The Czechoslovakian Architects and Engineers of Reza Shah Pahlavi

From 1932 to 1948, architects and engineers from the First Republic of Czechoslovakia, working under Skoda Works of Plzen, partnered with the Iranian government led by Reza Shah Pahlavi to support the country's ambitious modernization program. This collaboration focused on expanding industrial enterprises across key sectors, including electrical, agricultural, defense, and railway infrastructure. Alongside Scandinavian engineers from Kampsax and British experts from Anglo-Persian Oil, the Czechoslovakians became instrumental in shaping the industrial landscape of modern Iran. During this period, two Czechoslovak architects—Leopold Czihal and Stanislav Suva—who were strong proponents of the Vienna School of Architecture, worked closely with Reza Shah and Iran’s emerging architectural talent, including Mohsen Foroughi and Eugene Aftandilian. Drawing on the rationalist principles of Modernism and the legacy of Achaemenid architecture, they sought to create a distinct architectural identity for Iran. Their collaboration led to the design of iconic buildings such as the Ministry of War, the Ramsar Casino, the Palace of Justice, and the Ministry of Finance—structures that laid the groundwork for modern Iranian architecture. Based on research conducted by Reza Alirezaieyan for a book recently published by the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic, this presentation will, for the first time, present this remarkable history in detail.Reza Alirezaieyan is an Iranian architectural historian residing in Dallas, United States. One might say he was destined to study the history of Iranian industry and architecture: on his father’s side, his ancestors helped construct oil refineries in Abadan, while on his mother’s, they participated in building the Trans-Iranian Railway. He has long been dedicated to investigating and documenting the pivotal transformation of Iranian architecture, and his unique perspective—merging technical expertise with a passion for history—offers a fresh and invaluable insight into a key period of Iran’s past.