Fusion

The initial idea for this project emerged when the client needed to expand the administrative space of their factory while also seeking a location that could provide a place for rest and recreation for their family, as well as hosting special guests and customers for a few days. Given the factory’s geographical location in northern Iran, nestled within lush foothills and picturesque meadows, there was a unique potential for creating a recreational villa. However, the industrial nature of the factory environment posed a significant challenge. The primary challenge of this project was integrating workspaces with a recreational and restful environment and establishing both direct and indirect connections between two entirely contrasting functions. The key question was whether these two seemingly incompatible concepts—work and leisure—could be reconciled. Could spaces with such different characteristics be blended together? Is it possible to place a space filled with challenges, stress, and industrial noise alongside one that is meant to foster tranquility and provide a retreat from all the stressors of a workplace? More importantly, would the users of the villa, located within the factory complex, feel secure and relaxed among numerous workers with varying cultural backgrounds? Could this integration create challenges for the workers and affect their performance? Addressing these conflicting and diverse needs, as well as solving the connection between a space integrated within a harsh industrial environment and the surrounding lush, scenic nature, led us on an exciting and stressful design journey. This journey was born out of new experiences and a fresh perspective on human interaction in the face of two entirely different concepts. The building was designed so that the administrative and recreational functions, with their distinctly independent and different characters, would come together to form a cohesive structure. Our concept was to create a direct and intriguing connection within the building between the office and the recreational villa, while ensuring that users in each space do not experience an incongruous blend with the functions of the other space. The central core of the administrative area features a light and fluid structure filled with green openings that provide a visually calming experience for employees and ensure that natural light and fresh air maintain the human dignity of the users. The exterior shell of the building, in harmony with the factory environment, presents a solid and enclosed structure that visually aligns with the sharp-edged, sloped-roof industrial warehouses, concealing the internal human relations, functions, and interactions from outside observers as if keeping a secret. The internal connection between the recreational villa and the administrative building is formed by a meaningful bridge, facilitating the seamless movement of the client between the office and the villa, as well as allowing guests to transition without drawing attention. The recreational part of the building is designed to ensure that users do not feel they are living within a factory environment. The orientation and form of the building are designed to maximize the benefits of natural light, views of the surrounding forested foothills, and the cool breezes that originate from the southern mountains in the evenings. Ultimately, the fusion and integration of two completely different functions and the creation of a unified duality can be seen as a somewhat underexplored phenomenon in contemporary architecture, one that perhaps requires more attention and practice in the modern world. A world where technological advancements and widespread access to a multitude of amenities have introduced diverse and different aspects of living into human life, which might be considered a new facet of existence on this earth, one that we must learn to adapt to.