CHIZARI RESIDENTIAL APARTMENT

1st Place, Apartment Buildings — 14th Memar Award

The project site is located at the intersection of a main and secondary road, where the requirement to widen both roads resulted in a setback on two perpendicular sides and a considerable reduction in the project's footprint. Under these conditions, the 45-degree chamfer — typically avoided in special project designs — could extend beyond the standard two meters to compensate for lost floor area. This special regulation, which essentially imposes a triangular tip on the building, became the design inspiration for the project.

The design goal for this ten-story project, commissioned in 2011, was to create a unified, coherent volume that would have a strong artistic expression while also treating the interior spaces as an integrated whole. The interior spaces, while properly separated and arranged in plan, were also coordinated with the project envelope design, so that more public areas requiring greater views and light were placed in the central sections, while more private areas needing less visibility were situated at the facade edges.

The design drew inspiration not from traditional architectural forms or ornament but from the concept of unity in multiplicity. In traditional architecture, the use of a single module expanded across different scales in various building elements was evident. In this building, this same idea was employed, and the variety of materials was reduced to natural stone and wood. Stone, primarily known as a symbol of classical architecture, was reinterpreted here to demonstrate how this natural, ancient material could offer a fresh expression.

Creating vitality, diversification, and consequently enhancing the quality and efficiency of common spaces was another important design goal. Green space continues onto the roof, transforming it into a pleasant area for residents' recreational and sports activities.