Space to Read in Iran as the World's Biggest Book Garden Opens

Iran has plenty of scope for browsing the shelves as a new book garden opens in the Abasabad Hills.

It's the biggest of its kind in the world, with 10,000 square meters of green space built on its rooftop.

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The building's inauguration was attended by the Iranian Congress spokesperson Ali Larijani and Tehran Mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, as well as representatives from publishing houses.

"The opening of the book garden is a big cultural event in the country so that our children can make better use of this cultural and academic opportunity," Qalibaf said.

"The project aims to teach our children to be active and creative through modern methods and equipment," added Larijani. "All the Persian books are gathered here in the garden and present a good opportunity for the readers."

The cultural complex also features eight movie theaters and two science halls for children and young adults, including a "robotics club" introducing them to new technologies — six of them are still under construction.

The garden, designed to provide a pleasant environment to promote book reading, is divided into four main sections: a bookshop, a “pathway of culture,” an amphitheater, as well as the country's biggest art gallery covering 1,700 square meters.

It also has a prayer room, a restaurant and a lake.