Children’s Music Academy

(Iran Mall – Former Representative of Philharmonie de Paris)

Vision and the Inception of a Dream

This project was not merely the design of an educational space, but an ambitious effort to establish an international cultural hub in the heart of the massive Iran Mall complex in Tehran. The goal was to found a specialized music academy for children aged 5 to 16, intended to operate as the official representative and Tehran branch of the “Philharmonie de Paris”—a title that, in itself, defined the design expectations and standards at the highest possible level.

Collaboration Structure and Design Challenges

In this macro structure, the “Avista” company acted as the senior consultant and main coordinator with the French designers. Our team’s critical and sensitive responsibility in this midst was to translate the high-level concepts of the Philharmonie into the language of interior architecture and to prepare detailed executive drawings (Phase 2) for a space spanning 3,126 square meters.

Our main challenge was creating a delicate balance: on one hand, we had to remain faithful to the stringent acoustic and design standards required by the French side and Avista; on the other hand, we needed to align these designs with construction limitations, available materials, and the project budget in Iran. Every detail required multilateral approval from Avista’s technical team and the client before entering the execution phase.

Design Philosophy: A Space for Discovery and Creativity

As a specialized day school, our goal was to create a space that transcended a dry educational environment; a space that invited children to explore the world of sound and rhythm. Looking at the final renders, one can see how we strove to breathe the sense of movement and dynamism of music into the architectural fabric by using fluid and organic forms in the main lobby and voids.

The project’s physical program was envisioned to be highly diverse. The entrance began with a specialized retail space for musical instruments to instill a sense of professionalism from the outset. Inside, in addition to administrative and support spaces, modern social zones like a café and restaurant were planned for the interaction of parents and students.

The pinnacle of the design art manifested in the educational spaces, where we created a unique atmosphere for each music genre: from the main auditorium with its vibrant, colorful tiered seating, to dignified classical classrooms, modern contemporary music studios with bold lighting, and spaces designed for group practice and traditional music.

Project Outcome and an Enduring Experience

The design phase was successfully completed with the approval of all stakeholders, and construction operations proceeded at a good pace, reaching approximately 40% physical progress. However, unfortunately, political turmoil and the intensification of international sanctions led to the revocation of the Philharmonie de Paris representative status and eventually the complete halt of construction operations.

Although this project did not reach final completion for the sound of children’s music to resonate within it, the intense and professional collaboration process between my team and the expert group at Avista company became one of the most brilliant and educational experiences of my professional career in interior architecture, due to the high level of technical and managerial knowledge governing the project.