The Man and The House l ZAV Architects

The Man and The House: A Unique Blend of Various Realms

Saeid Khan, a man deeply passionate about mountains and armed with extensive knowledge in industrial construction, has carried his dual interests throughout his life. His affection for the mountains and nature, rooted in his affinity for metaphysics and imagination, coexists with his career in construction, which thrives on realism, technology, and logic. At the base of Mount Damavand, The Man and The House, a residence, embarks on an intriguing journey to explore the interplay between these seemingly contrasting realms of logic and fantasy in spatial design.

© Parham Taghioff

The Man and The House’s Design Concept

The Man and The House unfolds like a narrative, with three distinct chapters: the cellar, the in-between floor, and the attic, all interconnected by a central staircase. Situated on a sloped foothill, this 3-story architectural typology elegantly adapts to the natural contours of the land and the inhabitants’ spatial requirements, even giving rise to multiple attics in response to different spatial scenarios.

Axo. © ZAV Architects

With its sharp, oblique geometry, the cellar immerses inhabitants in a world of fantasy and the subconscious. Constructed from raw stone, it exudes an aura of mystique and safety. In stark contrast, the upper floors, designed by Saeid Khan’s penchant for light structures, embrace a more rational geometry of right angles. Clad in smooth white surfaces and adorned with expansive windows, they invite the outside landscape in.

© Soroush Majidi

While the upper and lower levels maintain a pronounced distinction, they seamlessly blend and flow into each other through vertical connections, creating a harmonious juxtaposition. With its right angles and panoramic windows framing the natural scenery, the upper floor forms a visual dialogue with the underground’s rhythmic natural stone pattern.

© Parham Taghioff

These seemingly opposing spaces interact mentally and architecturally, consistently finding ways to intermingle. This interaction is made tangible through the building’s intricate circulation system, which intertwines the exterior and interior spaces, ensuring that the dichotomy of logic and fantasy is explored and celebrated within The Man and The House.

© Soroush Majidi

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