Zhin Villa, Azadeh Khorram, Hiva Ebne abbas, Amir Davatgar

“The forms that I try to add have abstract and rigid geometries. Therefore, this problem must be resolved as to how two conflicting matters- natural and man-made- can be reconciled to achieve a perfect coexistence.”

Tadao Ando / Explorations of Site

The project’s site is located on the southeast side of the city of “Baneh” at a distance of approximately ten kilometers from it. The area was a vast and beautiful plain, surrounded by high mountains on several sides. The project’s ground had two main characteristics: First, the existence of a large number of trees that the client had planted in recent years and should be maintained as much as possible in our new design. Second issue was the slope of the land in two direction that had to be considered in the design. The client’s demands were almost the same as what we expected in a villa outside the city for a temporary escape from inner-city life; but the main problem was his very limited budget and the time for construction, which caused certain conditions for the design.

The story of the design of this villa begins with the basic question of how to design a building in a natural area with rare landscape that building construction in it has grown rapidly in a short period of 15-20 years; an architecture that could become a turning point for that area and value it among many constructions without architectural values; and secondly, it could draw in the natural elements of the surrounding environment and provide different experiences to its residents. An architecture that causes less interruptions in surrounding natural landscape and can be connected with it. According to these issues and the basic question, the design strategy and architectural ideas of the project were followed in these ways:

⌂ Horizontal extension in order to connect the villa with the surrounding landscape: the use of floating horizontal planes in different levels made it possible for the building to combine smoothly with its context (transparency of volumes and not emphasizing on the mass). In fact, against the type of existing villas in the region, which lacked architectural values and followed “mass-oriented” formal language, taking this oppositional approach was mandatory. The extension of these horizontal planes was even emphasized at the level of the pool, which was practically not considered as a floor. In addition to responding the initial question of the project, this strategy corresponded with the concepts and meanings of “roof” and “height” which are somehow related to the word “Baneh”.

⌂ Visual connection of inside and outside, creating 270 degree viewing angles: using the characteristic of “transparency”, as well as the architect’s decision to place the building at the highest point of the site (according to the slope), made it possible for residents and guests to see the sunrise view, the garden’s trees, the plain, and mountains. On the other hand, this issue made the form of the villa not act as an obstacle in observing the outside views. Using glass walls, at least on three sides of the building and on all floors, made it possible to provide different views from the inside. On the other hand, by receding the walls from the four sides of the building and creating deep balconies, the amount of the direct sunlight and solar heat gain reduced.

⌂ combining “natural”, “architectural” and “structural” elements to actualize the ideas: one of the important challenges in this project was to escape from the conventional architectural approaches and actualize the original ideas. For this reason, the deep balconies were implemented around the central spatial core by a cantilever structure (concrete beams with high depth and reduced sections), so that the idea of visual and mental connection between inside and outside could be displayed in the best way (reducing dead load in the balcony by adding the glass floor and creating vertical transparency).

Making the building in harmony with the topography and placing it smoothly on the ground through the lateral stairs was also an opportunity to emphasize on the triple planes of “roof”, “balcony” and “main platform on the ground”. Also, in the entire project’s site, the main platforms and planes embrace the building like a strong line. This platform integrates the building and the garden around it and benefits the residents by creating different conditions and viewing angles.

The next issue was the maximum preservation of the garden’s trees, which was provided through “minimum construction and intervention on the site”, “formal extension in the direction of fewer trees” and “placing the building at the best location in the garden”. This issue continued even to save a single beautiful tree in the garden so that it did not interfere with the balcony structure. Now this tree acts as a clear sign and defines the entrance of the villa.

⌂ Arrangement of internal spaces based on the integration and multi-functionality: The internal program of the project was organized in order to maximize the benefits of the garden and the outside view, direct access to the pool and its platform, and the flexibility. Due to the compression of the spaces and less areas, the kitchen was somehow integrated with the living room and dining space, and on the other hand, it was also used in the plan as a passageway. The one-way, straight staircase of the villa had a double, opposite role so that it simultaneously separated several spaces on the ground floor and provided access to the upper floor.