Heterotopia

Hybrid Shahin villa project, spanning a 7000-square-meter plot in the Shahin Villa area of Alborz Province, has been meticulously designed. With an approximate built area of 55,000 square meters, this project aims to become one of the largest and most contemporary commercial complexes in the region.

The primary focus during the design phase was to explore the nature of the new generation of urban multifunctional projects and understand the differences between mixed-use and hybrid projects in present era. The concept of hybridity has gained prominence over the past three decades, initially introduced by individuals such as Koolhaas and further developed by architects like Steven Holl. While initially emerging in the skyscrapers of New York, the concept of hybridity has now expanded in Asian cities due to the astronomical growth in land value. The notion of hybridity arises from a pragmatic architectural paradigme, contrasting with the architectural concept of the "Social Condenser."

Given the project's significance in the region, a study was conducted on various Iranian architectural history to identify a typology that embodies hybrid character, serves diverse functions, and provides multiple experiences for the user. Among the tradition architectural elements, persian gardens stood out for their multifunctionality and multivalence.

 Historically, persian gardens symbolized the four elements of life or representing the notion of paradise. In a later interpretation by Michel Foucault, persian gardens could be considered as a heterotopia (a place that transforms and manipulate one's perception and imagination).

According to the concept of heterotopia, this project was designed as a inverted persian garden, interpreting the geometry of persian gardens. The intersection of the central axis were previously Kooshk located now serves as an empty space, symbolizing the absence of a traditional Kooshk but with a similar function. The traditional garden's surrounding grids and the four corners are inverted, transforming into building mass.

The access within the garden were traditionally introvert, are combined with inbetween void in this project, forming extended terraced spaces moving from the outside to the inside of the project. These terraces include climbing spaces, pickle ball space, CrossFit spaces, and a swimming pool interconnected by promenade stairs.