For architectural offices, a prototype or scale model built in real size (mock-up) serves as a tool to validate a concept before implementing it in a larger project. This type of experiment offers the chance to work in real dimension, analyze materials and construction methodologies, as well as understand their restrictions and accept possible errors as an inherent part of the development process.
These investigations require a significant input of resources, including time, workforce, supplies, and energy. However, after the research phase is completed, the prototype is usually discarded, since its objective has been achieved, making its physical presence ephemeral.
The project 'The Brick House / Earthscape Studio' has been documented and is available for viewing in the gallery.
The Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts, Seyyed Reza Salehi-Amiri, announced Iran's plans to establish a specialized craft town in Mashhad. This project will be implemented as a pilot and may subsequently be replicated across the country.
The announcement was made during a specialized meeting with investors in tourism and handicrafts in the Khorasan Razavi province. Attendees included Foreign Minister Abbas Araghi, Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance Seyyed Ali Madani-Zadeh, Governor-General of Khorasan Razavi Golam-Hossein Mozaffari, Ali-Asgar Shalbahian, head of the Investment and Economic Affairs Center of the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts, the head of the Mashhad Chamber of Commerce, as well as several investors and high-ranking officials.
The Minister of Tourism noted that Khorasan Razavi is one of Iran's leading provinces in terms of tourism potential. He emphasized that the volume of completed or current investments in the sector demonstrates its capacity to generate economic activity and jobs. According to Salehi-Amiri, these opportunities and investments have created about 50,000 jobs, and the total number of jobs related to tourism in Mashhad and Khorasan Razavi reaches approximately 180,000.
He stated that the combination of tourism assets, investments, and employment has given the province a prominent place in Iran's tourism economy. Regarding handicrafts, Salehi-Amiri reported that the ministry is working on creating such a complex in Mashhad that can serve as a national model for emulation.
The Minister specified that this complex should be established and considered a national pilot so that the model can later be introduced in other provinces. The proposed complex aims to create a structured environment where artisans, craft specialists, and other industry personnel can gather and receive necessary support. Salehi-Amiri noted that Mashhad's existing capabilities can form the basis for developing a national handicraft model, as such potential is absent in all regions of the country.
According to data, Iran has 299 active handicraft disciplines out of approximately 400 identified worldwide, and 90 active handicraft disciplines are registered in Khorasan Razavi. The goal of the proposed town is to strengthen the production and sales chain of the sector, provide greater support to artisans, and assist in expanding sales markets for handmade goods.
During a visit to Isfahan in June, Salehi-Amiri spoke about the government's intention to develop a program to increase domestic and international demand for handmade products, boost exports, support masters, and create a complete value chain for this sector, naming Isfahan as a central hub for future growth. He characterized Isfahan's crafts as 'a symbol of Iran's soft power,' emphasizing that the sector represents not only artistic traditions but also culture, employment, livelihoods, and lifestyle.
According to official data cited by representatives of Iranian cultural heritage, in the Iranian calendar year ending March 20, 2025, Iran exported handmade goods worth approximately $223 million. Furthermore, an estimated similar amount reportedly left the country unofficially through travelers. Approximately 7,000 handicraft shops operate nationwide, alongside permanent and temporary bazaars, and online platforms are becoming increasingly significant sales channels.
According to the ministry, Iran has 299 recognized handicraft disciplines, divided into 18 groups, and has 14 cities and three villages registered internationally for handicrafts. Salehi-Amiri's statements also place the proposed craft town within a broader strategy for developing tourism infrastructure in the Khorasan Razavi province. He stressed that the significant volume of completed and ongoing tourism investments in the province reflects the sector's ability to generate economic activity and jobs. The Minister called for the development of tourism and handicrafts in the province to be based on its actual cultural and economic advantages, investment potential, and employment opportunities.
The Minister concluded that specialized infrastructure, including a dedicated craft town, can contribute to forming a more integrated chain covering production, display, sales, and market development. Thus, the initiative aims to consolidate handicraft production and related activities in one place while providing artisans with better access to institutional support and markets.
Local officials plan to transform the historical house of the philosopher Mulla Sadra, located in Kahak, Kom province, into a central hub for developing astronomical and philosophical tourism. This initiative is being implemented as part of an agreement aimed at promoting the city's cultural attractions and strengthening its tourism economy.
Behnam Ahmadi-Farsani, Director General of the Department of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Crafts of Kom Province, announced this plan on Wednesday following the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the provincial department, the Kahak district administration, and the municipality of Kahak.
According to data from the Provincial Department of Cultural Heritage, this agreement aims to promote the popularity of Mulla Sadra's house and develop the value chain of religious, literary, and philosophical tourism in the city.
In accordance with the terms of the agreement, the historical building and associated structures will be more actively used for cultural and artistic events, as well as for astronomy-related tourism. Ahmadi-Farsani stated that astronomical instruments are installed in the centuries-old house, and the site will be provided to a science-oriented company to conduct astronomy and philosophy events.
Furthermore, the official representative noted that this program will also strive to integrate tourism, crafts, and cultural events. The creation of a craft fair in the historical house and the organization of philosophical tours dedicated to Mulla Sadra and his intellectual heritage are planned. These events will be included in the tourism calendar of Kom province, which was approved by the department's technical council.
Ahmadi-Farsani emphasized that the goal is to present the opportunities of Kahak to pilgrims and tourists, adding that the province hopes to better promote Kahak's potential in culture, tourism, and crafts.
Located in Kahak, about thirty kilometers from the capital of Kom province, the house is associated with Sadr al-Din Muhammad Shirazi, better known as Mulla Sadra, who lived in Kahak during his withdrawal from public life. Sources describing the monument identify it as a Safavid-era building constructed from adobe bricks, clay mortar, and wood. Its plan has a cruciform configuration with a central domed space and surrounding rooms.
This house is a national heritage site of Iran, registered under number 1821. Its architectural features include a domed roof and simple plastering, while historical descriptions indicate the use of unrefined clay bricks, clay mortar, and wooden structural elements.
The proposed tourism program aims to give the historical site a modern educational and cultural function while preserving its status as a monument associated with one of Iran's most influential philosophers.
Mulla Sadra was born in Shiraz around 1571–1572 and died in Basra around 1635–1640, although scientific sources disagree on the exact year of his death. According to the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, his dates are approximately 1571–1636, and he is described as one of the most significant Islamic philosophers after Avicenna. He developed al-Hikma al-Muta'aliyah, often translated as 'Transcendent Theosophy' or 'Transcendent Wisdom'—a philosophical approach combining elements of Islamic philosophy, theology, and mysticism. His works were based on earlier traditions, including Avicennan philosophy, Illuminism, and Islamic mystical thought.
The protection of women's rights is not just one direction of societal development, but an important criterion that determines human value, justice, and the rule of law. A woman can realize equal opportunities only in an environment where she knows her rights and her legitimate interests are reliably protected.
For this reason, the issue of gender equality remains one of the topical issues under the purview of the legal system, public administration, and the public.
