© Francesco Monaco . Pubblicata il 10 Giugno 2009.

The project result proposes an identifiable object that fulfils its representative role without quitting the relationship with the peculiar context of Teheran. The rectangular lot is set in front of an arterial street tracing the north-south orientation. The location borders westward on a main road, southward on a secondary road, whereas on the left sides on building areas. The building volumetric composition derives from a combination of two architectural units: one heavy and matt, the other light and transparent. Their set is traced by a different relationship with public and private areas. A monolithic unit, containing services and the main vertical circulation and forming the main structural system, is located on the east side. A floor-to-ceiling aperture system holes the fibercement block in order to light the interior, whereas a thin etching characterizes the south elevation in order to emphasize the vertical circulation which allows entering the office space and the apartments. The other part of the building has an opposite concept because of its direct connection with the public place near the street. It has the function to communicate, represent and publicize the trademark of the building. The south-west elevation turns in the south to get a better solar exposure and so the public place extends as it comes closer to the crossroads. This place, characterized by a complex of sheets of water, gardens and sittings, is the contact with the entrance to the commercial units. The different gross floor areas suggest a slant of the elevation which increases the interior natural lighting. The lateral elevation can resume the concept of the project emphasizing all of the different composition parts. Another aspect is the play of lights and transparencies created by a sheet which lays down on the shingle structure, slides on the main elevation and folds becoming an entrance shelter. This second skin has different types of opacity on the strength of the interior program: - the upper part functions as shingle and supports photovoltaic panels. Between this shingle and the covering floor there’s a floor used as place for installations. It breaks in correspondence to the patio gardens; - on the main elevation it becomes a perforate copper sheet which function as solar shield avoiding the overheating; - in the lower part it gains thickness being shelter. This increases as the public place enlarges and here a circular hole let pass a three, which represents the link between the green and the commercial system.

© Francesco Monaco . Pubblicata il 10 Giugno 2009.

© Francesco Monaco . Pubblicata il 10 Giugno 2009.