Narrative of the Other:Approaching “The Other”, Studying Iranian Contemporary Architecture (From Architects’ Point of View)

 Iranian contemporary architecture has consistently been subject to the criticism and analysis of thinkers and architects alike due to its numerous problems. One of these problems, unanimously expressed by influential figures, is the lack of identity. Dealing with the concept of “self” cannot sufficiently resolve current issues. “I” alone, may not act on its own, and requires the presence of “the other” in order to add meaning to action. Neglecting the concept of “the other” in the contemporary architecture has brought about a state of disintegration whereby the architecture seems to have lost image of itself as a manifold issue.Aim and Research

The present study seeks to examine the concept of “the other” in architecture and attempts to respond to the question “In architects’ and theorizers’ opinions, what “the others” are imagined and envisaged by Iranian contemporary architecture and via interaction with what forces are the images shaped?”. The nature of the current study is qualitative, and, in terms of research purpose, it is interpretive. The methodology includes open coding and axial coding, so as to address the way we deal with “the other” and to generate new insight.

The findings demonstrate that the views of the majority of Iranian architects and theorizers about “the other” can be classified into six categories “namely past ideas”, “people”, “market”, “government”, “the West”, “context”.