The complex stands in the former garden of the last reeve of Dehvanak Village, now a neighbourhood within Tehran. It embodies a concept of sustainability that encompasses personal relationships and memories of place as well as environmental concerns. Tree trunks from the old garden are retained in the central courtyard, which also contains a fountain, chess area and green beds for residents’ use. All 25 apartments receive daylight and air from three faces, and have private suspended ‘art gardens’, offering shade and a framework for climbing plants. Open passageways and two elevators visible from anywhere inside the building ensure that circulation is readable. Sitting areas are provided on each floor.

Source: Aga Khan Trust for Culture