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Tehran opened the curtain. After decades of architectural opacity, Iranians are embracing a bold new trend: apartments featuring expansive, floor-to-ceiling glass windows in living rooms, bedrooms and even kitchens. This emerging aesthetic represents more than just a preference for modern design; it is a signal of community change in a country traditionally shaped by privacy, modesty and the watchful eye of neighbors and the country.
On a recent flat-hunting trip to Tehran, the transformation was unmistakable. Advertisements for new buildings feature windows and balconies designed for relaxation. It’s a long way from the first apartment search in 2008. At that time, large windows were not common and balconies were strictly functional – used for drying laundry or seasonal storage of fruits and vegetables. More importantly, living eyebrows and landlords often ask about my personal life.
Now, living alone is no longer strange. It comes with a cultural shift that is embodied in an unapologetically transparent design. Teheran’s glass architecture is not just about changing tastes. The open facade symbolizes the desire for transparency. In a society where personal freedoms have long thrived behind closed doors, these changes show that the boundaries between private and public life are dissolving.
Iran has been carefully curating this divide since the government of the Islamic republic began in 1979. The strict mandate of the theocracy requires a facade of conformity. Behind closed doors, homes are sanctuaries for freer expression. Mixed gatherings and alcohol consumption flourished in places protected by thick curtains.
The rise of glass-fronted apartments changed this. In addition to the influence of global trends accessed through social media and the emerging group of young architects, the change is also driven by wealthy Iranians who frequently travel to cosmopolitan centers such as Dubai and Toronto. These people, many of whom are affiliated with Iran’s political and economic elite, want to introduce a global lifestyle to Tehran. Their influence – widely derided as corruption by the privileged – helped to normalize practices considered taboo.
The affluent northern and western neighborhoods of Tehran have the most luxurious towers designed for western-style living. This building boasts sprawling apartments with en suites or “infinity” pools, expansive balconies with Jacuzzis and rooftop gardens. These features correspond to the lifestyle of social gatherings and leisure seen in Hollywood films – a stark contrast to the ideals of an Islamic republic.
The diplomat I spoke to, also in the midst of a real estate search, spoke of how Tehran’s luxury market offers a window into Iran’s evolving society. He was surprised not only by the astonishing price – $10 million for a 500 square meter flat, for example – but by the number of top properties. An Iranian visitor from Los Angeles joked that the amount could buy a mansion in Beverly Hills.
This burgeoning luxury sector also underscores Tehran’s deepening inequality. For every glass-walled penthouse, a young, educated Iranian struggles to afford a modest home. Inflation, a stagnant labor market and a depreciating currency have eroded purchasing power. Renting a modern mid-range apartment is increasingly out of reach, let alone buying.
While the glass-walled towers symbolize a break from conservatism, they also highlight the widening gap between Tehran’s haves and have-nots. For many locals, the transparency of this modern design only creates a barrier between those who can afford to live like this and those who are left behind in an economy shaken by US sanctions.
Teheran’s new architecture reveals a city in perpetuity, balancing the dream of modernity with an unjust reality. Behind the wall of shimmering glass lies a complex narrative of aspirations and divisions. This is the story of a society undergoing transformation and limited by its own contradictions.
najmeh.bozorgmehr@ft.com
