening for the launch of Villa Magazine’s German Villas issue. I truly appreciate the presence of all our distinguished guests of honor.
The past few years have been incredibly challenging for many, including us. Although the coronavirus pandemic and sanctions have posed serious obstacles, collaboration has been a constant theme in our work during this period.
We have cultivated partnerships with several embassies in Iran, such as those of Finland, Norway, Sweden, Italy, and Switzerland. We have also actively worked with architectural organizations and universities. Today, Villa Magazine is trusted by more than 600 leading architecture firms worldwide, from Japan to South America. We are especially honored this evening to celebrate our collaboration with the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany.
I am Amir, an Iranian architect and the editor-in-chief of Villa Magazine. My background is a delicate amalgam of many roots, languages, and cultures. Lacking a common ground, I discovered architecture as a language through which to speak and to promote cultural integration.
I am truly honored to be here among you tonight. We changed our original venue due to new coronavirus measures. Our initial plan was to gather in the Colored Glass Building in Darabad—a project I designed in 2008, and a fine example of Bauhaus influence on contemporary Iranian architecture.
A marriage between art and industry lies behind the colored glass curtains of that building, evoking a unique sense of place and connection. However, this evening’s venue carries its own unique significance. This villa has a long and fascinating history, which you will soon be able to read more about on our website. While we do not yet have concrete evidence that this is a Bauhaus villa, if you look at its inner and outer spaces—the glass and steel materials; the simple, minimalistic forms; and the asymmetrical spatial organization—these are key elements of Bauhaus design.
Turning to the magazine, I am extremely proud of the quality of our work—its visual experience, content, and artistic taste. In my view, Issue No. 12 is among our finest. In this edition, you will find profiles of eight leading German architects and 16 iconic villa projects in Germany, all of which contribute to an evolving “architectural dialect” and contemporary expression.
These villas are not merely second homes or escapes from city life; they are ideal settings for conversations about architectural invention. I invite you to explore the “Timeline of the Idea of German Villas” on page 5.
Is there a relationship between the historic German castles and modern democratized villas? Yes—if we understand them as imaginative retreats that address fundamental psychological needs.
This special issue also features exciting topics for further dialogue:
A call for papers and an award for research
Rediscovering Bauhaus heritage in Iran
The influence of Bauhaus on Iranian art and architecture across design, culture, and history
At the end, you will find updates about the Unbuilt Villa Award, the Norwegian Issue ceremony, and a preview of upcoming issues, including a dialogue with leading Iranian architects—an ongoing discussion on the ideology and typology of Iranian villas.
We sincerely hope you enjoy reading this issue. Your critical comments and suggestions are most welcome, and we are open to any collaborations that help us explore villa-life and villa-culture in various parts of the world.
Above all, I am deeply proud to make this work happen in Iran—a country under severe sanctions and isolation.
Tomorrow marks the Iranian “Day of Love” and “The Day of the Woman and the Earth” in the Zoroastrian calendar. I wish to express my heartfelt gratitude to my wife, friends, mentors, the advisory board, editorial board, media partners, and sponsors.
Special thanks to Mr. Stephan Reitze, head of the Cultural Section at the Royal German Embassy in Iran, for his generous support in helping us spread the word.
Thank you as well to our honored guests from various embassies in Tehran.
May this event mark the beginning of a great cultural exchange between our countries for years and decades to come.
I would now like to invite Mr. Stephan Reitze to speak and formally release this very special issue of Villa Magazine.
خانم‌ها و آقایان خوش آمدید!
از اینکه امروز در آیین رونمایی از ویژه‌نامه "ویلاها در کشور آلمان" در کنار ما هستید، بسیار سپاس گزارم.
چند سال گذشته سال‌هایی سخت و چالش‌براگیز برای همه مردم و ازجمله برای ما بوده است. اگرچه ویوس کرونا منجربه محدودیت‌های زیادی در سه گذشته شده است، اما اصل همکاری در کار ما همواره پابرجا باقی مانده است. ازاین‌روی، ما آغاز به همکاری مشترک با سفارت‌های مختلفی ازجمله فنلاند، نروژ، ایتالیا و سوئیس کردیم؛ و امروز مفتخریم که این همکاری را با سفارت جمهوری فدرال آلمان جشن می‌گیریم.
Related news:
German Embassy in Cooperation with Villa Magazine
Honorary guests of Villa Magazine unveiling ceremony-No.12
