Leila Araghian

Leila Araghian (Persian: لیلا عراقیان; born 1983) is an Iranian architect. She has a master's degree in architecture from the University of British Columbia, where she won the UBC Architecture Alumni Henry Elder Prize.^[1] She previously studied architecture in Iran, at Shahid Beheshti University.^[2]

Leila Araghian
Born	Leila Araghian 1983 (age 41–42) Tehran, Iran
Nationality	Iranian
Alma mater	Shahid Beheshti University University of British Columbia
Occupation	Architect
Buildings	Tabiat Bridge

In 2005, Araghian co-founded Diba Tensile Architecture, a company specialising in the design, manufacture and installation of membrane structures.^[3] She was chief architect and designer of the Tabiat Bridge in Tehran, a pedestrian bridge opened in late 2014 which has won several prizes, including the 2016 Aga Khan Award for Architecture for Architecture,^[4] and the Popular Choice award in the Highways & Bridges category of Architizer's 2015 A+ Awards.^[5]

Araghian's Iranian heritage has restricted her international exposure; she was not allowed to enter the World Architecture Festival because of sanctions against Iran.^[2] The architect herself spoke out against the sanctions because according to her, "this is ridiculous, I’m an Iranian architect and this is a cultural activity, it has absolutely nothing to do with politics."^[6]

She was photographed in September 2015 by Brandon Stanton for the Humans of New York trip to Iran.^[7][2]

Projects by Diba Tensile Architects (selection)

Tabiat pedestrian bridge, Tehran

Tabiat pedestrian bridge

• Tabiat pedestrian bridge, Tehran (2014).
• Facade of platinum shopping center, Tehran (2019).^[8]
• Covered entrance of the Bazarganan hospital (2019).^[9]
• Azadi Innovation Factory. Conversion of an electrode factory into a house for rentable offices (2019).^[10]
• Corridor roofing at Baghdad International Airport (2021).^[11]