About Iraj Zand Foundation
After Iraj’s “departure”, we decided to establish a foundation in his name to commemorate his memory. This foundation would serve as a place not only to preserve his legacy of artwork but also to pass on his youth-centered and novelty-seeking spirit to other generations. While searching for a suitable building for the foundation, we became acquainted with Building No. 2. The familiarity of the surroundings held a special significance for us – my childhood home in Kalbadi House, Sari, Iraj and his studio on the 16th of Azar Street, and the studio in Darakeh, etc. However, the appearance of the building itself was a reflection of its inner condition. It seemed like a tired and weathered body, who had seen more than seventy years of life. The sun, heat, cold, wind, rain, and storms of time had worn down its façade, leaving it visibly fatigued. Its eastern and western shoulders had leaned heavily on two more tired bodies.
Finally, along with my son, Mani Zand, we decided to take on an infrastructural attitude towards this weary structure and not settle for being mere tenants. Alongside Mani and “Iraj,” who made the statue (The Woman and The Bird) into a road map for us, we began the work. The statue of the woman and the bird, which was the focal point of the courtyard and the inspiration for our design, was created using large-scale iron sheets, aligned with the scale of the courtyard. We placed her on a pedestal to serenely invite viewers to observe and explore this new place.
The courtyard became the center of our lives, and it breathed life into the building. Species and plants that would signify the changing seasons throughout the year were maintained and cultivated. As the courtyard, the pulsating heart of the structure needed all four seasons and a new spirit. We aimed for a fluid and harmonious transition, which led us to cover the pool and create two small water features. The first water feature was strategically placed to align with the location of the statue, while the other was placed in another location, bearing fire as a symbol of warmth and excitement within its square-shaped heart, enticing viewers to experience another aspect of setting and space in winter.
What was of paramount importance were the spirit of the space and its constant presence in the building. Therefore, we conceived the fundamental design idea around the spirit of the space throughout the four seasons. A greenhouse was designed and constructed at the end of the courtyard to remind us of the lushness of spring and the heat of summer during the autumn.
Sayeh Barimani – Architect
