Lead Architects: Mohsen Kazemianfard, Parima Jahangard
Client: Mr Tabrizian
Structure engineer: Hamed Nouri
MEP: Mahyar Sadeghian
City: Kashan
Country: Iran
Area: 3000 m²
Year: 2020
Kashan Residential Apartment is located on a 300-square-meter urban lot in the historic city of Kashan, Iran. Due to planning regulations and the limited site area, the building footprint occupies the entire plot, leaving no space for conventional ground-level landscaping. This condition became one of the key challenges of the project and significantly influenced the design approach.
The design draws inspiration from the rich architectural heritage of Kashan, a city renowned for its climate-responsive buildings and carefully crafted spatial qualities. Traditional elements such as shaded transitional spaces, controlled natural light, privacy considerations, and the use of local materials were studied and reinterpreted to address contemporary residential needs. Rather than replicating historical forms, the project seeks to translate the underlying principles of Kashan’s architecture into a modern residential building.
Climate was a major factor in shaping the design. Particular attention was given to mitigating the intense western sunlight, which can create excessive heat gain and reduce indoor comfort. The building envelope and openings were carefully designed to control solar exposure while maximizing natural light and ventilation.
The project also responds to its urban context. The site’s proximity to a nearby boulevard provides valuable open views and visual connections to the city, which were utilized to enhance the quality of the residential units. At the same time, the absence of green space on the ground floor encouraged the incorporation of light-filled internal spaces and carefully framed views to create a pleasant living environment.
By combining lessons from Kashan’s traditional architecture with contemporary design strategies, the project creates a residential building that is both responsive to its climate and connected to its urban surroundings, offering high-quality living spaces within a compact urban site.