Designers, brands, makers and craft cities
The people, brands, houses and towns behind some of the world's most admired design — from Isfahan's enamel workshops to Turin's car designers.
Pioneers who lit the way
William Morris (1834–1896)
English designer and a leading figure of the Arts and Crafts movement. His wallpapers and textiles, based on patterns from nature, still inspire designers; he believed art belonged in everyday life.
Le Corbusier (1887–1965)
Swiss-French architect and theorist. His five points of architecture — pilotis, a roof garden, the free plan, ribbon windows and the free facade — changed 20th-century building; Villa Savoye (1931) is the best-known example.
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe (1886–1969)
German-American architect associated with “less is more”. He designed the Barcelona Pavilion and its Barcelona chair (1929), one of the most famous pieces of furniture, and was the last director of the Bauhaus.
Alvar Aalto (1898–1976)
Finnish architect and designer whose warm, human modernism sought harmony with nature — from bent-plywood furniture to the Paimio Sanatorium.
Zaha Hadid (1950–2016)
Iraqi-British architect known for fluid, dynamic forms that moved the boundaries of architecture and interiors; in 2004 she became the first woman to win the Pritzker Architecture Prize.
Kelly Wearstler
American interior designer known for bold, eclectic and luxurious interiors — rich textures, strong colour and contemporary art — for hotels and homes.
Houshang Seyhoun (1920–2014)
Iranian architect and painter who combined modern architecture with Iranian identity and geometry; he designed memorials including the tombs of Avicenna in Hamadan, Omar Khayyam in Nishapur and Nader Shah in Mashhad.
Hossein Amanat (born 1942)
Iranian architect who designed Tehran's Azadi Tower, completed in 1971.
Furniture brands worth knowing
Knowing before choosing: four very different approaches to furniture, from affordable flat-pack to Italian luxury and Iranian craft.
IKEA
Founded in 1943 by Ingvar Kamprad. Affordable, flat-pack furniture, home goods and decoration — “democratic design” for everyone.
Fendi Casa
The home collection of the Roman fashion house Fendi (founded 1925): furniture and decoration with the same finesse as its fashion — leather, silk and gold details.
Muuto
Modern Scandinavian design, founded in 2006. The name comes from the Finnish “muutos”, a new perspective: minimal furniture, soft colours and organic forms.
Iran Mobl
Iranian furniture that joins industry with Iranian handcraft — from classic styles to modern minimal, with Iranian walnut and beech.
Famous names in glass, porcelain, jewellery and cars
Murano glass
Glassmakers were moved to the island of Murano in 1291; it remains a centre of art glass.
Meissen
Made the first European hard-paste porcelain, beginning in 1710.
Wedgwood
Pottery founded in 1759, famous for its Jasperware.
Baccarat
Crystal maker founded in 1764.
Tiffany & Co.
Jewellery house founded in 1837.
Cartier
Jewellery and watch house founded in 1847.
Bulgari
Jewellery house founded in 1884.
Pininfarina
Car design house founded in 1930.
Italdesign
Car design house founded by Giorgetto Giugiaro in 1968.
Zarin Iran
One of Iran's best-known makers of porcelain tableware.
Craft and design, photographed
Photography by the ZIBADIS studio.
Where Iran's decorative crafts are made
Isfahan
Minakari enamel, qalamkar block printing, khatam, tilework, metal engraving and carpets.
Shiraz
Khatam inlay.
Kashan
Carpets, historic tile-making and rosewater.
Tabriz
One of the great carpet-weaving centres.
Kerman
Carpets and pateh embroidery.
Yazd
Termeh, a fine woven textile.
Lalejin (Hamadan)
Iran's best-known pottery town.
Zanjan
Malileh silver filigree and hand-made knives.
Nishapur
Turquoise.