ABSTRACT
The author's own engagement with the questions of modernity and tradition in Iran began with his studies in architecture at Yazd University. Exploring the historic fabric of the city of Yazd exposed him to an accretion of architectural experiences built up through centuries of local practice. After being struck by an exterior phenomenon during the last century, however, the traditional architecture seemed to have gone into a coma, becoming rigid and setting into decay. The Persian proverb reveals the mentality behind architectural practice in Iran, which is stuck between a long history of traditional experience and what modernity has to offer. Understanding how tajaddod is discursively rooted in Iran’s culture is directly relevant to contemporary issues that Iranian architects face today. This chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.
