Roof House: Redefining Residential Space on Industrial Terrain

Yahya Kashi’s Roof House challenges the boundaries of domestic architecture

Positioned at the entrance of Kermanshah province in Gilane-Gharb, Roof House stands as a striking anomaly—a residential structure perched on the flat roof of a car showroom. This bold placement in a non-residential, industrial context immediately disrupts conventional beliefs about where homes belong. Yahya Kashi’s design explores what remains when the familiar image of a house is dismantled, presenting the structure as “object debris” and inviting viewers to reconsider their understanding of domestic space.

The project’s conceptual framework is built around three transformative strategies: Destruction, Explosion, and Expansion. Destruction involves the deliberate deformation of the generic house by external forces, symbolizing the breakdown of traditional forms. Explosion exaggerates both structural and non-structural elements—beams, columns, windows, and doors—creating a sense of dynamic upheaval within the house. Expansion sees certain objects within the house dominating others, spreading their essence and altering the spatial hierarchy. These strategies are visually articulated through features such as a rooftop pool that extends its materiality across the surrounding space and destructured elements that overtake the original form.

Roof House’s realization required innovative construction techniques to integrate with the existing industrial structure. The original building’s framework was extended, and a Light Steel Frame (LSF) system was employed to minimize the additional structural load. This approach ensured both continuity and stability, allowing the new residential space to coexist with the underlying showroom. The final structure measures an impressive 15,000 mm by 32,000 mm by 20,000 mm, underscoring the ambitious scale of the intervention.

Research for the project focused on experimenting with the generic model of the house, aiming to transform its essence through the aforementioned strategies. The design process was driven by questions about how the concept of home could be reimagined from a fresh perspective. By embracing destruction, exaggeration, and expansion, the project offers a radical reinterpretation of domestic architecture, challenging both aesthetic and functional expectations.

Roof House has garnered international recognition, winning the Bronze A' Architecture, Building and Structure Design Award in 2025. This accolade celebrates designs that demonstrate technical ingenuity and creative vision, contributing to improvements in quality of life. The project’s visualizations, created by Mohammad Javad Kasae, further emphasize its experimental spirit and commitment to redefining residential architecture.

Yahya Kashi’s Roof House stands as a testament to the power of architectural innovation to provoke thought and inspire change. By questioning the very foundations of what constitutes a home, the project encourages a broader dialogue about the future of residential design in an ever-evolving urban landscape.