2nd Place: Earrings Residential Building, Tehran
Location: Darakeh, Ahmadpour Street, No. 25 · Client and Director: Ebrahim Mousavi · Supervision: Reza Habibzadeh · Design Associate: Sheida Etemad · 3D Modeling and Rendering: Hossein Mirzajani, Hadi Fahimi · Structural Consultant: Nader Shokoufi · Photography: Parham Taghioff, Farhoud Haghi, Sheida Etemad · Area: 1,281 m2 · Total Built Area: 6,700 m2
Kamran stops on the sidewalk. Before him lies a large pool. He must cross the stone bridge. He hears the sound of water. Tonight, too, he must pass over the water. Facing him is the wooden door of the house, flanked by tall glass panels on either side. Through the glass, the entrance hall is visible. He leans on his cane and says haltingly: "What is that turquoise light over there?" From that vantage point, the turquoise-colored wall of the entrance hall can be seen. But in Kamran's mind, this is the same old light. The radiance of a girl's dress whose presence once completed the garden. On that night when everything was so terrifying and the world spun around him, that very light had reminded him of life. Before they enter the house, he removes his glasses. The images before him become blurred and hazy. Just like the night he first came here. Now he takes his steps more firmly, more quickly. Hearing the sounds, seeing the shadows of the garden, and smelling the greenhouse calms him. He recognizes the river stones beneath his feet and understands that not everything has been lost.
He reaches the metal door where the earrings swing upon it. Leila walks ahead and opens the door. It creaks softly and turns slowly on its hinges. Kamran does not step forward. He simply opens and closes the door again, listening to that sound. In his imagination, a portal opens. A metal hinge turns. A creak sounds and someone brings him the light and the lovely voice of Zhaleh. Kamran leans his hand against the wall and passes through the doorway. He touches the pendant hung on the door. Leila says: "Each of the homes has one of these." The metal leaf on its short ring spins once and returns to its place. Kamran seems ten years younger. He stands upright and runs his hand over it: "This is my mother's earring. I left it here before I went away."
(An excerpt from the novel "Earrings," written by Sheida Etemad)