Arian Hakimi

Architect, multidisciplinary designer, artist, teacher and student. 

Arian approaches design as an experimental exercise with patterns, combined with meticulous exploration of materials, technique and skills. His vision is broad and diverse [boundless territory] manoeuvring from Skyscrapers to a hold in the hand clutch bag. He examines the capacity of complex geometries overlapping between various design disciplines. Arian probe the relationships between humans and objects, re-defining basic understanding of patterns to re-discover unthinkable possibilities.

Arian was born in 1983 in Tehran. His academic journey started at University of Pune-India from 2003 to 2005, then he got transferred to University of Tehran where he received his B.Arch. in 2010. Upon graduation he moved to Barcelona to study advanced computational design morphologies at IAAC-UPC, alongside his studies, he initiated his Design/Research/Teaching program where he conducted over 20 international workshops collaborating with architects, fashion designers, engineers and artists, including summer intern program at Zaha Hadid Architects London in 2015.

Arian’s work has been featured in various design events such as Istanbul Design week, Museu del Disseny de Barcelona, Fuorisalone in Milan also Zaha’s final fashion show [The extraordinary Process] featuring designers like Iris Van Herpen and Stephen Jones at Gallery Maison Main Non-London, alongside internationally acclaimed artists and designers.

Arian joined Zaha Hadid Architects-London UK in 2013 and has been getting involved in more than 26 projects, ranging from residential, mixed-used buildings to transportation infrastructure and master-plan development including 2 built projects and 1 under construction; Unicorn Island masterplan in Chengdu and KAFD, an-award winning Metro Station in King Abdullah Financial District in Riyadh. In both projects, Arian contributed in implementing advanced parametric design strategies and automation in architectural work-flow and complex geometry rationalization.

Diivan* is a suspended sculpture crafted from meticulously perforated stainless steel. The artwork draws inspiration from the longstanding Iranian tradition of incorporating intricate patterns into architectural elements like “Jali or mashrabiya”1. The meticulously cut geometric tessellations, transform the solid metal into a diaphanous veil, playing with the interplay of light and shadow. As sunlight filters through the perforations, it casts dynamic patterns on the surrounding space, echoing the dappled effect of “komorebi”2. This juxtaposition of Eastern and Western influences creates a captivating dialogue between cultures, united by their shared fascination with light and form. The utilization of stainless steel adds a layer of contemporary elegance, its reflective surface amplifying the interplay of transparent and opaque, reflection and flow.

Diivan transcends mere decoration, becoming an exploration of materiality, cultural heritage, and the transformative power of patterns.

*Diivan (دِیوان) is a Farsi word meaning “collection of poems” or “a hall of audience.” It evokes the artistic and cultural heritage of Iran, perfectly complementing the panel’s design.

1 Term for a perforated stone or latticed screen, usually with an ornamental pattern constructed through the use of calligraphy, geometry or natural patterns. 

2 Japanese word for sunlight, which is filtered through the leaves of the trees. In particular, it means the visible light rays.