Pioneering Thought Leader in Educational Space Planning

Written By BIBI Banous in Building Industry

Mani Farhadi, who is now three decades into her career, shared some key milestones in design programming and planning for learning environments. Mani reflected on the beginnings of her passion, which actually started in school. Mani loved school, particularly Iranzamin, where she grew up in Iran. "Iranzamin" means "Land of Iran," and this school was co-educational, taught entirely in English, and followed the International Baccalaureate curriculum. Many of the teachers were foreign, and the school included students of various minority religions such as Jewish, Bahai, Zoroastrian, Christian, and the children of diplomats, creating a diverse environment that felt like a mini United Nations. This inclusive and stimulating environment during K-12 education had a profound impact on Mani and inspired a desire to be involved in learning environments.

BIBI Banous in Building Industry

BIBI (Banous In Building Industry) is an informal circle of Iranian-ancestry professional women dedicated to providing support, networking, mentorship, advice and camaraderie to other women in our industry, whether locally, nationally and globally. We represent a grassroots group of female-identity professionals in planning, architecture, interiors, engineering, landscape, construction, lighting, academia, and the arts, who elevate each other. Our group will maintain a comprehensive range from students to entry-level to mid-career to senior level to partners to retirees, in order to expand our reach and to mentor each other. We aim to stay fluid and evolve over time, serving as a model for other professional groups and as a design resource to the community.

Next

Intentional Harmony Amidst Chaos