Climate Responsive White Villa | EZ Studio
It is a renovation project, named White Villa, as the existing building has been preserved and its structure reinforced and only volumes have been added to improve its spatial performance. The house was designed for a young couple who wanted a peaceful weekend retreat. Free of the city’s uproar, they wanted to hold private ceremonies and social events. The house was designed in order to be constantly in touch with nature, meanwhile maintaining harmonious in-and-out relationship and privacy (appropriate to the local culture of the region).
Visit: EZ Studio
Heavily influenced by the characteristics of the site and surrounding landscape, which is defined by the region’s climate, the architect chose to embed the house in the topography. The intention was to employ free, renewable, and healthy resources especially, natural cross-ventilation, to ensure building blends in with its natural context. Nestling the bathroom space on the south side of the building (bedroom), not only helped to isolate the private parts from the garden zone (privacy) but also allowed improvement in thermal comfort and decrease thermal exchange between the interior and exterior parts, accordingly decrease in energy consumption. Using cavity walls and immobilized air within it were other factors that inhibit heat transfer.
In the garden zone, next to the entrance, stands the pool volume which acts as an air convertor, meanwhile uses the same architectural language. Considering water shortage, the existing pool’s volume (80000 liters) reduced (to 24000 liters). The remaining part divided into the utility department and Diwan (Diwan-khaneh), a cozy, social gathering space for family and their guests dug into the ground at a height of minus 180 centimeters. The architect chose a glass boundary between the pool and diwan space which transfers sun heat restored in water during daylight into Diwan space at night and helps improvement in thermal equilibrium.
The front facade has three large door systems and can be opened and closed (breathing) by hand easily. The door system protects the interior from too much sunlight, while at the same saving energy when closed. Pool (water), vegetation, wind, improve interior thermal comfort and door system and light help regulate micro-climate (sunny, windy, rainy) and thus giving users a customized view. Blurring boundaries between interior and exterior, the main living areas are coupled with terrace, pool, Diwan, and garden and offer inhabitants flexibility to combine spaces according to their needs.
On the north side of the building, the semi-opened volume(atrium) is defined as a new translation of Narenjestaan courtyard in Persian architecture; at the same point, elevated above Narenjestaan, the design represents a new morphology of prototype Persian windmill with the same pragmatical function. Therefore, the summer north-east wind meets the windmill, enters the Narenjestaan courtyard, patrolling among the foliage of evergreens, then enters the interior, proposes the health and well-being of its’ users.
Finished with white concrete-clad(facade), and handmade bricks (interior walls) which have high thermal mass, White Villa borrows these details to reduce its dependence on air conditioning in the summer or heating in the winter. Simple construction methods and close-recycled use of materials throughout the project allowed local builders without specialist knowledge to complete the building with a maximal amount of impact which helped to reduce the overall cost, subsequently created a new architectural benchmark for local architectural typology.
Fact File:
Designed by: EZ Studio
Project: White Villa
Project Type: Residential
Year of completion: 2020
Area: 160 sq.mt.
Location: Goldasht, Iran
Architect in charge: Pedram Ezadi Boroujeni
Design Team: Paria Ezadi
Client: Bahman Barkhordar
Photography: Ali Gorjian
Source: ArchDaily
“Viraam,” a 4000 sq ft house design that embodies its literal translation: “a pause.” The vision is to create a sanctuary for relaxation, introspection, and to escape from the constant demands of daily life – an urban void for personal retreat. Editor’s Note: “Viraam is not just a house, it’s a pause. A place to […]
The facade of this Indian contemporary house design strikes a careful balance between solids and voids, with sculpted forms that reveal the inner workings of the space. The design plays with light and shadow, creating visual depth and intrigue from the exterior. The form resembles a cuboid that has been scooped out, while the outer […]
This 5 storey building takes inspiration from ancient haveli architecture. “Hailing from north India, the family held deep nostalgia for haveli, large residences with communal courtyards called chowks, projecting balconies called jharokhas and intricate brick or stone lattice screens called jaalis, vernacular to many western and northern regions of India,” said SJK Architects partner Vaishali […]
Set in the serene landscape of Nashik, the Dabholkar Residence by GDA is a home, embracing stone clad walls. Here, tradition and contemporary design exist in harmony. Designed to reflect the family’s deep connection to tradition and art while embracing the style of contemporary living, it is a space where architectural details, heritage furniture, artwork […]
This remodelling project aimed to revitalise a load-bearing house while respecting its original integrity and adapting it to contemporary needs. The design approach prioritised minimal structural intervention, allowing the existing framework to guide spatial reconfiguration. Careful consideration was given to preserving the load-bearing walls, which formed the backbone of the original construction. Openings were strategically […]
Redefining Indian temple architecture, the relocation of the existing shrine due to a new residential project presented an opportunity to design a space that seamlessly integrates tradition with contemporary needs. The given 400 sq. ft. site was envisioned not merely as a shrine to Lord Datta, a local deity, but as a vibrant community space, […]
Nestled within a 30×40 ft plot is the compact house design in Banashankari 6th Stage, Bengaluru. This residence for the Ellappans, reimagines traditional Indian living in a contemporary, spatially dynamic form. Designed for a family of three- Mr. Ellappan, his wife, and their teenage son- the house expresses a deep connection to vernacular roots while […]
This multi generational home is a testament to the ability of the design practice to blend aesthetic appeal with practical functionality. Keeping environmental sustainability and the welfare of the community at the forefront, Bhowal designed a home that was truly ahead of its time. His visionary approach and the Design Consortium’s expertise in providing a […]
The Indian farmhouse accommodation goes on to capitalize on a mature evolutionary synthesis of ancestral aesthetics and contemporary features. With this, the outside and the inside of farmhouses became places of comfort with nature. In this blog, we delve into 15 incredible farmhouse designs that entail a harmonious blending. While they exhibit different spaces in […]
Pillar design is a cornerstone of architectural elegance, seamlessly blending structural support with aesthetic appeal. Our blog, “50 Best Pillar Design Inspirations,” celebrates this essential element, showcasing a variety of styles from classical Doric and Ionic to contemporary and avant-garde innovations. Whether you’re an architect, interior designer, or a design enthusiast, these pillar design inspirations […]