) , native_name_lang = Persian , former_names = Kakh-e ُMorvarid ( fa, كاخ مروارید) , alternate_names = Kakh-e Shams
,
Shams Palace,
Morvarid Palace , image = Pearl Palace -Kakh e Morvarid- Karaj Iran.jpg , image_alt = , caption = , location = , address = , location_town =

Mehrshahr Mehrshahr () is a wealthy and luxury area located south-west of Karaj city in Alborz province, Iran. History In 1960s the area was mostly made up of large apple orchards which was designed and built by Ali Saroukhani and owned by the members of ...

Karaj Karaj ( fa, کرج, ) is the capital of Alborz Province, Iran, and effectively a satellite city of Tehran. Although the county hosts a population around 1.97 million, as recorded in the 2016 census, most of the county is rugged mountain. The urb ...

, Alborz Province , location_country = Iran , coordinates = , start_date = , completion_date = Approximately 1972 , owner =

Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism 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 ...

, cost = $3.5 million , floor_area = , building_type = Estate , architectural_style =

Modernist Modernism is both a philosophy, philosophical and arts movement that arose from broad transformations in Western world, Western society during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The movement reflected a desire for the creation of new fo ...

, client = Princess

Shams Pahlavi Shams Pahlavi ( fa, شمس پهلوی; – ) was an Iranian royal of the Pahlavi dynasty, who was the elder sister of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the last Shah of Iran. During her brother's reign she was the president of the Red Lion and Sun Soc ...

Mehrdad Pahlbod , renovation_date = November 2020 , architecture_firm =

Taliesin Associated Architects Taliesin Associated Architects was an architectural firm founded by apprentices of Frank Lloyd Wright to carry on his architectural vision after his death in 1959. The firm disbanded in 2003. It was headquartered at Taliesin West in Scottsdale, A ...

William Wesley Peters William Wesley Peters (June 12, 1912 – July 17, 1991) was an American architect and engineer, apprentice to and protégé of Frank Lloyd Wright. Early life Wes, as he was known to friends and associates, was born in Terre Haute, Indiana on Jun ...

,
Amery-Kamooneh-Khosravi Consulting Architects of Tehran , structural_engineer = Thomas Casey , other_designers = Stephen M. Nemtin
Frances Nemtin
Cornelia Brierly,

John deKoven Hill John deKoven Hill (1920–1996) was an American architect, honorary chairman of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation and editorial director of ''House Beautiful'' magazine. Biography Hill decided to become an architect early on in his life, but n ...

, grounds_area = at the time of conception , url = Pearl Palace ( fa, کاخ مروارید;

Romanize Romanization or romanisation, in linguistics, is the conversion of text from a different writing system to the Roman (Latin) script, or a system for doing so. Methods of romanization include transliteration, for representing written text, an ...

d: ''kakh-e Morvarid / Kāx-e Morvārid'' ), also known as Shams Palace ( fa, کاخ شمس;

d: ''kakh-e Shams / Kāx-e Šams'') is an estate in Iran, designed by

(Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation) on instructions from princess

, elder sister of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the last Shah of Iran. It was built in the early 1970s and is located in the

neighborhood, in

City,

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 ...

Background

The Taliesin Associated Architects (Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation) had three buildings built in Iran which include the Damavand Higher Educational Institute (presently known as Payam-e Nour University's Tehran campus), the summer residence of Shams known as Mehrafarin Palace in Chalus (presently occupied by the local police), and the most prestigious, the Pearl Palace. The Taliesin Associated Architects,

, Amery-Kamooneh-Khosravi Consulting Architects of Tehran all served as architects for the project and Thomas Casey served as the civil engineer. The interior design and furniture was designed by

and Cornelia Brierly. The landscape design was done by Francis Nemtin. The palace was built on roughly 420 acres of rolling hills and featured an artificial lake. The building is around 16,145 sq ft and made of concrete, with two main domes and a "

ziggurat A ziggurat (; Cuneiform: 𒅆𒂍𒉪, Akkadian: ', D-stem of ' 'to protrude, to build high', cognate with other Semitic languages like Hebrew ''zaqar'' (זָקַר) 'protrude') is a type of massive structure built in ancient Mesopotamia. It has ...

" style structure, all connected by stairs and a large ramp. Throughout the structure circular patterns are highlighted. The building space included an office, living room, family dining room, a swimming pool, a cinema, a "rare bird hall", and bedrooms.

After the revolution

After the

Iranian Revolution The Iranian Revolution ( fa, انقلاب ایران, Enqelâb-e Irân, ), also known as the Islamic Revolution ( fa, انقلاب اسلامی, Enqelâb-e Eslâmī), was a series of events that culminated in the overthrow of the Pahlavi dyna ...

, the Mostazafan Foundation seized all assets owned by the royal family, including Shams Palace. The majority of the complex was occupied by a local Baseej unit who are neglecting its upkeep. The building was recognized as a cultural heritage only in 2002, and registered by the

(Iran's Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization), who took control of portions of the building due to its historical significance. Small parts were opened to the public (in 2015) as a result of pressure from the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism. It is currently in need of repairs; in November 2020, the building was scheduled to undergo rehabilitation work. The restoration was estimated to cost $8–$13 million (300–500 billion rials) in 2017.

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pearl Palace 1966 establishments in Iran Residential buildings completed in 1966 Palaces in Iran Royal residences in Iran Architecture in Iran Buildings and structures in Alborz Province

Background

After the revolution

See also

References

External links