My name is Shiva Aghababaei. I was born in 1972 in Tehran. I am an architect involved in design and construction of large-scale projects, especially in the field of tourism and hospitality. I started my academic studies in Architecture after finishing the high school in 1991 in Isfahan Campus of the Art University, and ended up by M.A. of Architecture in 2000. I started my professional activity at the same time with my studies by working with Pajuhesh Memari Consulting Engineers Company as assistant designer, and later in 1998, I established Tarh Va Afarinesh Architectural and Engineering Consultants Company with my business partner Mr. Mohammad Nemati. Tarh Va Afarinesh was a door to realization of the professional ideals of both of us; and the outcome of more than two decades of efforts and persistence in implementation of standard design standards and observing technical, operational, functional, cultural, social and environmental requirements, as well as using creative methods of selecting materials has been successful development of number iconic projects across the country including but not limited to design and construction management of public areas of Darius Hotel (Kish Island), design and construction of Kandovan Cave Hotel (Kandovan, Iran), design and construction of Safaieh Hotel (Yazd, Iran), design of south tower and extension plan of Esteghlal (ex-Hilton) Hotel (Tehrn, Iran), design of Novotel Iranzamin Hotel (Tehran, Iran), design and construction of Moheb Mehr Hospital (Tehran, Iran), design and construction of Ibis-Novotel Hotels (IKIA, Iran), and design of Negin Ofogh Niayes Multipurpose Complex (Tehran, Iran).

In 2014, due to my effective role in design and construction of important projects such as Ibis-Novotel (IKIA) Hotels, I was appreciated by Design & Construction Magazine as one of the selected Iranian female architects. This hotel is designed and built in accordance with standards and requirements of Accor Group of France, to be the first hotel operated by an international chain within the past for decades. This project has been recognized by international architecture and design circles as the honorable mention of IDA Awards 2016 (USA), winner of SBID Awards 2015 (UK) as the best hotel of 2015, winner of A’Design Awards 2015 (UK) in the interior design category, winner of International Hotel and Property Awards 2015 (UK) for design of the best restaurant and best spa within a hotel, and shortlisted finalist of the same contest for design of the best hotel with 200 rooms and above, and shortlisted finalist of MENA Design Awards 2014-15 (UAE) for design of the best hotel, best landscape, and best spa. The project was also exhibited in Venice Biennale of Art (2015) as the representative of Iran’s contemporary architecture.
My approach to architecture is a combination of love, perfection, and creation; and these three principles are summarized in the name I selected for my company back in 1998, “Tarh Va Afarinesh” means “Design and Creation”. The same approach is manifested in the company logo which is a combination of the nine-part mandala (representing creation) and pictograph of the word “design”.