Vote via Email
1
Answers
2
Email
Answer questions for voting
Minimum 10 characters
Minimum 10 characters 0 / 3000

Horno (named after the traditional roof lanterns of Yazd)

Located in one of Yazd's historic neighborhoods, the project began with a simple question: does every intervention need to add another building to the city? Rather than introducing a new volume, we chose to build within the ground, preserving the historic skyline and the continuity of the urban fabric. The underground design responds directly to Yazd's hot, arid climate, where the thermal mass of the earth creates a more stable indoor environment and reduces cooling demand. The excavated soil was reused as the primary construction material, forming rammed earth walls that connect the site, the building, and its material into a single process. Natural light and ventilation are provided through traditional Horno roof lanterns, reinterpreted as contemporary architectural elements. Instead of becoming a landmark, the project seeks to belong to its surroundings, demonstrating that architecture can strengthen a place through restraint, continuity, and respect for its context.

Location

Yazd, Iran

About the Applicant

Pars University of Architecture and Art, Master’s Degree in Architecture, 2024–present. We are a team of three architecture students brought together by a shared interest in architecture that responds to both climate and context. Our work explores local materials, environmental performance, and the relationship between contemporary design and cultural heritage through research and architectural competitions.

Project Authors

Armin Houri, Zahra Salehi, Mohmmad Moein Negahban

Images

Armin Houri