Hillside Villa

Design Idea

Located on a hillside in a scenic landscape in Mazandaran, Iran, this villa was designed as a weekend retreat for an elderly couple seeking a peaceful place to rest and reconnect with nature. The project responds to two primary conditions: the clients’ desire for comfort and tranquility, and the site’s exceptional panoramic views. The design therefore explores how architecture can maximize the experience of the landscape while remaining sensitive to the natural topography.

The main concept is to strengthen the relationship between interior and nature and dissolve the boundary between the two. Rather than imposing a single volume on the sloping terrain, the villa is organized across different levels, allowing the building to follow the natural contours of the site and minimize excavation and soil disturbance.

The swimming pool is positioned at the highest point of the site, taking advantage of the panoramic views while remaining visually protected from the access road. The living spaces occupy the most prominent part of the site, opening toward the landscape to maximize natural light and uninterrupted views. A double-height living room further amplifies this connection, creating a generous and immersive atmosphere where interior space extends visually into nature.

The entrance is conceived as a transitional space between the outside and the interior. Drawing from the tradition of Iranian architecture, it functions as a contemporary interpretation of the Hashti—a threshold and intermediary space that prepares the visitor for the spaces beyond. Large openings and multi-slide glazing further dissolve the physical boundary between inside and outside, allowing light, landscape, and changing views to become an integral part of the living experience.

Ultimately, the villa seeks to create a quiet dialogue between architecture, landscape, and everyday life—a retreat shaped by its topography, oriented toward its views, and designed to bring its inhabitants closer to nature.