Architecture of Shade | design

archive,tag,tag-design,tag-112,ajax_fade,page_not_loaded,,select-theme-ver-2.0,vertical_menu_enabled,wpb-js-composer js-comp-ver-4.4.4,vc_responsive

design Tag

March 6, 2016 In Blog, History, News

Two Eco-dome homes found near Bam

While researching for our upcoming project located near Jiroft, we discovered two works by Nader Khalili constructed just after the devastating Bam earthquake.

Eco – Dome design by Nader Khalili – near Bam, Iran.

These two homes are built in his Eco-dome design. A method of construction called “earth-bag” construction and a form of Superadobe. Requiring no energy for compaction, such as in rammed-earth methods, this technique makes use of bags of adobe material stacked to create domes and vaults.

February 23, 2016 In Competition, Design, History, News

New Project – Golestan Museum

South of the Caspian Sea, the mountains are covered with a blanket of jungle, a natural reserve protected by UNESCO . This is the land of the wolves and leopards, once called Hyrcania by the Greeks (taken from the Darius’ Behistun inscription Verkana).

We are honored to be a taking on a new museum project in the beautiful northwestern province of Golestan! In this way, we can help contribute to the preservation of history and culture from this special region of Iran. More updates soon!

Persian Leopard in Golestan Natural Reserve – photo captured with sensor camera by the Persian Wildlife Heritage Foundation

February 21, 2016 In Art, History, News, Photography

Kashikari – new book on Persian Tilework

We are excited to announce that a new side-project is underway!

Eagle tile – Hasht Behesht Pavilion in Isfahan, Iran c. 1669

Due to our strong interest in the Iranian art of Kashikari (tilework) and its close relationship to traditional architecture, we are researching to produce a book on the subject.

This project will be a compilation of large scale, high resolution photos documenting the history of Iranian kashikari techniques and motifs specific to figurative and non-religious subjects used in architecture, such as nature and mythological subjects, as well as displaying the evolution of its usage over time through the descriptions and presentation of the book as a whole.

February 9, 2016 In Competition, Design, History, News

Jiroft School Project

We are excited to be participating in a new competition to build a primary school in a rural village near Jiroft, Kerman, Iran
We see it as an important opportunity to explore the deeper reaches of the local mud-brick and cob architecture. We strongly believe in indigenous architectural methods and hope to innovate on the most efficient designs to create a locally-sensitive school for a village in need.

More updates coming soon!

Ancient mud-brick technique (Adobe – ajore khashti) demonstrated in the Arg-e-Rayen, a 1000 year old citadel near the site of our project.

Adobe citadel Arg-e-Rayen and the Hezaran Mountains, Kerman

February 1, 2016 In Blog, Design, Philosophy

The Light in the Shadows

Courtyard shadows over the enclosed Iwan

Architecture is an integral part of everyday life and an active agent in shaping culture. My architecture is about shade rather than light.
In Iran, we learn from childhood to stand in the shade due to the overwhelming heat of the sun during summers.

Iran’s sun is strong, creating too much light. As a result, our architecture evolved to help us hide from the sun. READ MORE

January 31, 2016 In Blog, Design

iwan : liminal shade

I was always fascinated by architecture as space to live, meaning; a work space, a living space and a leisure space. Having spent much of my childhood in gardens, I enjoyed the relationship between interior and exterior spaces. My life would shift from the inside to the outside of the house from summer to winter. The transitional space in between is called the Iwan (covered terrace); an Iranian architectural element characterized by a 5-sided cube opening to the garden on its one open side.READ MORE

November 16, 2015 In News

Current Northern Tehran Residential Project

We are currently working on a residential building in the neighborhood of Mahmoudiyeh in North Tehran. The plot is located at the base of the Alborz Mountains and looks out over the cityscape to the south. This design is centered around the idea of an elevated garden space to complement its overall Persian-inspired design.

The hanging garden idea directly brings this modern residential building into the traditional aesthetic of Persian culture. The walled garden is an integral part of traditional Persian architecture and culture. We innovated on the idea and created a garden which can be enjoyed privately but still uses the space efficiently.

November 10, 2015 In News

Soon to be completed! Two Homes

Shahrake Ferdows Villa – Mazandaran, Iran

Soon to be completed! Two villa homes located in some of the most beautiful landscapes of Iran.

Project I : Located in a region of apple orchards near Mt. Damavand 100km from Tehran, this design rests above its own sloping garden of apple trees and opens to a vista of mountains in the horizon. We aimed to preserve the natural and historical state of the area by leaving the garden relatively undisturbed while enhancing the views of the surrounding landscape.

Project II : Located in the north of Iran, this shoreline villa looks out across the Caspian Sea. One defining feature is the combination of the concepts of the Persian hoz and the Japanese onsen, in designing the central courtyard’s shallow pool. Likewise, a traditional iwan was included.

[Visit this project: http://www.firouzarchitect.com/#projects/house—shahrak-ferdows– ]

November 3, 2015 In Blog

Thoughts on Sustainability

How would you define “sustainability”?

Sustainability in regards to architecture includes these basic elements; efficiency, cost-effectiveness, preservation, green energy, and optimization of comfort. But, there is so much more depth behind these elements which comes to define what sustainability can be. By nature, it is not a static thing, but rather it informed by its environment and actively adapts to its context. In this way, it becomes a source of balance between the restorative, productive, and destructive forces of the natural systems we are all a part of. Ultimately, sustainability is an intelligent, productive and adaptable system of endurance.

November 2, 2015 In Glossary

Persian Architectural Glossary

ُُWe invite you to participate in this project to collect and correctly record the lexis of Iranian Architectural language. The history of Iranian architecture dates back to at least 5,000 BCE. Given this long, rich history of architectural practices invented and refined over time by Iranian artists and masons, this glossary of terms is relevant across the world. Architecture the world-over utilizes techniques and practices first innovated by the Persian civilization. Through this project, we can begin to conglomerate these innovations and designations to explore what there is to be learned from them. Further, the depth of intention behind architectural techniques and configurations becomes very clear with the vastness of vocabulary used to designate and define each element so specifically.

Persia is home to “some of the most majestic structures the world has ever seen” – Arthur Upham Pope

[Click Read More to view our current list]