Yasaman Esmaili

Yasaman Esmaili is an architect, independent researcher and educator and the founder of studio chahar. She received her architectural education at the University of Tehran, the University of Arizona and the University of Washington. She is interested in examining existing presumptions in order to experiment with alternative design processes and create innovative, equitable and context-driven spaces. She believes that architects can play an important role in empowering the community and forming a social shift in the global society. Besides founding studio chahar, Yasaman co-founded a community-based initiative in 2019 in collaboration with Architecture for Refugee, USA, called “Color My Home”, focusing on finding the meaning of lost homes as experienced by immigrants and refugees, through architectural thinking. Yasaman is also a founding member of united4design, an international design collective formed in 2013 to simulate a dialogue about architecture and intelligent global practice. Before forming these initiatives, Yasaman worked as an architectural designer for over six years at Blokable, and Hewitt Architects, in Seattle, Washington, and AE Architects in Istanbul, Turkey, amongst other firms. Yasaman is a member of the International Council of Museums (ICOM) and her recent design research is focused on World Heritage sites.

Yasaman is the recipient of the 2020 Tamayouz Women in Architecture award, Rising Star category and the 2023 University of Washington Graduate of the Last Decade (GOLD) Award. She is currently a visiting professor at Wentworth Institute of technology. She has also taught architecture at Keene State College, Roger Williams University, and the University of Washington. She has been a guest critic at the Harvard Graduate School of Design, the University of Washington, Washington State University, Portland State University, and Yale University.

Kimia Amini

Kimia Amini is a project manager and curator based in Tehran and Isfahan, Iran. She holds degrees in archaeology and museology from the Higher Education Center of the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts, and Tourism in Iran and is currently pursuing her studies in international relations.

Kimia has conducted digital archaeological research at Isfahan's Jameh Mosque (ADAMJI), a UNESCO World Heritage site. She has contributed to the expansion of several museum and archaeological projects, including Shahdezh Castle in Isfahan and archaeological studies in Gur Firozabad, Fars province. Since 2011, she has been a member of the International Council of Museums (ICOM) and held responsibility for the specialized museum education committee at the National Committee of Iran. She actively organizes educational design workshops at national and international levels, collaborating with universities and ICOM committees globally. In recent years, she has closely collaborated with the National Museum of Science and Technology, leading multiple exhibitions and international projects. She currently serves as the secretary of the University Museums Council in the Ministry of Science, Research, and Technology.

Kimia joined studio chahar in 2021, as a museum project lead, project manager, heritage expert and an exhibition and event facilitator.

Saba Robati

Saba Robati is an architectural designer and researcher based in Tehran and Kerman, Iran. She is interested in indigenous architecture, appreciating it as a harmonious and equitable approach to interacting with the environment. She studies the integration of new technologies with traditional building methods, in order to improve comfort and quality of the spaces while keeping the cost low. She is a keen traveler and enjoys learning about native sites and different ways of life. During her travels across Iran, she has been documenting regional and biofriendly architecture and rural heritages that are in danger of destruction, with a particular focus on historic structural details which can have contemporary applications. 

Saba received a Bachelor’s in Architecture from Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman and a Master in Architecture from Tarbiat Modares University of Tehran with highest standing. She has also taught architecture at Shahid Bahonar University as a teaching assistant. Since joining studio chahar in 2023, she has been actively participating in design and research, with a focus on residential projects, craft research and exhibition design. Besides collaborating with studio chahar, Saba is currently pursuing her PhD studies in Architecture at Tarbiat Modares University.