The capital of Kerman, located in Iran, presents Narbon Villa, which displays architectural advancement within cultural preservation dimensions. This place, comprised of a pomegranate garden in the heart of town, is a perfect blend of old elements that are in line with the modern day, making the entire garden an oasis that portrays the city's rich cultural heritage.
Honoring the Past in the Present
The journey begins with preserving the garden's original thatched wall, a nod to the site's storied past. By creating a new wall behind it, the architects redefine the boundaries of the space, evoking a sense of nostalgia and inviting passersby to reminisce about days gone by. A glass door is a gateway, inviting neighbors and visitors to share in the garden's splendor. It has ancient sycamore trees and a meandering watercourse that winds through the agricultural landscape.
Connecting with Nature
When stepping into the villa, you will see a cave with a sunken court that provides excellent shade from the burning hot sun. This architecture contributes to the removal of boundary lines between indoor areas and the outdoor natural environment, which is done by local natural conditions and customs. The monument's roof spans two big cracks, called "skies," and provides fresh air and exciting shadow shapes after sunrise and before sunset. The sunlight reflects on the walls and the architectural parts, while at the same time, the atrium converts the immaculate villa into a living artwork that will be a good vantage point for exploring or thinking about.
The villa is a pavilion at a conceptual level that serves as a microclimate by creating a buffer from the outside world, where the residents can maintain sixty percent of their spaces open to natural light and wind. The second gap offers visitors a peak into the rooftop area with multiple walls and stony roof pads that help them find shade and shelter without natural cover. These villa structures not only help avoid overheating but are also used as spatial elements to emphasize the surrounding landscape, creating a friendship of nature and construction. At night, the rooftop goes beyond a place of mere habitation. It became the perfect spot for star gazing, movie nights, and evening get-togethers, changing the stereotypical perspective of what was traditionally the neglected roof in Iranian society.
(Photo: Mohammad Hassan Ettefagh)
Narrating Emotions
With the help of the starting point villa, we reached directly to the core of it, which was made up of broken bricks from the stories of its numerous generations of inhabitants. These bricks are sure examples of aliveness—an ever-present human emotion, which, when combined, makes a beautiful rug that is a forever-on memory. The villa visitors walk along the corridors and cozy corners of the labyrinthine for the night, getting the sensation of historicity and tradition: each corner reveals a little something about the Kerman soul.
Fenakvard, Nazkohir Villa conveys a message that today's Iranian architecture still bears traces of ancient Iranian architecture, which has turned into a symbol of immortality. Careful conservation and remarkable design by Gera Studio Architects allow one to admire this location's natural and cultural heritage. This journey of discovering the beauty of natural phenomena and the importance of cultural legacy is what all who enter this sanctuary are about to learn.