SHORT DESCRIPTION

Savan House is not merely a villa but a spiritual and spatial journey in the temperate forests of northern Iran where architecture becomes a dialogue between human presence, nature and time. The name comes from the Gilaki word Savan meaning a semi open threshold between inside and outside, refuge and openness. Inspired by the spiral geometry of a snail shell, the design symbolizes continuity and ascension. The journey begins at the forest edge, moves into the contemplative calm of a courtyard and culminates on a rooftop with boundless views. Gradual shifts in scale, light and elevation guide the user from openness toward serenity. Three main challenges shaped the project: ensuring privacy while remaining open to views, achieving climatic responsiveness in a humid environment and integrating a contemporary form into the natural site. The result is a design that collaborates with nature rather than imposing upon it. Traditional Iranian layering between inner and outer realms is reinterpreted as spatial strategy. Public functions extend to the edges while private spaces cluster around the courtyard, the social and climatic heart of the house. This core provides pause, interaction and comfort through cross ventilation and daylight control. Exposed concrete defines the primary structure, chosen for durability in humidity and for its honest expression of material. Minimalist massing reduces unnecessary elements while retaining geometric dynamism. Semi open façades channel breezes and frame views of forest and sky, embedding nature within everyday life. Movement unfolds as narrative, from forest openness to courtyard stillness and upward to the horizon. By combining organic form, climatic intelligence and cultural depth, Savan House reinterprets Iranian heritage while offering a multidimensional dwelling experience.