Shima Shaigan, an Iranian architect, has won first place and a gold medal in the Restoration and Revitalization category of the “2A Continental Architectural Awards – Asia.” Her design and execution of the Rozas House in Kashan secured this prestigious award.
Ms. Shaigan holds a master’s degree in architecture from the University of Tehran’s College of Fine Arts. In May 2024, she also received first place in the preservation and revitalization category at the 16th Iranian Architecture Award presented by *Architecture & Building* magazine.
The Asian award ceremony, held in Dubai, recognized Shaigan’s work on the Rozas House. The project, from design to completion, took two years.
This year’s award focused on “Innovative Contextual Architecture in Continents,” emphasizing designs that are both innovative and sensitive to cultural, social, and geographical contexts.
2A Continental Architectural Awards: Celebrating Innovation
The “2A Continental Architectural Awards” aims to recognize architects contributing to the creation and design of buildings and cities in Asia that reflect the unique cultural and geographic characteristics of their locations.
This annual event showcases and celebrates global achievements in architecture and urban design, including awards, exhibitions, and discussions among participants on architectural impacts and methods. The award recognizes the significant contributions of individuals or groups to contemporary architecture, considering the field’s current challenges, the specific region, and projects that can have a lasting impact on architectural theory and practice.
The event highlights the diversity of cultures, identities, themes, ideas, and experiences in architecture, providing a platform for sharing, exploring, and discussing professional interior architecture, architecture, and urban design.
Award-Winning Restoration of the Rosas House
The Rozas project—the restoration and revitalization of a 250-year-old Qajar-era historical building converted into a boutique hotel—involved a collaborative team including Kourosh Nayebi-Far, Hosna Shahverdi, Yasmin Khoramabady, and Elmira Ramezani. Master Seyed Akbar Helli, a veteran restoration specialist from Kashan, oversaw the restoration and execution of the project.
Zainab Azizi and Alireza Safakish, the owners of the Rozas Boutique Hotel, commented on the restoration of historical buildings and the award win: “Receiving this award is an honor for Kashan and this historical establishment. For two years, we worked to preserve and revitalize a historical building. We hope that in addition to preserving a cultural heritage, we have also contributed to the economy of Kashan’s tourism industry.”
From: honaronline