The winner of a competition for a mixed-use building scheme, London-based Kamvari Architects has unveiled the design for Zartosht, a 300,000 square-foot retail and office building in Tehran, Iran. The building's design is based largely on local cultural contexts, like the region’s reputation for renowned fabric and textile shops, and environmentalism, particularly with respect to solar energy.
Open on three sides, each face of the building has an individual solar load in accordance to its orientation. With these varying loads in mind, each parametrically designed façade is louvered, so that it can open and close based on weather conditions. Not only does this reduce overall heat gains inside the building, but it also allows for daylight to filter through windows as needed, minimizing the need for interior lighting and cooling systems.
“The overall aim here is to create a new precedent in terms of quality retail and office space for the city of Tehran. The design, greatly influenced by the local region and the long and illustrious history of architecture within Iran, makes every attempt to use advanced design tools as means of creating a sustainable and innovative building.”
In addition to office and retail space, the building has two larger areas—at the ground level and on the rooftop—catered for public activity. Furthermore, the eastern façade of Zartosht will be left blank in order to allow for the addition of neighboring buildings, and the transformation of the streetscape.
As the only RIBA registered practice in the Tehran area, Kamvari has begun to build more in Iran, according to growing opportunities for investment and international consulting.
Learn more about the project in the images below, or here.
News via Kamvari Architects.
