Moving from Tehran to Germany at age six, Hadi Teherani established a professional trajectory defined by the integration of large-scale architecture and granular product design. Since founding the BRT office in 1991, his work in Hamburg and international markets emphasizes the manipulation of glass to prioritize light, air, and external vistas within modern spatial structures.
Architectural Education and Early Career
Teherani completed his secondary schooling in Hamburg before pursuing formal architectural training at the Braunschweig University of Technology between 1977 and 1984. Before transitioning to professional architecture, he worked as a fashion designer in Cologne. His transition into the built environment included a tenure teaching at Aachen’s Technical University from 1989 to 1991. In 1991, he co-founded the firm BRT with partners Bothe and Richter.
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Teherani emphasizes the creation of harmoniously designed spaces where equipment details and interior surfaces align with the primary structure. His methodology relies heavily on the use of floor-to-ceiling glass to optimize natural light and airflow. In 2003, he established Hadi Teherani AG to manage design projects, which eventually expanded to include operational branches in Moscow, Dubai, Bangalore, and Abu Dhabi. He has been a member of the Freien Akademie der Künste Hamburg since 1999.
Product Portfolio and Industrial Scope
Beyond his structural work, Teherani designs consumer items, including the Silver office swivel chair for Interstuhl in 2004, the + ARTESIO kitchen system for Poggenpohl in 2010, and a 2011 e-bike. His design catalog covers lighting, textiles, wall coverings, sanitary objects, and mobile office modules. This approach aims to extend architectural concepts into the minutiae of everyday living, ensuring a comprehensive design language across multiple product categories.
Selected Structural Projects
His building portfolio includes prominent German structures such as the Double X skyscraper in Hamburg, the Berliner Bogen at Berliner Tor, and the Dockland office building. Other notable designs include the Frankfurt Airport long-distance station, the Elbberg Campus in Hamburg-Altona, the Europa Passage, and the Crane House in Cologne. International projects feature the Zayed University in Abu Dhabi, completed in 2011, and the Lodha Altamount in Mumbai. The Dancing Towers in Hamburg were completed in 2012.
Fast facts
- Born: 1954, Tehran
- Citizenship: Germany, Iran
- University: Braunschweig University of Technology
- Firm founded: BRT (1991)
- Design company founded: Hadi Teherani AG (2003)
- Award: Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (2020)
- Member: Freien Akademie der Künste Hamburg (1999)
Questions readers ask
What is the primary material in Teherani's architectural projects?
Glass is the main factor, used from floor to ceiling to maximize light, air, and views.
Where does Hadi Teherani operate his business branches?
He runs branches in Moscow, Dubai, Bangalore, and Abu Dhabi, alongside his main office in Hamburg.
Achievements
- Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
