The Niavaran Palace Complex ( fa, مجموعه کاخ نیاوران – ''Majmue ye Niāvarān'') is a historical palace complex situated in
Shemiran
Shemirān ( fa, شمیران, , also Romanized as Shemīrān or Šemirân), also known as Shemirānāt ( fa, شمیرانات ) is the capital of Shemiranat County, Tehran Province, Iran, but is actually located just north of the borders of Teh ...
(northern
Tehran
Tehran (; fa, تهران ) is the largest city in Tehran Province and the capital of Iran. With a population of around 9 million in the city and around 16 million in the larger metropolitan area of Greater Tehran, Tehran is the most popul ...
),
Iran
Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkmeni ...
. It consists of several palace buildings and monuments dating back to the
Qajar
Qajar Iran (), also referred to as Qajar Persia, the Qajar Empire, '. Sublime State of Persia, officially the Sublime State of Iran ( fa, دولت علیّه ایران ') and also known then as the Guarded Domains of Iran ( fa, ممالک م ...
and
Pahlavi eras.
History
The complex traces its origin to a garden in the region of
Niavaran
Niavaran ( fa, نياوران) is an affluent and upperclass district in the north of Tehran. Bordering leafy, uphill-winding Darband Street, it can be reached from Tajrish Square, and is close to Darabad at the far north-eastern corner of Gre ...
, which was used as a summer residence by
Fath-Ali Shah (1772–1834) of the
Qajar dynasty.
A pavilion was built in the garden by the order of
Naser ed Din Shah (1831–1896) of the same dynasty, which was initially referred to as ''Niavaran'', and was later renamed ''
Saheb Qaranie''. The
pavilion
In architecture, ''pavilion'' has several meanings:
* It may be a subsidiary building that is either positioned separately or as an attachment to a main building. Often it is associated with pleasure. In palaces and traditional mansions of Asia ...
of
Ahmad Shah Qajar
Ahmad Shah Qajar ( fa, احمد شاه قاجار; 21 January 1898 – 21 February 1930) was Shah of Persia (Iran) from 16 July 1909 to 15 December 1925, and the last ruling member of the Qajar dynasty.
Ahmad Shah was born in Tabriz on 21 Januar ...
(1898–1930) was built in the late Qajar period.
During the reign of the
Pahlavi Dynasty, a new
palace named ''Niavaran'' was built for the imperial family of
Mohammad Reza Shah (1919–1980). The palace was designed in 1958 and completed in 1967. It served a variety of purposes for the imperial court including as a home for the Shah and Empress as well a place to entertain visiting foreign heads of state. On New Year's Eve 1977, the reception and state banquet for US President
Jimmy Carter
James Earl Carter Jr. (born October 1, 1924) is an American politician who served as the 39th president of the United States from 1977 to 1981. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as the 76th governor of Georgia from 1 ...
took place here.
The Shah and Empress left basically everything behind when they left Iran in January 1979. All of the peripheral buildings of the Saheb Qaranie, with the exception of the Ahmad Shahi Pavilion, were demolished, and the present-day structures were built to the north of the Saheb Qaranie. The Ahmad Shahi Pavilion was then used as an exhibition centre for presents from world leaders to the Iranian imperial monarchs.
[Niavaran Cultural Historic Complex: History](_blank)
Private library
Private library of the Niavaran Palace Complex is a historical complex remaining from the
Qajar
Qajar Iran (), also referred to as Qajar Persia, the Qajar Empire, '. Sublime State of Persia, officially the Sublime State of Iran ( fa, دولت علیّه ایران ') and also known then as the Guarded Domains of Iran ( fa, ممالک م ...
and
Pahlavi periods. The library was established by Empress Farah and consists of about 23,000 books, mostly in the
Persian
Persian may refer to:
* People and things from Iran, historically called ''Persia'' in the English language
** Persians, the majority ethnic group in Iran, not to be conflated with the Iranic peoples
** Persian language, an Iranian language of the ...
and
French languages, and specialises in books related to
philosophy.
The library was publicly inaugurated in 1994, on the occasion of
International Museum Day
International Museum Day (IMD) is an international day held annually on or around 18 May, coordinated by the International Council of Museums (ICOM). The event highlights a specific theme which changes every year reflecting a relevant theme or ...
.
[http://oldregion1.tehran.ir/Default.aspx?PageContentMode=1&tabid=21548 Niavaran Cultural – Historical Complex/Private Library, 25 April 2011]
Construction
The interior designing of the library was designed by architect
Aziz Farmanfarmayan. It has dissimilar features from the point of view of architecture and constructional structure, and was built based on the
contemporary architecture
Contemporary architecture is the architecture of the 21st century. No single style is dominant. Contemporary architects work in several different styles, from postmodernism, high-tech architecture and new interpretations of traditional architec ...
prevailing in the 1970s.
The building's design was materialized with a combination of
bronze and special glass. About 300 well-lit
cylinders supply the needed lighting of the library.
The library was fully reorganized after twenty five months of practical and hard attempt.
Features
The building is allocated to libraries in three separate levels; the
reading room
Reading room may refer to:
* Reference library
* British Museum Reading Room
* Christian Science Reading Room
image:5054_christian-science-reading-room-e.jpg, 400px, A typical storefront Christian Science Reading Room on the main street of a subu ...
, the main library, and the audio visual room. In addition, the library includes an underground basement for storing paintings and other artifacts.
Other sections of the library include sets of artwork, which number over 350. The works reflect parts of
modern art history, particularly the modern tendencies of
Iranian art
Persian art or Iranian art () has one of the richest art heritages in world history and has been strong in many media including architecture, painting, weaving, pottery, calligraphy, metalworking and sculpture. At different times, influences ...
in the 1950s and 1960s.
Gallery
File:Niavaran palace library (15).jpg, Books
File:Niavaran palace library (16).jpg, The first floor
File:Niavaran palace library (17).jpg, Book shelves and glassy cylindrical ceiling
File:Niavaran palace library (21).jpg, The first floor
File:Niavarn lib IMG 3447.jpg, Another view of inside the library
File:Niavaran library IMG 3459.jpg, Another view of inside the library
Gallery
File:2011 Ahmad-Shahi Pavilion Tehran 6214852688 by Kamyar Adl.jpg, Ahmad Shahi Pavilion
Ahmad Shahi Pavilion ( fa, - Koushk-e Ahmad Shāhi) is located in the Niavaran Complex, in the north of Tehran, Iran. Ahmad Shahi Pavilion is beside Mohammad Reza Pahlavi's dwelling, Niavaran Palace and the oldest building there, Sahebgharani ...
File:Sahebgharanie.JPG, Sahebgharaniyeh Palace
The Sahebgharaniyeh Palace (Persian: کاخ صاحبقرانیه) is a palace in Tehran, Iran. Built in 1850 by the order of Nasereddin Shah Qajar, It is one of the only Qajar buildings in the Niavaran complex.
History
Nasereddin Shah Qajar or ...
File:2011 Sahebqraniyeh Palace Tehran 6250140114.jpg, The Imperial office of the Shah within the Saheb Qaranie.
File:Niavaran Palace garden.jpg, Area in front of the Niavaran Mansion.
File:غروب در پنجره کاخ.jpg, The gate of the Niavaran Mansion.
File:تالار کاخ نیاوران، از نمای بالا.jpg, Inside the Niavaran Mansion.
File:Nyavaran Palace.JPG, Inside the Niavaran Mansion.
File:درون کاخ.jpg, Inside the Niavaran Mansion.
File:Kooshk ahmad shahi IMG 3588.jpg, Ahmad Shahi Pavilion
Ahmad Shahi Pavilion ( fa, - Koushk-e Ahmad Shāhi) is located in the Niavaran Complex, in the north of Tehran, Iran. Ahmad Shahi Pavilion is beside Mohammad Reza Pahlavi's dwelling, Niavaran Palace and the oldest building there, Sahebgharani ...
File:Inside of ahmadshahi palace.jpg, Inside the Ahmad Shahi Pavilion
Ahmad Shahi Pavilion ( fa, - Koushk-e Ahmad Shāhi) is located in the Niavaran Complex, in the north of Tehran, Iran. Ahmad Shahi Pavilion is beside Mohammad Reza Pahlavi's dwelling, Niavaran Palace and the oldest building there, Sahebgharani ...
.
File:NiavaranPalaceTehran.jpg, Area in front of the Pavilion.
File:Ahmad Shahs Pavilion.jpg, Ahmad Shahi Pavilion
Ahmad Shahi Pavilion ( fa, - Koushk-e Ahmad Shāhi) is located in the Niavaran Complex, in the north of Tehran, Iran. Ahmad Shahi Pavilion is beside Mohammad Reza Pahlavi's dwelling, Niavaran Palace and the oldest building there, Sahebgharani ...
File:Farah Pahlavi's dressing table.jpg
File:IMG 3360niavaran.jpg
File:Alireza pahlavi room.jpg
File:Niavaran-main-palace.jpg
File:Mreza cloth2 niavaran.jpg
File:Niavaran cinema.jpg
See also
*
Architecture of Iran
Iranian architecture or Persian architecture (Persian language, Persian: معمارى ایرانی, ''Memāri e Irāni'') is the architecture of Iran and parts of the rest of West Asia, the Caucasus and Central Asia. Its history dates back to a ...
*
Cultural Heritage Organization of Iran
Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicraft Organization ( fa, وزارت میراث فرهنگی، گردشگری و صنایع دستی ایران, ''Vâzart-e Miras-e Ferhengi-ye, Gârdâshigâri-ye vâ Sânai'-ye Dâsti-ye Iran'') is ...
*
Golestan Palace
The Golestan Palace ( fa, کاخ گلستان, ''Kākh-e Golestān''), also transliterated as the Gulistan Palace and sometimes translated as the Rose Garden Palace from Persian language, was built in the 16th century, renovated in the 18th cen ...
*
Sa'dabad Complex
The Sa'dabad Complex ( fa, مجموعه سعدآباد – ''Majmue ye Sa’dābād'') is a 110 hectare complex built by the Qajar and Pahlavi monarchs, located in Shemiran, Greater Tehran, Iran. Today, the official residence of the President o ...
References
External links
Niavaran Cultural Historic Complex
{{Authority control
Palaces in Tehran
Royal residences in Iran
National museums of Iran
Houses completed in 1968
Persian gardens in Iran
Museums in Tehran
Historic house museums in Iran
Palaces in Iran