Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Avicenne Foundation, historically known as the House of Iran, was conceived as the pavilion for Iranian students in the International University City of Paris. Inaugurated in November 1969, it resulted from a collaboration between Iranian architects Mohsen Foroughi and Heydar Ghiai, and a French team including Claude Parent, Claude Colle, André Bloc and René Sarger. Its bold architecture, based on a suspended metal frame, makes it a rare project in France. Financed by the Iranian state under the reign of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, it quickly became a home of opposition to the regime, leading to its closure and its abandonment by Iran.

Renamed the Avicenne Foundation in 1972 in tribute to the Iranian doctor and philosopher of the tenth century, it reopened its doors under this name. After decades of activity, the building was abandoned in 2007 due to its age. Ranked a historic monument in 2008, it underwent a heavy renovation between 2021 and 2024, increasing its capacity from 96 to 111 student housing units. Since 2024, it has been welcoming residents of all nationalities, managed by the National Foundation of the International City.

In 2013, the L/OBLIQUE space (now the Heritage Centre) temporarily moved to its premises to present the history and architecture of the City, before moving during the works. In 2019, the auction of a chandelier designed by Jean Royère for the director's apartment sparked controversy, with the association Sites and Monuments denouncing its use to finance a university prize. This building, a symbol of Franco-Iranian cultural exchanges, also embodies the political tensions of its time.

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