Shahrzad Mixed-Use Building

After two months of research & feasibility study on the site location in Tehran, the result is, we face a lack of high-quality centers specifically for women in Iran. In fact, most spaces allocated for women's beauty, sports, and other activities are not designed, second-hand, and rented. Since the structure of the building was already built, it made it a challenging project for us. No openings or voids had been created & during discussions with the client, 1200 square meters of the project were demolished to enhance the value of the building by creating empty space. So we designed a complex space for the welfare and comfort of women, consisting of a gym, beauty salon, pool, galleries, and cultural spaces. The first three floors are for general use, but the other five top floors are specifically detached for women only because in Iran, in some activities, women & men are not allowed to be together. Considering these functions, we can divide this project into two characteristics: the first, feminine and flexible, and the second, geometrical and cubic. The most important part of the design was the colorful facade. The facade has two main features: The first one is the different transparencies (punches), and the second is the colored layer. Over 14000 triangles with 8 different colors and 5 punch modules are manufactured for this project. This shell is wrapped around the upper floors due to the social conditions in Iran and the restrictions on women's clothing, extending into the central void. It plays a role in maintaining unity in the overall volume, causing the facade to have no distinct boundary between the exterior and interior of the project, transforming it into a continuous and ongoing event. Additionally, there is potential for this shell to open up with changes in the current clothing conditions in Iran. The facade design is inspired by traditional Persian women's clothing, characterized by vibrant colors. After analyzing various regional styles, red was identified as the most popular color. The facade's colors are arranged based on the prevalence of hues found in these traditional garments. All the spaces behind the building's shell receive sufficient natural light, and this shell features a punched structure with transparent voids and solid sections. This building is the first shopping mall designed for women, and this can be an effective step towards future positive changes in our community. It is worth mentioning that this project is under construction.