Pati: How an Unfinished Structure Became a Distinct Villa in Someh Sara / Ranked Second at the Memar Award 1404

The Pati Villa in Someh Sara, designed by Eger Designers Atelier and Midan Office, earned second place at the Memar Award 1404 for its unadorned architecture, double-shell roof and connection with nature.

Safir Arjan - The Patti project in Some Sera is an example of contemporary Iranian architecture that offers a different definition of a residential villa based on simplicity, transparency and intelligent use of existing facilities. This project, which was designed by Atelier Dezaran Eger in collaboration with Maidan Office, instead of relying on common decorations and complications, focuses on the quality of the space, the connection between inside and outside, and the honest display of building materials and elements. Patti with a base of 102 square meters was built on a land of 457 square meters in the Sarai monastery of Gilan province and won the second place of single-unit residential group in the 25th period of the architect award 1404.

From a half-finished structure to a different idea for life

When the project was proposed to the designers, there was a part of the original structure of the building including eight concrete columns and beams executed in the first level. The initial request was to design a villa of about 100 square meters that has a higher quality than similar examples in conventional constructions; However, the condition of the structure and its placement on the ground presented challenges to the designers.

One of the main issues was the limitation of the width of the communication routes around the building; The paths that were supposed to connect the northern and southern parts of the site. Instead of just looking for a solution to cover the existing structure, the design team looked at the problem from another angle: if the service functions are gathered in a compact and central volume, what space will be created to communicate with the surrounding environment?

This question became the basis for the formation of Patty's main idea. The designers decided to place parts such as the kitchen, bathrooms and clothes storage spaces in a central core so that the main spaces of the house can communicate with the outside environment from different directions. The result is a villa that, instead of being divided into many closed rooms, is organized around a service core and has more spatial transparency.

patty A house with minimum coverage and maximum communication with the environment

The name of the project is taken from the word "Patti"; A word that has empty, simple, naked and obvious meanings mentioned in the dictionary. This meaning is well related to the approach of architects in building design.

In the eyes of designers, becoming patty means leaving aside unnecessary covers and revealing the true nature of building components. Just like a space where only the necessary parts are covered and the rest of the surfaces are able to be seen and communicate with the environment, this villa also tries to distance itself from covering its spaces and elements for no reason.

Of course, this nudity does not mean ignoring the privacy or comfort of the residents. The parts that need privacy are covered using curtains and suitable elements; In contrast, more public spaces remain open and transparent as much as possible. In this way, instead of always being defined by rigid walls, the border between inside and outside changes according to the needs of daily life.

This approach has been continued in the way of dealing with the structure, materials, executive details and even furniture. At Patti, simplicity is not just an appearance feature, but has become the main decision-making process in various stages of design and construction.

three main areas; Services, life and leisure

The spatial organization of the project is based on three main areas: service sector, living space and leisure area. This division is followed both in the plan and in the section of the building and helps to define the different functions more clearly.

service sector; Wooden core in the center of the house

The kitchen, bathrooms and private spaces for storing clothes are gathered in the form of a central volume covered with wood. This core, in addition to organizing service functions, has become the main element of interior space organizer.

Placing this section in the center of the building allows the surrounding spaces to have more freedom in how to communicate with the environment. At the same time, the central core plays different roles in different ways and is not limited to a closed space for deploying services.

One of the interesting ideas of the project is to use the ceiling of this volume as a usable surface. In this way, the upper level of the service core also becomes a part of the spatial experience of the house and provides the possibility of resting and being at a different height.

living space; The link between inside and outside

Living, dining and bedrooms are located around the central core. In this section, two-way communication between the interior and the exterior is very important. Glass windows and openings allow natural light to enter the house and the living spaces communicate with the landscape and the surrounding area.

In this organization, the interior space does not become a set of rooms completely separate from each other, but its different parts are defined in relation to each other and to the surrounding environment. The result is a space that, despite the limited infrastructure, has more capacity for diverse experiences of everyday life.

leisure space; Extending life to the outdoor area

The third arena is dedicated to activities that are carried out in direct connection with the open space. The extended platform, swimming pool, movie viewing area and recreation spaces are located in this section and expand the living area from the inside of the building to the outside area.

Here, the open space is not just an area around the building; Rather, it is considered a part of the functional plan of the project. Extending the floor and ceiling and creating semi-open spaces increases the possibility of using the outside environment and makes the boundary between the residential space and the recreational space more flexible.

A two-layer roof and a platform that goes beyond the boundaries of the building

One of the important decisions in the design of the patty is the extension of the floor and ceiling beyond the original boundary of the building. By continuing the existing concrete slab, the architects have created a wider platform that is not limited to the interior spaces and expands in relation to the surrounding area.

In the upper part, a simple roof and cheek protection is formed on the existing beams. This roof, using wooden elements and metal covering, while coordinating with the familiar constructions of the region, plays an important role in creating shade and protecting spaces from rain and direct sunlight.

The roof of the two-layer project is designed; A solution that is directly related to the climatic conditions of Gilan and the need to protect the interior from rain. The extension of the outer skin, in addition to creating more covered space, helps direct rainwater to the green strip adjacent to the side paths.

In addition to these arrangements, it is also important to place the living space at a height above the ground level. The floor of the building is separated from the ground due to the thickness of the foundation; A decision that, among other details, helps to make the interior more compatible with the environmental conditions.

Glass, white curtains and privacy settings

Glass windows are one of the determining elements in the formation of Pati's architectural character. While maintaining the visual connection with the environment, these windows allow natural light to enter and help to open up the interior space.

However, transparency in this project does not mean the complete elimination of spatial boundaries. White curtains allow residents to adjust the amount of visibility and privacy according to their situation and needs. As a result, the space of the house can change from an open and continuous state to a more private environment at different times.

Double-window openings also play a role in improving environmental conditions. The possibility of opening the windows provides natural ventilation in the space, and at the same time, the design of the roof and protective layers help to communicate with the open air without direct contact with rain.

Overall, the set of these decisions tries to balance transparency, thermal comfort, natural ventilation and privacy; The balance that is especially important in a villa located in the humid climate of Gilan.

Familiar materials and faithful representation of details

Patti also follows a simple and unpretentious approach in choosing materials and how to implement details. Instead of extensive use of decorative coatings, architects have tried to work with available and familiar elements in the local environment. The roof consisting of wooden beams and metal covering, cement block walls and the use of wooden coverings in the interior parts are part of this approach.

In the interior, the service core is distinguished from other sections by covering OSB boards. Kitchen cabinets and some surfaces are also formed with the same material language, and along with metal plates and concrete elements, they create a simple and practical combination.

The important thing is that the materials in this project do not try to hide their true identity behind multiple layers. Each element is displayed as much as possible with the same nature and quality it has. This approach continues in the details of openings, mechanical and electrical installations, furniture and semi-open metal structures of the area.

Paying attention to the local environment is not limited to the choice of materials. Cooperation with technical forces and local technicians has also been a part of the process of advancing the project; An approach that connects the design idea and construction methods in the region.

Architecture serves the quality of life, not the display of luxury

What sets Patti apart from many conventional villas is the effort to increase the quality of life without relying on unnecessary complications. In this project, the value of architecture is more than looking for expensive decorations or show forms, it is formed in the way of organizing the space, the quality of communication with the environment and the use of existing facilities.

The pre-implemented concrete structure was a limitation that could lead the design path towards common solutions; But the architects used this situation to create a different space by defining a central service core, expanding the floor and ceiling and opening the windows.