Saadat Historic house | The Residency of the Manouchehri Foundation Kashan  - 2018

In the heartland of Iran adjacent to the great Maranjab Desert and the Salt Lake sits the historic city of Kashan. With archaeological sites dating back 8000 years and world-renowned for its glazed ceramics and textile arts, today it is also a veritable treasure trove of historic houses.

The restoration and renovation of this 140-year-old historic house--with its introverted garden courtyards on three levels covering over 1000 square meters of closed, semi-closed and open spaces constantly flowing into one another -- reconciles the past with the present.

Designed as the residency of a heritage NGO and its research institute whose aim is to help protect, preserve, and promote historic cities while imbuing them with contemporary relevance, the design juxtaposes age-old traditions of Iranian architecture and crafts with those of cutting-edge contemporary materials, details, and techniques. The once dilapidated and partially collapsed building has been brought back to its original glory with daring interventions, paring down of traditional motifs and an unusual selection of new materials, colors, and furniture. This design approach has infused the spirit of the house with a compelling contemporary edge, manifesting the idea that historic places are not irrelevant relics of the past, but brimming with the potential of a vibrant life today.


Design Features:

Respecting the architectural integrity of the original structure by rebuilding the demolished spaces as they appeared before, using the same natural, breathable materials of mud bricks, stucco and wood, has allowed the building to maintain its authenticity and its healing qualities.

In subterranean spaces with organically-shaped earthen walls and ceilings, daring architectural interventions create functional orthogonal plans, while new ceilings create a second layer of skin, in places exposing parts of the original historic structure.

Exquisitely-cut complex decorative patterns used in traditional stucco, wood and mirrored-glass works have been pared down, giving them an instant contemporary feel.  Modern amenities, such as mechanical units, have been concealed behind laser-cut, painted metal sheets in fresh designs inspired by Persian motifs.

Wet spaces such as kitchens and washrooms have been fitted with a rare selection of natural stones in harmony with the building. A range of onyx in a multitude of colors from quarries across the country has been used to adorn the most intimate spaces of the house, the guest bathrooms. Giving each room its name and its color theme, the arduously sourced, carefully designed and impeccably cut slabs of pink, green, gold, blue and amber onyx of the shower walls not only imbue the daily ritual with healing energy, but also offer a visual feast where each slab doubles as a canvas of magical and mysterious landscapes.

For the interior floor finishes, a cutting-edge German technology based on natural materials has been employed to render plain uninterrupted expanses of flooring.  The stucco finish of the interior walls seamlessly blends in with the natural marble-powder and lime floors to create a jewelry-box effect that highlights the carefully procured objects, furnishings and floor coverings as colorful gems.

Awards

◆ Architizer A+ : Architecture + Restoration Popular Choice Award 2019

◆ Architecture Masterprize : Architectural Design / Restoration & Renovation 2019


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