The architect moved to rural Kelardasht to build the first of these villas and a studio for his sculpture. Visiting friends were impressed and commissioned their own creative retreats, all of which share a language characterised by the use of local stone and timber with labour-intensive construction. A community benefit has been the resurgence of traditional building techniques and use of sustainable local materials. The architect designed the interiors and furniture in each house using reclaimed wood. The area has become a popular retreat from Tehran and land values have increased by almost 500 percent in less than 20 years.
Source:
The Aga Khan Trust for Culture, 2011.
