Navid Ganji on Architecture, Culture, and Innovation
Please introduce yourself and share your experiences and education in architecture. Also, can you tell us about Silk Road Design and Construction office and the services it provides?
I am Navid Ganji, with a master’s in project management and a PhD in architecture, along with a background in social entrepreneurship. Over the years, I have focused my approach to architecture on how to create designs based on Iran’s culture, economy, and society. To this end, I have founded several companies and platforms such as Silk Road Design and Construction, the Strategic Architecture Studies Institute of Iran, the City for Citizens platform, the Good Architecture project, and Habitān to promote affordable housing. These companies and platforms facilitate and support my architectural activities from research and design to implementation. Silk Road Design and Construction, based on my practical experience in architecture and design, has completed about 50 architectural projects in the last three years across residential, urban, commercial, and recreational scales. In every project, we strive to create value for the project, the city, and the client by offering functional and visual solutions, generating unique economic and social value.
What projects are you currently working on, and what is your main area of focus?
Fortunately, in the past two years, our company has entered medium and large-scale projects, mainly focused on the Caspian coastal region in Mazandaran, the Chalous area, and District 1 in Tehran. Among these projects, notable ones include the Haji Rood Twin Towers, TRK Twin Towers, Mehr Afza food and recreational complex (food court and restaurant), residential complexes in Darband and Valanjak. Each of these projects has its own unique challenges, such as land-related issues, narrow site dimensions, the need for unit openings despite neighborhood restrictions, as well as coastal climatic factors (winds, rain, humidity), etc. Silk Road has worked on approximately 50,000 square meters of architectural design, interior design, common spaces, structural design, and brand development strategies for all these projects. Our design strategy, based on my academic and professional experience, focuses on creating economic and social value for the client and the project, considering geographical and social contexts. I believe that after the completion of these projects, we will see new icons in the region with innovative and creative elements that will set them apart, not only in the area but also in the broader climatic context. I will discuss more about this in the future.
What elements take priority for you when designing a building?
I believe that the main issue with architects today is the lack of a holistic approach to all components of a project. This partly stems from urban infrastructure issues and permits, as well as the impatience of developers. That being said, every architectural project is a unique challenge. The architect must first focus on solving the project’s problems and, from solving these issues, create visual beauty in line with the project’s strategy. For example, in the Haji Rood project, our main challenge was the narrow site, which we addressed by creating dynamic forms, rotating floors, and emphasizing coastal elements in the design. In the Mehr Afza food court project, our focus was on breaking the routine of traditional food court layouts and maximizing space utilization, with an emphasis on the building’s exterior form, not just as decoration but as a visual solution. These are the first essential elements in design, and along with these, cultural, economic, and innovative factors are also considered to create unique spaces for each project. In conclusion, I believe every project involves three key parties: the architect, the client, and the end-user. I add a fourth element, which is the city. If the architect can effectively analyze and address the needs of all three parties and achieve relative satisfaction, the project can be considered successful.
What criteria should a client consider when choosing an architect or an architectural style?
The issue of architectural style is no longer relevant in today’s design environment. The focus should be on meeting the needs of the end-users and creating visually pleasing spaces that align with their requirements. Science, innovation, and contemporary issues are continuously evolving, and architectural design should be flexible, timeless, and adaptable to users’ preferences and project challenges. The notion of classical and modern architectural styles is fundamentally flawed. We need to understand the value a client seeks behind these terms. For instance, when someone says they want classical architecture, they usually mean a design with abundant decorations, striking visual elements, tall spaces, and intricate details. These values can be redefined with contemporary Iranian architecture that offers innovation, creativity, and added economic value. Similarly, when someone says they want modern architecture, they may not necessarily want minimalism and stark designs without ornamentation. In this case, a foreign client may perceive modern architecture as a completely functional, decoration-free building. Developers and property owners are usually intelligent people who understand the market well. The problem arises when architects fail to effectively communicate their mission as artists and engineers. If they succeed, they can generate value on all social, economic, and cultural dimensions, ultimately benefiting the entire country.
