Khuzestan Governor's Palace; Historiography of a Contemporary Building

The Khuzestan Governor's Palace, generally recognized as a building from the first Pahlavi period, displays architectural features that align more closely with the second Pahlavi era than the typical style of the first Pahlavi palaces. This article addresses this architectural discrepancy by conducting a historical investigation into the palace's origins and transformations, revealing new insights about its development. According to the findings, while the Governor's Palace was originally constructed and utilized during the first Pahlavi era, significant renovations were undertaken in the late 1940s. These modifications likely occurred in connection with Iran's First Construction Development Plan and involved a decision to repair and modify the structure extensively. These renovations introduced substantial and sweeping changes within a short timeframe, with the project overseen by three prominent contemporary Iranian architects—Mohsen Foroughi, Ali Sadegh, and Keyqobad Zafar Bakhtiar. The architectural plans for the renovation, prepared by these architects, were executed under the direct supervision of Foroughi and Sadegh between 1954 and 1956, thus transforming the Khuzestan Governor's Palace into an early example of palace construction influenced by second Pahlavi aesthetics. One notable aspect of this renovation was the comprehensive redesign of the palace gardens and surrounding landscape. Foroughi and Sadegh replaced the existing Western-style garden, common in the late Qajar to early Pahlavi periods, with an Iranian Charbagh design. Additionally, the architectural style of the palace itself was transformed from a neoclassical pavilion structure to a modernized design with elements referencing traditional Iranian architectural motifs. This renovation project, which was among the first of its kind during the second Pahlavi era, may have paved the way for Foroughi's later architectural work, including his designs for the Niavaran Palace, and contributed to the evolution of modern Iranian architectural practices. In addition to its architectural significance, the renovation of the Khuzestan Governor's Palace involved considerable advancements from a technical and engineering perspective. The palace facilities were thoroughly upgraded using innovative engineering methods of the time. Bhutan Company designed the heating system, which, though no longer intact, represented cutting-edge technology. Additionally, Mehdi Bazargan, a prominent mechanical engineer and contemporary political activist, designed the cooling system. These technological updates significantly altered the palace's infrastructure, enhancing its functionality to meet modern standards. Today, the transformation of the palace has left only the basement as a visible remnant of the original Pahlavi construction. This research thus provides a deeper understanding of how historical renovations can reshape a structure's identity, blending elements of different architectural periods to reflect Iran's evolving heritage.