Images of Iran: National Museum of Iran, Tehran
The original building of the National Museum of Iran, which dates from 1937, was designed by the French architect Andre Godard.
André Godard (1881-1965) was a French architect, archaeologist, and historian who played a pivotal role in the development of modern archaeology and architectural preservation in Iran. After studying at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, he was invited to Iran in the 1920s, where he became the director of the National Museum of Iran and significantly influenced Iranian museology, restoration, and architectural conservation. Godard designed several landmark buildings, including the National Museum of Iran itself, blending modern architectural principles with traditional Persian forms, such as arches, domes, and ornamental brickwork. Beyond architecture, he conducted extensive archaeological research, published works on Iranian art and history, and contributed to the preservation of Iranian heritage, leaving a lasting legacy on the study and presentation of Iran’s ancient and Islamic cultural patrimony.