In the heart of Tehran, a mega city in Iran bustling with over 15 million people, stands the Argo Contemporary Art Museum & Cultural Centre. Completed in 2020 and recipient of the prestigious Aga Khan Award for Architecture (AKAA) in 2022, this contemporary art museum is one of the finest examples of adaptive reuse architecture in the 21st century. The vision of the Pejman Foundation and the architectural genius of Ahmadreza Schricker Architecture North (ASA North) has breathed new life into the 100-year-old Argo brewery, which had lain abandoned and forgotten for decades in the heart of Tehran in the District Twelve neighbourhood. Their collaboration has created a space that beautifully blends Tehran’s architectural heritage with the innovative spirit of its current inhabitants and visitors.

The Union of Old & New

Ahmadreza Schricker, an Iranian-Austrian architect and the principal of Ahmadreza Schricker Architecture North, was an ideal choice for this project. He recognised the importance of preserving the rich architectural legacy of the brewery, which had been neglected for so long and would have been lost to the changing times in a blink. At the same time, he understood the necessity of infusing it with a modern and welcoming atmosphere that would appeal to today’s visionaries and creatives.

“It was in a very, very beautiful, wild state of deterioration, and it is very difficult to sometimes touch something so beautiful because you can never make it as raw and beautiful as it once was,” said Ar Ahmadreza Schricker.

It moved Ahmadreza Schricker Architecture to take the challenge of finding a middle ground between the old, somewhat dilapidated brewery structure and new construction and design that would support the activities the Pejman Foundation envisioned. What followed was a careful fitting of a completely new structural foundation and framework within the still-standing standing walls of the brewery. It almost seemed like Lego blocks fitting into one another, or like the famous tongue and groove joinery that we architects love so much. But this time, it was being done on a scale of 1890 square meters!

The Contrast of Old & New

One of the most intriguing aspects of the Argo Contemporary Art Museum is the striking balance and contrast between its new structural insertion meant for the cultural centre and the old Argo Brewery exterior. Ahmadreza Schricker Architecture meticulously studied the existing 100-year-old building and discovered that many structural elements had been repurposed by the neighbouring settlements. Missing beams, an uprooted roof, and an aged load-bearing foundation incapable of supporting the new design that would turn the Argo Brewery into the Argo Museum posed significant challenges.

Creating something new while preserving every inch of the existing building seemed like an impossible feat. Here’s where ASA North took a highly collaborative route with expert engineers and designers to create the structural frame of the new cultural centre to fit neatly within the confines of the old building. The idea was conceptualised jointly by Ahmadreza Schricker Architecture and Hobgood Architects, and the structural design was led by engineer Behrang Bani Adam. A completely new foundation and metal frame structure supported 3 floating concrete floors and a 5-part roof, with sufficient floor heights and lighting for the gallery spaces.

Blurring Lines Between Art & Architecture

The modern, white, and neat aesthetic of the new Argo Museum boldly contrasts with the brick-red, worn character of the old building. Metallic finishes and neutral colours stand out against the masonry outer shell, creating a visual spectacle and a piece of study for visitors, aspiring architects, and designers alike. The contrast extends to the new structures, which are predominantly curvilinear.

Inspired by neighbouring vernacular buildings, the new roof structure features 5 pitched roofs that act as large skylights for the internal gallery spaces. Diffused sunlight enters the high gallery spaces through the open space between the old and new structures, symbolising “new light and life” entering the cultural centre. The museum also features sunken gallery spaces within the former basement brewing pools, further enhancing its unique architectural appeal. The diversity of these spaces can be attributed to the expanded usable area of the building, from 480 square meters to 1890 square meters, as a result of the new structural addition.

Creating Spaces That Inspire You to Create

Yes, inspiration makes us create beautiful places, but we also need places to get inspired from. Argo Contemporary Art Museum falls right into this loop, being the inspiration as well as the creation that further inspires. The revitalisation and stirring contemporary art wave in Tehran needs just this – a place to create unhindered. It is the evolution and the revolution that resonates with Tehranis and is a medium to establish camaraderie, friendships and foundations of a better, more creative world.

Post the Iranian Revolution in 1979, most places in District Twelve were converted into commercial spots for tourists. Decades later, Tehran is witnessing an urban regeneration, with the historic culture blending with the cafe and modern art culture through the bricks of its old buildings. Pejamn Foundation’s vision of this bygone beer distillery turning into a world-class celebration of contemporary art and culture has been inviting local and international tourists and art aficionados with the diverse opportunities it provides with the improvised activities and spatial design, bringing out the full creative potential of people as well as the place itself.

A fitting example (pun intended) of adaptive reuse architecture, Argo Contemporary Art Museum & Cultural Centre successfully renews a forgotten structure, inviting all who enter the space to explore Tehran’s rich past, its dynamic present and a future full of innovation and hope.

Sources

• Argo Contemporary Art Museum & Cultural Centre – AKDN (the.akdn)
• Argo Contemporary Art Museum & Cultural Centre / Ahmadreza Schricker Architecture North – ASA North | ArchDaily
• Argo Factory: Contemporary Art Museum & Cultural Centre by Ahmadreza Schricker Architecture – North | 2021-11-22 | Architectural Record
• Argo Contemporary Art Museum and Cultural Centre | Aga Khan Award for Architecture 2022 (youtube.com)