Abandoned Frank Lloyd Wright in Iran

December 21, 2018 7:43 AM

A tour and history of Shams Palace in Iran, now abandoned. Shams Palace (or Pearl Palace) was designed by the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation by William Wesley Peters, Wright's son-in-law and protégé, for the older sister of the last Shah. The palace has been given national recognition, but likely won't ever be restored.
posted by Capt. Renault (9 comments total)

Wow. That's amazing.

I bet those acrylic windows leaked EXTRA. I've toured several FLW houses and that's something they never forget to mention.*

Also - Unfortunately, after recently touring through the abandoned and severely decaying mid-century wonder, I have sadly concluded (leans against the fireplace, gazes out the window, removes smoking pipe from mouth) that Sham's Palace may be experiencing its final days…

WTF. Also, an editor could have removed *a few* "shams palaces" there are so many of them in one article.

*I realize that this isn't exactly a FLW house. Much as I swoon over most things Taliesin related, leaky windows always seem to be A Thing with them.
posted by 41swans at 8:31 AM on December 21, 2018

Currently Canadians cannot go to Iran (other than on a govt tour) unless married to an Iranian, I have proposed to my Persian buddy numerous times but she's having none of it. lol. Until she changes her mind or our governments rediscover sanity I will just add this to my growing list.
posted by Cosine at 9:54 AM on December 21, 2018 [1 favorite]

Reminds me of the Marin County Civic Center (which also has a long history of leaky windows).
posted by Celatone at 10:15 AM on December 21, 2018 [2 favorites]

Ouch.
posted by Afghan Stan at 10:37 AM on December 21, 2018

On the one hand it's certainly sad to see a pretty building languishing.

On the other hand, there's something inherently beautiful about a royal palace being abandoned and disintegrating from neglect.
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 10:53 AM on December 21, 2018 [5 favorites]

What an amazing discovery!

The 'Wright way' also included a gas station in central Minnesota... still pumping, and added to the NRHP.
posted by Twang at 11:20 AM on December 21, 2018 [2 favorites]

I'm so grateful that you posted this, let alone that someone photographed this place and published about it. I don’t even know what to say. This hits so many (good, happy) buttons for me. I’m speechless.
posted by nightrecordings at 5:03 PM on December 21, 2018 [1 favorite]

Lots more photos of interior of palace here.
posted by Transl3y at 3:20 PM on December 23, 2018

"Of course, everything designed by Mike Brady ... "

umwhat?
posted by mon-ma-tron at 4:37 PM on December 28, 2018