Located in Jamaran district of Tehran, Khosro-Shahi Garden is next to the residence of Imam Khomeini, the leader of the Islamic Revolution of Iran.
The Islamic Revolution had various political, social and cultural aspects affecting people’s attitudes and lifestyles. Revolution in its general meaning is “a movement to put an old order down and to create a new one based on the public participation”. A nation, on the other hand, is a group of people with a network of internal connections in three categories: national, social, and ideological. The convergence of this three is the essence of the great social evolutions forming a revolution. Social improvements require new ideologies and principles and this happens when conflicts of ideas and discourses exist.
The aim of this project was to provide a platform where people could gather and establish productive dialogs. Therefore, the garden is called the “National Reasoning Centre”. Anyone could be the initiator of an idea and this centre values the role of each citizen in improving the cultural identity of a nation.
Project objectives
·         To create an interdisciplinary discussion forum in national scale
·         To respect the public influence in cultural and intellectual development of the society
·         To improve the public awareness on cultural, social, and historical values
·         To showcase the historical and political characteristics of the Jamaran urban area
In order to encourage people from different ethnicities and social classes to participate in a national discussion, we need to create a common language. Art is an abstract language which goes beyond the limits of time, location, and verbal language.
In order to achieve this goal, a number of platforms were created. This center could also be used for registration, documentation and publication of discourses and thoughts. The created platforms are as follows:
Conversation and Research Platform
This platform was used for the exchange of thoughts among various ethnicities and generations.
·         Library and Centre for Research: with fully digital equipment which makes opportunity for study and research in various fields.
·         Publication Centre (Press): to publish conceptual and contribution works created at the center or around the city.
Production and Representation Platform
Some of the artworks would be represented in the garden and others in the existing buildings. The goal is to translate concepts in a simple way with artistic views.
 
Experience and Public Participation Platform
This section was located at the basement level and included visually integrated galleries. The art pieces produced here would then be showcased in public platforms such as cultural centres, subway stations, and parks.
 
Historical and Political Platform
Connecting the urban fabric of Jamaran to the Khosro-Shahi Garden, this platform includes layers of soft and hard landscapes. The aim of this platform was to showcase the political and historical events of Jamaran during the past few decades. One of the existing buildings could be used as the museum space. Moreover, the entire urban area of Jamaran is a potential outdoor museum reminding us of some important historic events.