1st Place (Joint): Namak Restaurant, Shiraz

Location: Afifabad Street, Corner of Alley 18, Shiraz
Client: Farhad Fakhrpour · Architect Associate: Saghar Khakdan Dalir · Construction: Alireza Emtiaz, Arash Tafraee, Ali Tarighat, Karimi, Ahad Gheibi, Abbas Farzad, Majid Zare · 3D: Farid Mahboubi

Namak Restaurant (Namak Fastfood) won joint First Place in the Public Buildings category at the 12th Memar Award with 12 jury points. Designed by Alireza Emtiaz, the project draws its concept from rock salt crystals found in nature. The openings in the north facade were determined through a balance between structure, a sense of coziness, space and light. Salt rock, formed over thousands of years through geological activity, possesses unique beauty when illuminated — the local refraction of light in its crystalline fractures intensifies when water cascades over it. In the washroom design, water flows via electric sensor onto the salt surface before draining through a groove for handwashing. The transparent facade reflects the historic house across the street, creating a dialogue between modern and traditional architecture.