"Do not seek the water, (but) get thirst, so that the water may gush forth from above and below" -

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That is a Rumi verse Prof. Dr. Habibi handwrote and hung on his bureau desk—being always thirsty to understand the deeper meaning of pheromones; the answer will appear when you seek the meaning. This thirst for a more profound sense guided him through his life, both on a professional and personal level. He was a true example of this verse.

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Prof. Dr S. Mohsen Habibi was born on 21st August 1947 in a literary family in Kermanshah. His father, S. Mojtaba, was a judge and jurist and had prominent taste in modern and classical literature of Iran. Thus, Prof. Habibi, early thirst for history, culture and literature was formed by his father and accessibility to his rich library.

He lived in Kermanshah for 17 years, and after receiving his diploma in mathematics from Shapur High School in 1965, he moved to Tehran to attend the best university in the country. His interest in art, culture, and engineering simultaneously led him to the field of architecture. In 1967, he was accepted at the Faculty of Fine Arts of the University of Tehran to pursue his interest in architecture. It was a place that shaped his mental and professional structure in the following years of life.

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In 1973, following a local and contextual perspective on architecture and under the influence of professors such as profound architect Nader Ardalan, he designed the subject of his architecture diploma, "Re-designing the Centre of Karand City". Before doing anything, he dealt with the way of life of the people of Karand. He designed the center of the city by considering the customs of the Sufis of Ahl-e Haq, which were the majority inhabitants of this city. The history of the place, people and customs were the main characteristics of his dissertation, which has continued in his later works.​

In the same year, he entered the field of urbanism. He pursued his master thesis, "The evolution of urbanization and urbanism in Iran", in continuation of his architectural dissertation under Prof. Dr Manouchehr Tabibian. His work in this field, particularly his thesis, significantly contributed to the understanding of urban development in Iran. He graduated from the University of Tehran in 1976 in this field.

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Following his thesis on urbanism, he became interested in exploring more the concept and history of the city; In 1977, after receiving an over-sea study scholarship from Bu-Ali Sina University in Hamedan, he went to France and studied Advanced Research in Urbanism at the IFU Institute of Urbanism located in the University of Paris 8.

The University of Paris 8 was considered one of the avant-garde universities of France, and philosophers such as Lefebvre, Foucault, and Paul Wei taught at this university. Prof. Habibi chose his doctoral thesis based on his master's thesis on urbanism, "The City in Iran: From the Traditional City to the Modern City", and analyzed the Iranian city in detail, Showing the blend of tradition and modernity in the essence of modernization of Iranian cities is one of the main concerns of his thesis. A concern that was later documented and formulated in depth in his many scientific articles and books such as "de la Cité à la Ville "," a Description of the Intellectual Processes of Architecture and Urbanism in Contemporary Iran", and "The Story of the City - Tehran, the Symbol of the Modern City".

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In 1981, he completed his doctoral thesis under the supervision of professors such as Pierre Merlin, Françoise Choay, Anatole Kopp, and Yves Lacoste. Years later, after returning to Iran, Prof. Habibi translated Françoise Choay's book "L'Urbanisme: Utopies et Réalités" and Anatole Kopp's book "l'Architecture de la Reconstruction en France, 1945-1953" into Persian, both of which are considered reference sources of their time.

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After returning to Iran, Prof. Habibi started working in the engineering office of Hamedan Governorate and then at the "Housing and Urban Development Research Centre". However, shortly after, he was assigned as an assistant professor at the University of Tehran in 1983, and shortly after seven years, he obtained his full professorship at forty.

Along with teaching, continuous research about Iranian cities and culture was always considered one of his main interests. He investigated the Iranian city through the eyes of history, philosophy, poetry, literature, cinema, and social movements, and his love for Iranian culture was shining through in all his work.

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As a consultant in executive urban projects, he tried to clarify and disseminate this rich urban culture. However, it was only sometimes accessible due to poor standard urban management policies. As a professor, he taught his students to think about the city with a sharp and deep look. The students loved him like a father and a guide, and it was not far from the expectation that he was chosen as an exemplary and best professor at the University of Tehran in 2001. Besides research and teaching, he also had other professional commitments, such as:

Management of the Department of Urban Design and Planning, Superintendent of Graduate Studies, Vice-Chancellor and Dean of Fine Arts Campus of Tehran University, Consultant in:

 He served as a consultant in various important bodies, including the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, the Scientific Council of the Centre for Studies and Urban Development in the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, the Economic Council of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, and the Cultural Heritage Organization of the country. His insights and expertise were invaluable in these roles.

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But in all three areas of research, consultation, and teaching, he was passionately interested in the culture and structure of the Iranian city. This deep interest was evident in the subject of his books, such as "Isfahan School," "Baharestan Square," and "Memory of the City."

In his fruitful life, in addition to more than two hundred scientific research articles and dozens of valuable books, he was recognized many times as a selected researcher, author, and lasting figure in the field of urbanism. According to his colleagues and former students, his impact on the field of urbanism is undeniable, a legacy that will continue to inspire future generations.

In 2018, Prof. Habibi was also awarded a "titer de Chevalier" in the academic palm department by the French Ministry of Science. In this ceremony which was held in the embassy of France in Tehran, he says:

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"Your Excellency, ladies and gentlemen,

I am very honored to be among you, and words fail me to express to you my emotions following the announcement of receiving the insignia of "Chevalier" in the Order of Academic Palms. When, in 1977, I obtained a scholarship from the French government to continue my studies in France, I had never imagined this honorable moment. It was in Vichy and Bordeaux that I learned the French language, and it was in Paris and at the IFU that I completed my studies in urbanism. I am now thinking more particularly of my professors Pierre Merlin, Françoise Choay, Anatole Kopp, and Yves Lacoste.

I address to you, Mr. Ambassador, my most sincere thanks for the presentation of this honorary distinction that You granted me. I also extend my respects and thanks to my friends to the cultural service of the French Embassy, to my colleagues at Iranian World-CNRS, and to my friends at IFRI.

And finally, I would like to thank my dear family, my children and especially my wife, Shahin Eskandari, for her constant support and patience".

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Prof. Dr. S. Mohsen Habibi, on Sunday, 28th September 2020, left his life full of love in our memory and departed this earthly world.

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Finally, it is challenging to write his biography in a few words, and the lines that were written were only a short list of his countless activities. I want to end with his favorite verse of Abu-Saeed Abil-Kheir :

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"When the desire for the Friend became real,

all existence fell behind.

The Beloved wasn't interested in my reasoning,

I threw it away and became silent.

The sanity I had been taught became a bore,

it had to be ushered off.

Insane, silent and in bliss,

I spend my days with my head

at the feet of My Beloved".

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