Contemporary Architecture

Saman Multi-family Residential, Lavasan

Ahmad Reza Babashahi·Photos: Mohammad Hassan Ettefagh·Memar 142 — 23rd Memar Award
Saman Multi-family Residential, Lavasan

Throughout the entire design process, our effort was to arrive at a model that might serve as an example for apartment houses on the outskirts of the city — one that, on the one hand, would not resemble a typical urban apartment, and on the other, while responding to the site's needs, would not impose a gravitational or visual burden on its surroundings.

In the interior design, every effort was made so that minimal events would occur within the interior space, and nothing would draw the gaze inward — instead directing it outward toward the surrounding landscapes.

The Saman building at twilight from the north, showing the illuminated staircase and windows against the blue mountain backdrop, with the distinctive angular massing visible
North facade at twilight — the illuminated staircase and angular massing against the Lavasan mountains

Considering the lifestyle, the client's requirements, and the climatic conditions of the region, we combined the neighboring spaces with terraces and vertical circulation to create newer, more fluid possibilities for unforeseeable events.

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Design Concept
Massing concept diagram showing the building program stacked as House-House-House-Parking-House from top to bottom, with the interior design directing views outward toward surrounding landscapes
Massing concept — the program stacks House-House-House-Parking-House, directing views outward
Exploded axonometric drawing showing the volumetric decomposition of the building and the red circulation elements — stairs, corridors, terraces, and bridge — connecting the mothers floor, girls floor, and grandmothers floor
Exploded axonometric — red circulation elements (stairs, corridors, terraces, bridge) connect the family floors
Exterior Views
The building seen from a distance on the hillside of Lavasan, showing it perched above an exposed rock cliff with the white volumes stacking upward
Seen from below — perched on the Lavasan hillside
View of the building from the road below showing it rising from the exposed rock cliff with its angular white volumes
From the road — rising from the rock cliff
External staircase running along the hillside connecting different levels of the building
External staircase on the hillside
Covered walkway and ramp along the building's hillside with the parking level below
Covered walkway connecting levels
View under the covered walkway with parking level visible below and the staircase rising above against the mountainous landscape
Under the covered walkway — parking below, mountain views beyond
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Interior Spaces
Living room with large panoramic windows framing mountain views, minimal interior with white walls
Living room — panoramic mountain views
Another living space with wide horizontal windows overlooking the valley and mountains
Wide windows directing the gaze outward
Interior stairwell with balconies at each level, natural light streaming in from above
Interior stairwell — light streams down through the balconied levels
Terraces and Views
Upper-floor balcony with panoramic views of the Lavasan valley and surrounding mountains
Upper balcony — panoramic valley views
Terrace looking west over the Lavasan landscape with mountains in the background
Terrace — westward mountain landscape
Balcony view looking north over the green valley of Lavasan
Balcony — northern valley view
Corner balcony with railing offering a dramatic view of the barren mountains
Corner balcony — dramatic mountain panorama
Corridor opening onto a balcony with mountain views to the north
Corridor to balcony — northern view
Terrace with a planter box and mountain views, showing the minimal railing design
Terrace planter — minimal railing, maximum view
Bathroom opening onto a private balcony with mountain views
Bathroom with private balcony
Ground-floor terrace under the overhang of the upper volume, with a view of the garden and entrance
Ground-floor terrace under the overhang
Drawings
Floor plans showing all levels of the building with the stacked unit arrangement, each floor slightly shifted to create the angular massing
Floor plans — all levels showing the shifted unit arrangement
Four cross-section drawings showing the building cut in different directions, revealing the interior organization and relationship to the hillside
Cross sections — four views through the building
Four elevation drawings showing all sides of the building with the characteristic stepped white volumes
Elevations — all four sides

Project Data

Location: Lavasan, Tehran Province

Architect: Ahmad Reza Babashahi

Photography: Mohammad Hassan Ettefagh

Program: 4 residential units + parking + underground levels

Memar Magazine
Iranian Bimonthly on Architecture and Urban Design · Issue 142 · December 2023 – January 2024
RestorationMemar 142Adaptive ReuseWinnerMemar AwardLavasan23rd Memar AwardIran

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Saman Multi-family Residential, Lavasan