Dalan Jahan Boutique Hotel, Mohammadreza Ghaneei, Ardesheer Ghaneei, Nariman Piraste

Project Name: Dalan Jahan Boutique Hotel / Function: Boutique Hotel / Office: Polsheer Architects / Lead Architects: Mohammadreza Ghaneei, Ardesheer Ghaneei, Nariman Piraste / Design Team: Hassan Abdollahi, Farzad Pakdel, Ashkan Ghaneei / Interior Design: Ardesheer Ghaneei / Client: Etehad-e Miras-e Naghsh-e Jahan / Executive Enginee: Ramezan Esmail zade / Lighting: Mohamadreza Sharif Moradi / Mechanical Installations Engineer: Shahram Sadeghian / Mechanical Structure: Powerhouse / Structure: Adobe Brick / Location: Dalan tariki Alley, Naqsh-e Jahan Square, Isfahan, Iran / Total Land Area: 350m2 / Area of Construction: 250m2 / Date: (2018/12/05 start) (2020/02/15 end) / Photographer: Mehdi Ghale Beigi, Azadeh Khoshab
Website: www.polsheer.net
Email: Polsheer_Architects@yahoo.com / Mr.Ghaneei@ymail.com
Instagram: @polsheer_architects

We intended to save Esfahan. In an era when there is nothing left but the Naghshe Jahan Square and Jolfa neighborhood and even those are becoming dilapidated, it is noticeable that the historic districts of a historical City which was once known as Half of the World ‏thanks to its excessive beauty is gradually turning into a ruin as a result of lack of technical management. The identity and authenticity of the city is being replaced by my mother and buildings with no specific identity.
The first idea that struck us was to embark on a practical action as the first step. We neglected the supposed support and sponsorship by the corresponding authorities and relied on the supportive and enthusiastic labor force from the private sector. Depending on the contribution they made, we managed to take some effective measures.
The Dalan Jahan (The Passage of the Universe) is located in the most pristine regions of Esfahan Historical Districts in the southern region of the Naghshe Jahan Square. Most parts of the neighborhood included long and dark passages which had turned into an assembly point for the homeless, bringing about many social and security problems for both locals and visitors.
Located at the end of a long passage, this building serves as a catering area to a larger house with 2 luxurious courtesy yards and 2 catering yards which have gradually become separate yards owned by different people. In the beginning of the 2000s, the owner had embarked on constructing a new structure along the southerly side of the house which they had abandoned unfinished. We managed to restart the renovation project after 2 decades.
Anything remaining from the Safavid and Qajar as well as the incompatible concrete structure (added later) was maintained and rebuilt using the same material to the most feasible extent. The missing parts were rebuilt in Safavid structures using Qajar paintings and colors to complete it. The concrete structure was revitalized with Qajar elements in modern style. The next phase of the revitalization project was to consider a proper function compatible with human activity to revitalize the building. Regarding the variety of spaces offered by the building, Boutique Hotel was chosen as a suitable function.
Through revitalizing this house, we tried bring life back to this part of the city and prevent the modern urban context from gradually penetrating to the surrounding areas of Naghshe Jahan Square. Furthermore, having built an ever-lasting view over the Square, we created an observing point to watch the area.
With the revitalization project of Dalan Jahan, we can see the flow of life running back to the region and the neighborhood with the locals having been encouraged to rebuild their houses.
We hope that we have made our fair share of contribution to Esfahan with this project.