S5, E4: Moein Nodehi: From War and Exile to Reimagining How We Build
Moein Nodehi: Od rata i egzila do ponovnog osmišljavanja načina na koji gradimo - podcast S5, E4
„Odrastao sam uz roditelje koji su mi pričali priče o drevnoj perzijskoj civilizaciji... i u meni se razvila ogromna strast prema drevnim civilizacijama.“ Moein Nodehi
Rođen je usred rata.
As conflict tore through Iran, Moein Nodehi’s family fled in search of safety, eventually ending up in an immigration camp in Sweden.
Ali čak i u tim neizvjesnim ranim godinama, u njemu se gradio drugi svijet.
His parents kept hope alive by telling stories of ancient Persia — its gardens, palaces, civic systems and extraordinary buildings. Those stories stayed with him. So did the contrast he later witnessed when he returned to Iran as a boy: the visible scars of war set alongside the brilliance of ancient architecture.
Taj sudar uništenja i civilizacije ga je oblikovao.
To ga je navelo da se zapita kako gradimo, zašto gradimo i kakav svijet naše zgrade zaista stvaraju.
„Ono što mi se dogodilo u piramidama bilo je dublje od onoga što zaista mogu objasniti riječima.“ Moein Nodehi
Years later, that questioning would take him from engineering school to major construction projects in Dubai, and then far beyond the mainstream industry altogether. Disillusioned by what he saw — buildings celebrated as symbols of innovation while human and environmental costs were ignored — Moein chose a different route.
Otišao je, mnogo putovao, učio od lokalnih projekata širom svijeta i na kraju osnovao Biotonomy: kompaniju fokusiranu na arhitekturu zasnovanu na prirodi koja tretira zgrade kao žive sisteme, a ne kao mašine.
“I was really obsessed about how we are building our buildings, our cities, and really our civilisation.” Moein Nodehi
In this episode of Constructive Voices, Jackie De Burca speaks with Moein about exile, ancient wisdom, modern cities, water, heat, resilience, and why nature may hold many of the answers we’ve forgotten.
"The dizajn decisions that we take for our cities, for our buildings, have a direct impact on our brain waves and our wellbeing.” Moein Nodehi
U ovoj epizodi
Jackie and Moein explore how buildings can work with nature rather than against it — and why that shift matters not just for carbon and climate, but for health, wellbeing and the future of cities. They discuss:
- Kako je Moeinov rani život između Irana i Švedske oblikovao njegov pogled na svijet
- Zašto drevni perzijski i pustinjski dizajn i danas nudi snažne lekcije
- šta je naučio odustajući od konvencionalne gradnje velikih razmjera
- how nature-based architecture can cool buildings, recycle water and reduce dependence on fragile infrastructure
- uspjeh zelenih zidova u Malagi koji se napajaju otpadnim vodama
- why retrofitting existing buildings is both possible and urgent
- Kako zelenija naselja mogu poboljšati zdravlje, trgovinu i kvalitet života
- where AI and robotics may help scale more affordable, nature-based building solutions
“The amount of money you save as a city by investing in making your buildings and your city healthy for people — it’s a no-brainer financially.” Moein Nodehi
Zašto je ovaj razgovor važan
Ova epizoda je o mnogo više od samih zgrada.
It is about memory, identity, courage and rethinking progress. Moein’s work asks a simple but profound question: what if our homes, hotels, neighbourhoods and cities were designed to behave more like ecosystems — resilient, regenerative, efficient and life-supporting?
Umjesto da vodu tretiraju kao otpad, sistemi zasnovani na prirodi mogu je pročistiti i ponovo upotrijebiti. Umjesto borbe protiv vrućine sistemima hlađenja koji sve više troše energiju, zgrade se mogu dizajnirati tako da funkcionišu na osnovu fizike, protoka zraka, hlada i termalne mase. Umjesto beživotnih urbanih zidova, zgrade mogu postati mjesta koja obnavljaju... biodiverzitet, support mental wellbeing and even strengthen local economies.
Prekretnica u građevinarstvu
Jedan od najuvjerljivijih dijelova epizode je Moeinov prikaz napuštanja prestiža i plata u vodećim građevinskim firmama nakon što je vidio prakse za koje je smatrao da su u dubokoj suprotnosti i s ljudskim dostojanstvom i s ekološkom odgovornošću.
Ta odluka ga je dovela do godina praktičnog učenja na projektima u Africi, Aziji, Karibima i Južnoj Americi, gdje se susreo s lokalnim, praktičnim, niskotehnološkim i često zanemarenim rješenjima. Iz toga je proizašla misija Biotonomyja: objediniti ideje zasnovane na prirodi koje već funkcionišu i prilagoditi ih urbanim razmjerama.
„Kada unesete prirodu u grad, to je ono što privlači ljude.“ Moein Nodehi
Od skepticizma do uspjeha u Malagi
Istaknuti primjer u epizodi je rad Biotonomyja u Malagi, gdje su se Moein i njegov tim borili za dozvolu za ugradnju sistema zelenih zidova koji se napaja prečišćenom otpadnom vodom iz zgrada.
Ideja je u početku odbačena. Zvaničnici su navodno sumnjali da će uspjeti. Ali nakon što je postavljen, projekat je napredovao. Biljke su bujale jer je reciklirana voda nosila hranjive tvari, a zid je postao više od tehničkog uspjeha - postao je i društveni. Ljudi su mijenjali svoje rute kako bi ga prošli. Postao je mjesto susreta. Obližnja preduzeća su zabilježila povećan broj pješaka. Ono što je počelo kao eksperiment postalo je vidljiva demonstracija da zeleniji, kružniji urbani sistemi mogu funkcionirati u praksi.
„Morali smo se boriti za licencu... i toliko ljudi nam je reklo: 'Gledat ćemo vas kako ne uspijevate jer ovo neće uspjeti.'“ Moein Nodehi
Nagrade i širi uticaj
Moein also reflects on some of the recognition Biotonomy has received, including an award linked to a humanitarian conflict-resolution project in Lebanon, where people from different backgrounds came together to build and learn practical regenerative design solutions. He also shares how later work in Spain helped shift perceptions and build confidence in what nature-based retrofits can achieve.
Poruka puna nade
Kroz ovaj razgovor provlači se snažan osjećaj mogućnosti.
Moein is not waiting for perfect systems or perfect approval. He argues that cities, policymakers, developers and communities need to be bolder — to stop over-analysing risk to the point of paralysis, and start testing what better could look like.
His message to listeners is equally direct: you do not need to be an expert to get involved. If this way of building resonates with you, start learning, join the conversation, and take part.
Poslušajte epizodu
Od bježanja od rata do preispitivanja civilizacije kroz dizajn, Moein Nodehi u ovu epizodu donosi rijetku mješavinu životnog iskustva, tehničkog uvida i vizionarskog razmišljanja.
Ovo je razgovor o tome šta bi zgrade mogle postati — i šta bi čovječanstvo moglo postati s njima.
O Moeinu Nodehiju
Moein Nodehi je osnivač i izvršni direktor kompanije Biotonomija, vodeća kompanija u arhitekturi zasnovanoj na prirodi.
Više od 15 godina dizajnira i implementira stvarne projekte koji integriraju žive sisteme direktno u strukturu zgrada i gradova - preispitujući način na koji oni upravljaju vodom, klimom i ekologijom.
His work supports developers and public institutions in creating buildings and cities with circular systems — reducing dependency on external resources while strengthening urban resilience and ecological balance.
He is also co-founder of Circular Living where he is focusing on merging Robotic Construction, Artificial Intelligence and Nature Based Architecture to develop self-sufficient buildings
O biotonomiji
Biotonomy is a global development & education company that applies the principles of Nature Based Solutions, Biomimicry, and Innovative Technology to develop Autonomous buildings, communities and cities.
Our team of experts works to understand how nature solves complex problems, and then applies that knowledge to create innovative solutions creating a healthier and regenerative izgrađeno okruženje.
Sa snažnim fokusom na saradnju i obrazovanje, težimo stvaranju svijeta u kojem zgrade i gradovi nisu samo održivi, već aktivno doprinose obnovi ekosistema.
Seyed M.Atighe chi
Prije 3 mjeseciDear Nodehy,Hi,
We are proud of you, whatever you do is in favor of environment and healthier humans in future. Right now you have a great responsibility, please talk and advise
any individual and authorities around the world to increase their knowledge and responsibilities.
Please read Dr.Akira Miyawaki from Japan for his new method of afforestation which will help you a lot for your outdoor plantations.
I have a modified plantation method close to him that I will share it with you
u bliskoj budućnosti.
Dr.Seyed M.Atighe chi
Jackie De Burca
Prije 2 mjeseciThank you so much for your comment and advice for Moein Nodehi.
He is very happy.
He said for you to contact him, if you wish, directly on LinkedIn ili putem [email zaštićen].