Destruction

In Iran, houses that are only a few decades old, often with sound foundations and structures, are frequently demolished because their design is considered outdated. Such properties are commonly called kolangi, or “pickaxe” houses: buildings valued only for the land beneath them.

This series documents what remains after demolition. Tiles, doors, paint, and writing on the walls reveal traces of former interiors that now sit exposed in the city, often for years before anything new is built. The images reflect on what the historian Homayoun Katouzian has called Iran's “short-term society”, in which long-term continuity is repeatedly interrupted.