Born in 1907, as the son of the famous political man, statesman and man of letters Moḥammad Ali Foroughi, Mohsen Foroughi is one of the pioneer of modern architecture in Iran. an influential professor of architecture at the University of Tehran, and a noted collector of Persian art. He was imprisoned in 1979 after the revolution.
He was sent to study abroad in 1926. In Paris he attended the prestigious Lycée Jeanson-de-Sailly and was successful at the stringent entrance examinations, the concours, for both the École centrale and the École des beaux-arts. He chose École des beaux-arts of Paris (Paris school of fine arts), specializing in architecture. He graduated in 1937, coming first in his class and winning the prize for the best diploma.
He turned back to Iran, and taught at the various Faculties of the University of Tehran, including the Faculty of Engineering as well as at the School of Architecture, which was still seperate from campus of University of Tehran. He was one, along with André Godard, Roland Dubrul, and Maxime Siroux, in establishing the University of Tehran’s Faculty of Fine Arts in 1940 and was one of its initial professors, eventually succeeding Godard as its dean.
Foroughi collaborated with Godard, Siroux, and Dubrul on the design of the master plan for the University of Tehran and its associated buildings, including the Faculty of Law and Political Science. During a long and productive career stretching over forty years, he worked with a number of well-known Persian architects, including Ali Sadegh, Kayqhobad Zafar, and later with Haydar Ghiai.
Foroughi was the architect of numerous public buildings while associated with the technical office of the National Bank (Bānk-e mellī) and with the Ministries of Finance and Education. Architectural projects designed by him include the Ministry of Finance and a series of buildings for the National Bank including hospitals, bank offices in Tehran’s bazar, and branches in Shiraz, Isfahan, and Tabriz. He also advised and carried out several restoration and building projects for the National Monuments Council of Iran (Anjoman-e âsâr-e melli), including designs for the mausoleums of Sa’di in Shiraz and Baba Taher in Hamadan.
Foroughi established one of the first journals in architecture in Iran, called Architect.
PROJECT LIST
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Master plan for the University of Tehran andits associated buildings | In collaboration with Godard, Siroux, and Dubrul
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Faculty of Law and Political Science of University off Tehran
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House of Iran in Paris| France
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Melli Bank | Isfahan Branch
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Melli Bank | Shiraz Branch
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Mausoleums of Baba Taher in Hamadan ( ? Not Sure )