Urmia Municipality Building

🕰️When was it built?

The building is credited to 1931 and to an architect known as Molla Ousta. It was added to Iran's National Heritage List in July 2000. It has been restored several times, and a phase of strengthening and architectural restoration was reported in 2023.

🏛️What was it built for?

The building has been used for the city's administration and is known as the municipality. Seeing the front of a historic office building is different from walking round a museum; to go inside, ask the person in charge whether a visit is possible.

👀What you will see

• The row of columns at the entrance is a key part of the facade; the columns have been restored and replaced in different periods.
• Look at the two long wings beside the central part; the building's overall shape is likened to an eagle with open wings.
• Its place on Enghelab Square lets you see it together with the historic police headquarters and the army headquarters.
• The surrounding railing is part of the complex too; in the 2023 restoration, part of it was to be rebuilt to the old design.

💡Something interesting

The restoration of the building's columns once caused a dispute between the municipality and the heritage authorities, because concrete and cement had been used instead of stone columns. It is a reminder that in a historic building, even what the columns are made of is part of its identity.

🎒Good to know before you go