Markar Galestian, an Armenian-Iranian architect and one of the influential figures in the emergence of modern architecture in Iran, was born in 1888 in the Jolfa district of Isfahan. He received his primary and secondary education at a boarding school in Calcutta before pursuing higher education in the United Kingdom. Galestian studied architecture at King’s College London and, after gaining professional experience, returned to Iran at a time when Tehran was undergoing rapid urban expansion and modernization, creating an increasing demand for new civic and governmental buildings.
\nHis first major commission, undertaken in collaboration with Nikolai Markov, was the Central Post Office, a landmark public building of the Pahlavi era. As one of the earliest examples of modern governmental architecture in Iran, the project played a defining role in shaping the emerging architectural identity of the capital.
\nIn the years that followed, Galestian designed numerous projects for government institutions and major commercial organizations. Among his most significant contributions was his involvement in the completion of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Building No. 1 in 1939, a project widely recognized for the quality of its design and execution. He also participated in the design and construction of the headquarters of the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company and the Anglo-Iranian Bank, making a substantial contribution to the introduction and development of modern construction practices in Iran.
\nGalestian’s influence extended well beyond the buildings he designed. Many architects, engineers, and master builders of the following generation began their professional careers in his workshops and on his construction projects, ensuring that his architectural approach and technical expertise were transmitted to a new generation of practitioners.
\nMarkar Galestian passed away in the United States in 1985, leaving behind a lasting legacy in the formative history of modern Iranian architecture.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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