Lead Architects: Mohsen Kazemianfard, Parima Jahangard
Client: Mr Tabrizi
Construction: Dia construction group
City: Tehran
Country: Iran
Area: 30 m²
Year: 2020


Thinness Derived from Thickness

A solid mass can be imagined as countless thin layers. By removing its inner layers while preserving the outer shell, the mass becomes hollow, permeable, and inhabitable.

Himeh Jewelry Gallery occupies a 30 m² retail unit in a shopping centre in Tehran. As the space was leased temporarily, the project was conceived as a freestanding, demountable object independent of the existing walls, floor, and ceiling, allowing it to be dismantled and relocated.
The design draws inspiration from the spatial organization of traditional Iranian bazaars. Vaults along the main axis define the customer circulation space, while secondary vaults form the vendors’ display areas. This familiar typology is reinterpreted through contemporary materials and construction methods.
The interior was conceived as a solid volume gradually carved to create the main circulation path and display niches. The remaining shell expresses the idea of a thick mass transformed into a thin architectural envelope. The space above the object accommodates building services, while the gap between the object and the perimeter walls forms a hidden circulation route for staff, allowing vendors to move independently from customers.
To achieve a lightweight, semi-transparent appearance, the structure is made from laser-cut perforated steel sheets. All components were prefabricated and assembled on site using bolted connections, enabling the installation to be easily dismantled and reused.
The domed forms are constructed from a series of single-curved steel elements rather than expensive three-dimensional pressed panels, demonstrating how complex geometries can emerge from simple, economical construction techniques.
The entire project is based on a modular system, with the complete gallery formed by repeating a single prefabricated module eight times. This approach reduced construction time and cost while meeting all functional requirements.