The architecture of buildings that continue to remain in use over time is continually redefined under the influence of social, cultural, and political transformations, as well as the evolving needs of their users. This study aims to explore the manifestation of palimpsest in contemporary Iranian architecture and to investigate the impact of temporal requirements on the transformation of the Tehran School and Farhang Hall Complex. The central research question concerns how this complex was formed and subsequently transformed through the accumulation of historical, physical, and functional layers.

The research adopts a qualitative methodology based on a historical–interpretive approach and a case-study strategy. Data were collected through documentary research, the examination of historical records, visual materials, architectural drawings, aerial photographs, and field studies, and were subsequently analyzed through a palimpsestic reading.

The findings indicate that the Tehran School and Farhang Hall Complex is not the outcome of a single architectural decision; rather, it is the product of a multi-stage process in which each historical period has added a new layer to the identity of the place. The earliest layer emerged from the context of Arfa'ieh Garden and its transformation into an educational setting. Subsequently, Roland Dubrulle’s original architectural design during the First Pahlavi period, influenced by policies of educational modernization, introduced a layer of modern architecture. In later periods, growing educational demands, administrative changes, physical additions, and the gradual functional independence of Farhang Hall resulted in the rewriting of the complex’s original structure.

The results demonstrate that time in this complex is not merely an agent of deterioration or physical transformation, but rather an active force in the production of meaning and the formation of architectural identity. Accordingly, the present identity of the Tehran School and Farhang Hall Complex is the outcome of interactions among multiple historical layers, and its significance cannot be confined solely to Dubrulle’s original design. A palimpsestic approach can provide an effective framework for understanding, conserving, and revitalizing contemporary historic buildings, as it acknowledges the continuity of historical narratives and the coexistence of multiple temporal layers. The study further demonstrates that understanding previous interventions can facilitate more informed decision-making regarding the future conservation and management of the architectural complex.