Shabestan, Paris

At the request of Mr. Hodjatollah Ayoubi Iranian cultural attaché in Paris, Keyvan Khosrovani accepted to serve as unpaid architect to design a prayer space in the basement of Grand Mosque of Paris built in 1924 at 39, rue Geoffroy Saint Hilaire, Paris 75005, and now part of historical monuments of the French capital. The design is inspired by Persian architecture and Keyvan’s aim has been to promote in Paris the architecture and art of his homeland. The process has been prolonged for more than two years and in its final phase, unfortunately the project become victim of UN sanctions imposed on Iran. The French presidential election in 2008 negatively impacted the implementation of the design not to mention the added difficulties related to obtaining special visas for Iranian craftsmen.