Abasabad
The main difference between residential architecture and other public buildings lies in the way the site is defined, interpreted, and used as a source of design criteria for the architect. In public architecture, due to the diversity of users, spatial criteria must address shared perceptions of the space, making them generally broad and universal. In residential architecture, however, the project narrates the personal story of the client, which is then translated into space. Consequently, the design criteria are detailed, precise, and carefully selected. Despite its personal nature, housing also has a public dimension within the urban context, as it is the product of the interaction between the city as a physical environment and the citizen as the client. Distinguishing the influences of the urban context from the client’s personal expectations is particularly challenging due to their inherent interconnectedness. The main issue in residential architecture is finding the relationship between general and specific criteria, public and private, exterior and interior, city and citizen, and understanding how to intervene in these relationships.
Two general design approaches can be considered. The first approach aims to create something entirely new by redefining criteria and their relationships. While this may result in an innovative product, the final outcome may not align with the client’s mental model and could conflict with their lifestyle. The second approach focuses on refining and improving existing patterns, allowing the project to distinguish itself while remaining consistent with the context, minimizing disruptions to the client’s perception of space. This framework became our entry point for design. Given the client’s request for clear, comfortable, and fluent spaces, and the site’s location on Abbas Abad Street near Chaharbagh Abbasi in Isfahan, which possesses a distinct urban identity and structure, contextual harmony was chosen as the main design approach. The central design idea was to create tectonic continuity between the organization of the building, its form and spaces, the spatial components, and the surrounding context.
Continuity between front and rear layers, vertical and horizontal planes, and the creation of depth and intermediary spaces—which in traditional Iranian architecture was achieved through complex elements like muqarnas and framed panels—was reinterpreted in a simpler form using inclined cuts. By connecting horizontal and vertical surfaces through these cuts, frames were generated that, while offering a new interpretation of traditional patterns, maintained formal continuity with the surrounding context. This approach was applied not only to the façade but also to all areas requiring connection, including the lobby, entrance doors, planters, TV stands, structural bases, and lighting elements.
The plan was organized in a simple yet effective way: the kitchen and entrance divide the layout into private and public zones, while still maintaining spatial fluidity, creating formal and spatial continuity throughout the project. A consistent material palette and playful use of textures and proportions, applied to façades, landscaping, and interior spaces such as the lobby, staircase, parking, and floor finishes, strengthened the internal continuity and ensured visual harmony with the surrounding urban fabric. From a climatic perspective, this also mitigates environmental pollutants like airborne particulates, which can quickly deteriorate building façades. The building structure consists of reinforced concrete with double joists spanning the openings. For the HVAC system, a central mechanical room, air-cooled chiller, and fan coil system were employed, with all piping for heating, cooling, and domestic water concealed above the ceiling and accessible through suspended ceilings for future maintenance.
Beyond form and space, functionality is critical in residential architecture. Correct spatial organization, efficient interaction between sub-spaces, privacy, and functional elements that shape interior design are all key. In this approach, the final product is not just a building, but the result of a coherent architectural design process that creates meaningful space, and executive solutions that address the client’s personal requirements.