Project Name: Seddigh House Renovation
Function: Office
Office: Kooshk Design Architectural Studio
Lead Architects: Arash Khodadad, Samaneh Yarahmadi
Design Team: Zahra Nikzare, Taraneh Tayebi, Rojin Rasoolabadi, Fahimeh Mirzaee, Mona Parvinzad, Afsaneh Faryabi, Farnaz Jahangiri, Negin Khorsandnejad, Sara Bolouki
Interior Design: Kooshk Design Architectural Studio
Client: Joy Studio
Executive Engineer: Kooshk Design Architectural Studio
Lighting: Kooshk Design Architectural Studio
Mechanical Structure: Cooler and Radiator
Structure: Bearing Wall
Location: Sediq Alley, Gholhak, Shariati St., Tehran
Total Land Area: 320 m2
Area of Construction: 380 m2
Date: Summer 2020- Spring 2021
Photographer: Arash Khodadad
Website: www.kooshk.org
Email: info@kooshk.org
Instagram: kooshk_office

Seddigh House Renovation
Seddigh House is a two-story building with an area of approximately 380 square meters, which is located in Seddigh Alley in the Gholhak neighborhood, Tehran, Iran. The date of primary construction of the building dates back to the beginning of the second Pahlavi period and is the last building in the alley that has not been demolished and reconstructed so far. In fact, the building is part of the collective memory and history of the locals. The use of the building before the renovation was the university dormitory for girls, and because of this, the function of all spaces of the house was changed to dormitory rooms, and a large part of the outer wall was covered with metal sheets to reduce visibility. Interestingly, despite improper use of the building, many of the building›s original elements and decorations remained intact. At first, our client wanted to demolish the building and reconstruct it to create a startup office for tourism activities and food experiences. But finally, he agreed to implement our proposal to renovate the building and keep the nostalgic sense of a historical house at minimum changes and cost. The main entrance, on one side, was located next to the main stairs and on the other side was connected to the corridor leading to the courtyard with an old pool and garden. This connection point reminded us of “Hashti” in old Persian houses which is a kind of vestibule with the same sense of privacy. This space became a distinguished point in renovation by vivid color and adding arches. On both floors, the living room, rooms, and kitchen were all arranged around the entrance hall and were eye-catching with shelves, plaster decorations, and frames. Wooden windows and doors with stained glass that invited light into the house had a great effect on enlivening the space. Furthermore, with the site survey and talking to old neighbors, it was found that in the original condition of the building, there were a number of arches in the initial condition of the house that was removed from the building during various stages of reconstruction, which was a clue for designers to restore some of the building›s historical memory.
Considering all these factors main objectives of renovation were generated:
1. To Preserve the identity of the building and define a new different function while keeping the historical essence of the building.
2. Minimal changes in the outer envelope and elevations and neighborhood function as well as the internal spatial structure
3. To identify, preserve and use the historical elements and decorations left over from the past
4. To eliminate annoying extras and elements
5. To redefine the required new functions at the heart of the overall structure of the building with minimal changes
6. To distinguish communication spaces according to architectural goals
7. To create a greenhouse in the yard as a social space for employees
8. To reconstruct the garden while preserving existing trees
9. To strengthen the connection between the home and the yard by drawing the green space inside and the cooking space into the yard