A Beveled Building

A Beveled Building in Najafabad, Isfahan, designed by Ayeneh Office (Ali Dehghani, Ali Soltani, Atefeh Karbasi), won Third Place in the Public Buildings category at the 13th Memar Award (2013). When the project was proposed, the skeleton and ceilings had already been constructed, and the client had unsuccessfully attempted to relocate an obstructive power line in front of the building.

The architects' good fortune was that the harsh western light, an unsightly neighboring facade, and the obstructive power line were all on the same side, while a large adjacent tree, favorable light, and views toward the mountains north of the city were on the other side. The architects decided to define mask-like projections from the facade surface that would direct views. The white color of the facade both better reveals the play of light and shadow on its surface and, in that chaotic environment, lends the facade tranquility and distinction. The plot area is 90 square meters with a total built area of 500 square meters.