Presentation of the book "Le désir d'avant-garde"

At the end of the 1960s, driven by soaring oil revenues, Iran dreamed of becoming a "regional center for arts and architecture": the state summoned great Western masters, multiplied congresses and competitions, and Queen Farah Diba's patronage turned architecture into an instrument of political prestige. From this momentum was born a paradox that this book calls the desire for an avant-garde, an ardent aspiration for progress that imported already outdated models without letting a local avant-garde emerge. Based on unpublished sources, Le désir d'avant-garde retraces two decisive decades leading up to the 1979 revolution, and offers a rare reflection on architectural modernity outside the West.

The FMSH is pleased to welcome Éditions de La Commune for an evening presentation of the book Le désir d'avant-garde.

On this occasion, its author, Sina Abédi, will present his work before engaging in a discussion with Richard Scoffier, architect and writer.

The meeting will be followed by a Q&A session with the public.

About the book

At the end of the 1960s, driven by soaring oil revenues, Iran experienced spectacular prosperity and dreamed of becoming a "regional center for arts and architecture." The state summoned the greatest Western architects, multiplied international journals, congresses, and competitions, while Queen Farah Diba's patronage turned architecture into an instrument of prestige and political legitimacy. From Tehran to Isfahan, a generation of Iranian architects collaborated with masters from America and Europe, between mass housing and the restoration of historical sites.

From this momentum was born a paradox that this book calls the desire for an avant-garde: an ardent aspiration for progress that imported already outdated Western ideas without letting a truly local avant-garde emerge. Isfahan became its symbol, torn between the preservation of its Persian gardens and the arrival of gigantic industrial facilities.

Based on unpublished sources and a rich iconography, Le désir d'avant-garde retraces two decisive decades, until their collapse with the 1979 revolution. Beyond just the Iranian case, it offers a rare reflection on architectural modernity outside the West.

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About the speakers

Sina Abedi, born in Isfahan, Iran, is a doctor of architecture, teacher-researcher, and cultural entrepreneur. A graduate of the École nationale supérieure d'architecture de Versailles and a doctor of architecture from the Université Paris-Est, he is an associate researcher at the IPRAUS laboratory (Parisian Research Institute: Architecture, Urbanism, Society) at the École nationale supérieure d'architecture de Paris-Belleville. He is also the Executive Director for France of the Franco-Chinese MAGE Chair (Metropolises and Architecture of Major Events). Alongside his academic activities, Sina Abedi is involved in the cultural field and directs several organizations dedicated to interdisciplinary artistic creations and intercultural exchanges. He is also a trustee of the National Fine Arts Foundation.

Richard Scoffier is an architect, critic, and theorist. He founded his agency after winning the Albums de la Jeune Architecture, and notably designed the Étouvie Musical Center in Amiens as well as the Maison des Associations in the 18th arrondissement. A tenured professor at the ENSA of Versailles and Paris-Val de Seine from 1992 to 2023, he has led the Popular University of the Pavillon de l'Arsenal since 2011. Author of over four hundred articles and several books, including The Four Fundamental Concepts of Contemporary Architecture, he received the Architectural Analysis Medal from the Academy of Architecture in 2015.