An Investigation of the Effect of Power Structure on the Architecture in the First Pahlavi Period

Problem statement: 

Architecture and its relationship to historical, social, cultural, economic, and political factors have been well-established. Recent developments in these fields have visibly impacted architecture. The first Pahlavi period is widely regarded as one of Iran’s most important historical periods, where its tendencies and ideologies were expressed through architectural feats that reflected the political changes occurring at the time, alongside considerable advancements in various fields, making it a period of great significance for analysis and understanding. However, previous research only discusses the influences of independent factors and neglects the power structure’s role and effectiveness levels in shaping architecture during the first Pahlavi period in Iran.

 Research objective:

Therefore, this study aims to investigate the power structure’s network and its influence on the architecture during this time. Specifically, this research seeks to answer two questions: what were the key components that influenced the power structure, and how did they impact the architecture of the first Pahlavi period?

This qualitative study utilized a descriptive-analytical framework and relied on library sources, documents, and an intensive review of theoretical literature.

The findings suggest the power structure effectively influenced the architecture of the first Pahlavi period through the dominance of Reza Shah, the importance of ancient Iran, Western policies, European experts, and the growth of technology. The power structure penetrated both government and personal buildings at different levels, leading to the modernization of Iran’s architecture. These interventions created urban, social, and activity infrastructures at macro, medium, and micro levels. Therefore, the power structure significantly shaped the architecture of the first Pahlavi period in Iran.