In the hostage rescue film Argo, the swooping aerial shots feature a unique Iranian structure in Tehran.
That tower is the Azadi Tower (translated as the Freedom Tower). Completed in 1971, the tower is constructed primarily of white marble, and is a blend of Sassanid and Islamic architecture.
The architect of the building, Hossein Amanat, won the commission for the tower in an architectural contest shortly after graduating from the University of Tehran. A member of the Bahá'í faith, he continues to work, often designing buildings for that reflect his religion.
This "Gateway into Iran" was initially named the Shahyad Tower, meaning "Kings' Memorial" in commemoration of the 2,500th anniversary of the Persian Empire, but was renamed the Azadi Tower after the 1979 Iranian Revolution. Today, the plaza is a park with several fountains and an underground museum below the tower.
