Located on the northern edge of Kerman, Iran, this desert mansion explores a contemporary interpretation of traditional Iranian residential architecture, combining vernacular climatic strategies with a modern architectural language.
The design is fundamentally shaped by the extreme desert climate and the traditional distinction between summer and winter quarters. The northern part of the residence functions as the summer residence, incorporating a traditional Badgir (windcatcher) as a passive environmental system. The windcatcher captures and directs air into the building, supporting natural ventilation and reducing dependence on mechanical cooling during suitable climatic conditions.
The southern and southeastern portions accommodate the winter residence, positioned to benefit from solar exposure and improved thermal comfort during colder periods. This seasonal zoning allows the building to respond differently to the changing environmental conditions throughout the year.
The western wing contains the bedrooms. Its western façade is intentionally more enclosed to reduce exposure to intense afternoon solar radiation, while the rooms receive daylight and ventilation from the central courtyard. Additional bedrooms are located on the upper floor of the eastern winter wing.
The kitchen is positioned in the northeast, strategically connecting the summer and winter quarters and allowing it to efficiently serve both zones without disrupting their climatic separation.
At the center of the residence, the courtyard acts as both the social heart and the environmental core of the house. Vegetation, water, shaded spaces, and controlled openings contribute to creating a cooler and more comfortable microclimate. The courtyard also brings natural daylight deep into the building, reducing the need for artificial lighting during the day.
Sustainability in the project is approached primarily through passive design strategies rather than dependence on mechanical systems. Building orientation, seasonal zoning, controlled openings, shaded transitional spaces, thermal mass, natural ventilation, and solar control work together to reduce cooling and heating demands. The use of the Badgir reinforces the project's connection to traditional Persian passive-cooling techniques, translating centuries-old climatic knowledge into a contemporary residential context.
The spatial organization is based on the principle of breaking direct spatial axes, inspired by the sequencing traditionally found in Iranian bathhouses. Spaces are offset and layered to create transitional thresholds between exterior and interior. Beyond providing privacy, this strategy reduces direct solar penetration and creates intermediate shaded zones that contribute to the environmental performance of the house.
Water and vegetation are also integrated as climatic elements rather than purely decorative features. The central water feature and planted courtyards contribute to the perception and moderation of the microclimate, while drought-tolerant landscape strategies are suited to the arid context of Kerman.
The architecture combines traditional Iranian elements with contemporary forms and details. Arched openings, geometric screens, shaded terraces, courtyards, vegetation, water, and the windcatcher reinterpret regional architectural principles, while simplified volumes, restrained materials, and clean lines establish a contemporary identity.
Rather than treating sustainability as an additional technological layer, the project considers climate responsiveness as an integral part of its architectural identity. The house seeks to demonstrate how traditional environmental knowledge can be reinterpreted to create a contemporary, comfortable, and energy-conscious dwelling in one of Iran's arid regions.
