Zohreh Sefidvash

Iran's first female architect who pioneered modernist design in the Middle East

Zohreh Sefidvash (1925–2015) was a visionary Iranian architect who broke gender barriers in her profession. Graduating from Tehran University in 1950, she became Iran's first female architect and designed over 500 buildings blending traditional Persian motifs with modernist principles. Her 1960s designs for schools and public spaces redefined urban planning in Iran. Despite facing societal resistance, she founded an architectural firm and trained many female students. Her work is celebrated in Archnet's digital archives. Read more about her legacy in BBC's tribute.