• “Asmaneh” is a network for sharing information and knowledge as well as discussing and criticizing in these fields:

History and theory of architecture and art, links between ‘architecture and art’ and ‘humanities and culture’, and interdisciplinary areas - especially those in connection with fields and areas of Art History, Art Criticism, Literary Theory, Cultural Anthropology, Cultural Studies, Cultural History, Social History, and Historical Sociology.

• This network aims to provide an environment for thinking and speaking about the aforementioned fields, keep the enthusiasts up to date, deepen the thought, and develop discussion and criticism.

• The network works across several platforms: a website, Telegram channel, Telegram group, Instagram, and shortly Tweeter and Facebook.

• The main parts of Asmaneh website are as follows:

  • Notes and Essays;
  • News and Reports on the related events;
  • Books, Articles, and Publications, including introductions and reviews;
  • Research, including introductions of significant studies in the fields;
  • Special Issue, including monographs on related subjects;
  • Voices, Photos, and Videos, including recorded files of lectures, classes, and interviews;
  • Digital Library.

Asmaneh Team

• Asmaneh is administered by an editorial board under the supervision of Mehrdad Qayyoomi Bidhendi. The board members are:
• Saba Madani Ghahfarrokhi
• Dena Shamsizadeh
• Farzad Zerehdaran
• Website structural designer: Asmaneh editorial board
• Website designer and programmer: Ali Tayebi.

Content Preparation for Asmaneh

Everyone can contribute to Asmaneh; To do so, send your file– text, photo, video, or audio file– to our email address. Your content will then be checked by the editorial board, and if approved, it will be considered for publication. You can sent your works to [email protected]

Asmaneh’ Platforms and Its History

The first activity under the name of Asmaneh in social networks was in 2007 as a google group limited to the students and professors of the master’s program of “Iranian Architectural Studies” in Shahid Beheshti University, which later extended to include their counterparts in Art University of Isfahan. In 2016, the group was replaced by a Telegram group with the same name, Asmaneh.

Asmaneh Telegram Channel

Asmaneh Telegram Channel was created in May 2016 by Samaneh Mohseni Hosseinabadi and Zahra Golshan under the supervision of Mehrdad Qayyoomi Bidhendi. The channel gradually developed through the efforts of its editorial board members– especially Saba Madani and Dena Shamsizadeh– and the cooperation of Motahareh Danaeifar, Mohammad Fallah, and Sina Soltani, along with other content producers. Asmaneh channel was administered by Reyhaneh Heydari from 2016 to 2019 and is currently managed by the editorial board of Asmaneh network. This channel is still the main section of Asmaneh network. Asmaneh channel address: https://t.me/asmaaneh

The Previous Website of Asmaneh

The website of Asmaneh was created on 14 June 2016 – thanks to the efforts of Motahareh Danaeifar, Yahya Sepehri, and the late Bita Qahramani, under the supervision of Mehrdad Qayyoomi – as a collection of blogs written by enthusiasts of history and theory of architecture and art (and was titled “Asmaneh Circle”). Media Tools Company was in charge of its web design and programming, and Babak Vandad was responsible for its maintenance from 2018 to 2021. Asmaneh Circle introduced itself as:

“Asmaneh Circle” is a collection of blogs written by those who hold an opinion about history and theory of architecture and art, and would like to be a part of this circle, regardless of their connection to specific organizations or universities, of their age, of their reputation or popularity. Thus the open circle of Asmaneh is where one can meet new experts in the field, see the youth and the elderly side by side, be informed about their works and ideas, encourage new and old thinkers to write, and expand engagement in dialogue. Therefore, this is the only part of the forthcoming Asmaneh Network, which is intentionally based on individuals. Yet, it is not to marginalize anyone for not having official titles or reputation […]. The advantage of several blogs being put together is that the audience would benefit from a set of ideas and findings by different people in a more or less common field. The blog collection, to which we refer as Asmaneh Circle, is not an official organ representing an association or a movement but is rather as a party hosting various guests who have at least one thing in common: attending the party; and they all tend to act in a way that the party goes on. It appears that the audience of this circle benefits a lot more from the whole set of writings than from single ones. Furthermore, they can start a discussion by expressing ideas about essays or taking part in one.

Asmaneh Circle was administered by Yahya Sepehri, Motahareh Danaeifar, Saba Madani, Dena Shamsizadeh, and Mojtaba Mehrali in the last four years. The website of Asmaneh Circle was replaced by the new one, Asmaneh, on 24 September 2021.

Asmaneh Instagram Account

The page was created on a trial basis by the editorial board of Asmaneh in November 2020, and it has since then developed, relying on the contents of Asmaneh Telegram Channel. Farzad Zerehdaran administers the page. Asmaneh Instagram Address: https://www.instagram.com/asmaneh.art.and.architecture/

Acknowledgment

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to Mr. Babak Vandad, whose free technical assistance has allowed Asmaneh to continue its activities since 2018.

We would also thank Ms. Seyyedeh Boshra Moussavi and Zeinab Tamassoki, who have assisted in the administration of Asmaneh in recent years.

Supporting Asmaneh

• Asmaneh is a private non-profit network and does not benefit from any governmental or public support.
• If you would like to support Asmaneh financially, please email us at: [email protected]