BLINN COLLEGE ARCHITECTURE INSTRUCTOR PUBLISHED IN PRESTIGIOUS ASCA PROCEEDINGS

  

Blinn College District Architecture Instructor Dr. Shahead Maghreby recently earned international recognition for his scholarship with the publication of his research in the 114th Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture Annual Meeting Proceedings.

Maghreby’s paper, “Revisiting Genius Loci: A Temporal Critique Via Mandegari (Māndigārī),” was published this summer in the prestigious peer-reviewed publication. The paper also was presented as part of the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture’s (ACSA) 114th Annual Meeting, “Convergence/Divergence,” held March 26-28 in Chicago.

“This publication is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the international conversation surrounding architectural theory and the ways we understand the relationship between people, place, and time,” Maghreby said. “I am grateful for the support and encouragement I have received from Blinn College, and I look forward to bringing the perspectives gained through this research into my work with our students.”

Maghreby’s research examines the influential architectural concept of genius loci, a Latin term commonly translated as the “spirit of place.” Architectural theorist Christian Norberg-Schulz used the concept to describe a place's distinctive character, shaped by its physical environment, cultural meaning, and atmosphere.

In his paper, Maghreby examines how that framework can be expanded to better recognize that places are not static but continually change over time and through interactions with the people who inhabit them.

To address that idea, Maghreby introduces mandegari, a Farsi term roughly translated as “overall continuity.” His research explores how mandegari can help architectural scholars understand places as both enduring and evolving, retaining meaningful physical, cultural, and symbolic qualities while continually being reshaped through human experience and changing conditions.

The paper argues that incorporating mandegari into traditional theories of place creates a more dynamic understanding of architectural identity, memory, and meaning. Rather than viewing a place as finished or fixed at a particular moment, Maghreby proposes viewing it as an ongoing process shaped by both continuity and transformation.

Maghreby has taught architecture at Blinn since 2023 and joined the College as a full-time faculty member in January 2024. At the Bryan Campus, he teaches architectural history, architectural design, and architectural technology.

His academic and professional experience spans architecture, urbanism, research, and higher education. Prior to joining Blinn full-time, Maghreby served as a project manager and architectural designer with Winchester Architects and held teaching and research roles at Colorado College, Texas A&M University, and the Art University of Isfahan. He also served for more than eight years as an academic reviewer of architectural and urban manuscripts for several scholarly publications and organizations, including ACSA.

Maghreby earned his Ph.D. in Urbanism, Master of Architecture, and bachelor’s degree in architecture from the Art University of Isfahan. He also served as a visiting scholar at Texas A&M University from 2016–2019. Currently, he is pursuing his second Ph.D. as a doctoral candidate at Texas A&M University.

The ACSA Annual Meeting Proceedings feature scholarly work presented in conjunction with the organization’s annual meeting and provide a forum for research and discussion regarding architecture, architectural education, and the built environment.

Blinn College offers Associate of Arts and Associate of Arts Field of Study degrees in architecture. To learn more about the Blinn Architecture Program, visit www.blinn.edu/architecture.

(Story courtesy Blinn Information)