Saednews: A Qajar-era mansion and house, which once served as the residence of the Moghaddam family, is now known as the Moghaddam Museum House. This house was donated to the University of Tehran in 1972 by Mohsen Moghaddam, the son of Ehtesab-ol-Molk, and was registered as a national heritage site of Iran on December 11, 2000.
According to Saednews' tourism service, the Moghaddam Museum House is one of the must-see places in Tehran and a historical building dating back to the Qajar era. It once belonged to one of the founders of the University of Art Tehran and his French wife. This site is highly valued for its history, architecture, and the items it houses. Let's explore the Moghaddam Museum House.
The Moghaddam Museum House is one of Tehran's historical houses. It was the residence of the Moghaddam family, particularly Mohammad Taqi Khan Ehtesab-ol-Molk, a prominent figure in the Qajar court. Later, the house became home to Dr. Mohsen Moghaddam, a professor of archaeology at the University of Tehran, and his French wife, Selma.
The Moghaddam Museum House is located near Imam Square. When walking in the area, if you're not already aware of the museum’s location, you wouldn't expect to find such a historical building. The surrounding structures are mostly modern. However, as soon as you reach the entrance, everything changes. Upon entering, the first thing that catches your eye is the beautiful fountain, candle holders, and the striking use of bright colors such as turquoise, sky blue, and purple.
This house has been praised as one of the most beautiful and valuable houses in the world by many writers and visitors. The design and construction of the house reflect traditional Iranian architecture, including elements like the Iranian pool, stained glass, and the principles of Persian garden design.
The Moghaddam Museum House is one of the luxurious homes from the Qajar period, originally owned by Mohammad Taqi Khan Ehtesab-ol-Molk. He had two sons, Hassan and Mohsen, who went to Europe for their education. Hassan was active in literary, political, and social activities but passed away at a young age. He is known for the famous play "Jafar Khan from France."
The younger brother, Mohsen, returned to Iran in 1936 after completing his studies in painting, art history, and archaeology. He and his French wife, Selma, settled in the house, which is now the Moghaddam Museum, and began collecting historical and cultural artifacts.
Dr. Mohsen Moghaddam, inspired by traditional historical spaces, prominently displayed many valuable items like tiles, carved stone pieces, and other artifacts throughout the mansion. He also organized collections such as textiles, pipes, hookahs, pottery, glass, paintings, coins, seals, and historical documents with great care.
Dr. Moghaddam was one of the founders of the Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Tehran and an esteemed professor there. He designed the emblem of the University of Tehran, drawing inspiration from Iran's ancient culture and history. Dr. Moghaddam was the first Iranian to receive the Légion d'Honneur with the rank of "Officier" from Charles de Gaulle, the President of France. In 1972, Dr. Moghaddam donated his ancestral home, along with the valuable collection of artifacts, to the University of Tehran. He passed away in 1987, and after his wife’s death in 1990, the museum came under the direct supervision of the University of Tehran.
The Moghaddam Museum House is located in the historical district of Tehran, on Imam Khomeini Street, after Sheikh Hadi Street, next to Bank Mellat, at 251.
If you plan to take the metro, you can use the Hassan Abad or Imam Ali (A.S.) University stations on Line 2 (Sadeghieh - Farhangsara). The museum is located between these two stations and is a short five-minute walk away. You can also take buses from the Railways-Park Way or Railways-Tajrish routes. Get off at the Alborz station (intersection of Vali Asr and Imam Khomeini Streets) and walk east to reach the museum.
The architecture of the Moghaddam Museum House reflects Iranian design principles, including Persian garden design. The house features beautiful floral arrangements and plantings that create a pleasant atmosphere for visitors. On the western side of the house stands a mansion (tower) built by Dr. Moghaddam and one of his students, Dr. Abolghassem, in 1966. This building is decorated with Qajar-era tiles and showcases Iranian art.
The northern side of the building features a porch with several arches and beautiful columns, adorned with tiles from the Zandieh and Qajar periods. In the center of this porch is a marble basin, which was moved here from the Fath Ali Shah Bathhouse. Water from the basin flows through a narrow stream into a pond. Dr. Moghaddam designed the pond after his trip to Spain, taking inspiration from the water features in the Alhambra gardens.
The inner and outer courtyards are separated by a wall called the "modernity wall," built with columns and tile arches. The column bases were sculpted and resemble those in the Chehel Sotoun Palace in Isfahan. These column bases were moved to the house during the demolition of the sister’s palace of Nasser al-Din Shah.
In the northern part of the inner courtyard, there is a beautiful porch with four columns adorned with ornate plaster capitals. The design and decoration of this porch were meticulously done by Dr. Moghaddam. The house also has a garden courtyard inspired by Iranian carpet designs, with a beautiful fountain at the center surrounded by flower beds.
The Moghaddam Museum is open every day except Tuesdays and mourning days. In the first half of the year, it is open from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and in the second half, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The ticket price for local visitors in 2022 is 30,000 IRR, and for international visitors, it is 200,000 IRR. Students can benefit from discounts by showing their student ID.
