Z4re: The Green Building

Residential Building in Tehran Combines Tradition and Innovation

The Project site is located in a middle low-class area in the eastern part of Tehran. As this area is covered by traditional culture, the design team decided to utilize the full potential of local materials and culture to create a building that respects the architecture of the place while incorporating modernity and innovation. The main material used in Persian architecture, brick, greatly facilitated the guidelines for this sustainable project.

The building's unique feature is its green facade, which creates a microclimate in the building zone and acts as a second skin. Inspired by the ancient windcatchers of Yazd, the ventilated facade allows for air circulation between the masonry and the external facade, resulting in considerable energy savings and maintaining a pleasant internal temperature throughout the year.

The facade is composed of ghazaghi bricks, arranged in an asymmetric geometry of rectangles that are rotated to create openings and a visually striking pattern. This geometric play on the facade matches the surrounding buildings, ensuring the urban harmony of the area is preserved.

In addition to the green facade, a vertical garden covers the southern part of the building, specifically the master bedroom. The garden consists of 1100 ivy plants, which not only provide acoustic and climatic insulation but also purify the surrounding air and create a microclimate around the building. The plants are equipped with an automatic irrigation system that maintains the optimal humidity for their growth.

The 'Green Building' project started in May 2017 and was completed in March 2018 in Tehran, Iran. The design team's research focused on incorporating traditional elements of Iranian architecture, such as the use of bricks, while implementing innovative techniques to enhance sustainability and energy efficiency.

This exceptional design was awarded the Bronze A' Design Award in the Architecture, Building, and Structure Design category in 2019. The award recognizes the project's outstanding creativity, technical skill, and contribution to improving the quality of life through art, science, design, and technology.