The One Social Media Account Giving Me Wanderlust

The author expresses a growing disinterest in common travel posts featuring popular destinations, finding a refreshing source of wanderlust in the Twitter account of Philip Oldfield, a Professor of Architecture at UNSW Built Environment, Sydney. Oldfield's posts highlight contemporary architecture in less-trodden urban neighborhoods, offering a unique perspective on cities beyond typical tourist spots. The author, who often plans trips around contemporary architecture, finds Oldfield's feed to be a valuable resource for discovering hidden gems and inspiring new travel destinations. A significant portion of Oldfield's content focuses on Iranian architecture, particularly modern Tehran. The author notes that Oldfield's posts have dramatically shifted their perception of Iran, inspiring a desire to visit not just for its historical and culinary aspects, but also for its contemporary design, especially its distinctive brickwork. The recent announcement of the Jahad Metro Plaza in Tehran as a winner of the 2025 Aga Khan Award for Architecture prompted the author to conduct a Q&A with Professor Oldfield. During the interview, Oldfield explains that his interest in Iranian apartment design developed from observing young Iranian architects on social media who are pushing the boundaries of mid-rise housing design. He highlights their innovative use of local materials like brick and tile, reinterpreting them with advanced software to create complex, visually appealing forms with curving, folding, and twisting brickwork. These designs not only offer aesthetic appeal but also provide practical benefits such as shade and privacy, demonstrating a sophisticated blend of tradition and modernity. Oldfield attributes the prevalence of intricate brickwork in Iranian architecture to sanctions on the construction sector, which encourage innovation with local materials. He also points to a rich historical tradition of geometric brick patterns in vernacular Iranian architecture, which contemporary architects are reinterpreting. Furthermore, these designs show a strong relationship between architecture and local climate, incorporating recessed balconies, smaller windows, and brick veils to provide shade and privacy in response to the hot climate, a stark contrast to the often generic, highly glazed buildings seen globally. Despite not having visited Tehran, Oldfield is keen to explore it and other Iranian cities, noting that while the trend for innovative brick and tile apartments is widespread, these buildings are often in the luxury market. He shares some of his favorite projects, including Farshad Mehdizadeh's Tabriz Residential for its 'hit and miss' brickwork, Sahar Kamaleddin and Nima Safdari's designs in Urmia for their mix of terracotta and Persian blue tiles, and the House of 40 Knots by Habibeh Madjdabadi and Alireza Mashhadimirza, which drew inspiration from carpet weaving for its undulating brick facade. Oldfield also recommends architects like Hooba Design (founded by Hooman Balazadeh) and Farshad Mehdizadeh for their remarkable projects, such as the Darya residential building and Golestan Residence. The response to Oldfield's posts about contemporary Tehran architecture is often characterized by a desire for similar innovative designs in other parts of the world, with many suggesting dedicated visas for Iranian architects to share their skills globally. Oldfield's primary goal in posting about Iranian architecture is to highlight the talent of these designers and builders, and to inspire others by showcasing their sustainable and beautiful apartment designs, challenging preconceived notions about the region. #Wanderlust #Architecture #SocialMedia #IranianArchitecture #ContemporaryDesign #PhilipOldfield #Brickwork #SustainableDesign #UrbanExploration #Wanderlust #Architecture #SocialMedia #IranianArchitecture #ContemporaryDesign #PhilipOldfield #Brickwork #SustainableDesign #UrbanExploration