War Museum, Tehran (2016)

Designed for an international competition, the concept for the War Museum emerged from the idea of a monumental wall — a powerful symbol of defense and resilience. All museum functions are integrated within this vast wall, turning a single architectural gesture into both a spatial and symbolic statement.

The interior spaces unfold through continuous ramps and open levels, evoking the progression and tension of wartime movement. Exterior and interior architectural elements reinterpret objects of war, transforming them into expressive design features.

Visible from the nearby highway, the imposing height of the wall stands as an urban landmark, inviting visitors inward. The façade is divided by eight vertical linear openings, each representing a year of the Iran–Iraq war, giving the building a deeply historical and commemorative dimension.

At North + South Architects, we continue to bring such concept-driven and emotionally resonant design thinking to our architectural practice in Toronto, exploring how built form can express collective memory and identity.

PROJECT DETAILS:

Client: Ministry of Defence

Stage: Schematic Design (Competition)

Architects: Tara Toolami & Iman Raeisi

Design Team: Katayoon Hosseinian Roodsari, Shadi Hajian, Navid Ghaffari,

Maziar Ghasemi-nia, Tina Mojaddari, Moein Nikaeen, Amir Rasi, Sara Rasi, Aliakbar Akbari

Modeling and Render: Peyman Nazari

Post-production: Peyman Nazari, Ahmad Saffar

Graphic: Ahmad Saffar

Structural Consultant: Babak Khodaeean

Mechanical Consultant: Hamid Alishahi

Location: Tehran, Iran