146 Residential Building by Pragmatica Architectural Design Studio – Redefining Urban Living in Rasht

The 146 Residential Building, designed by Pragmatica Architectural Design Studio, stands as a contemporary residential landmark in the Golsar neighborhood of Rasht, Iran. Completed in 2024, the project transforms a compact 500 m² urban plot into a refined and multi-layered living environment spread across 2,095 m². With a design approach focused on spatial hierarchy, sectional organization, and a dynamic façade, the architecture balances aesthetics, privacy, and community-centered living.

A Multi-Level Residential Vision

The project’s functional layout begins with the ground floor dedicated entirely to parking, maximizing usable space for residents. The first to fourth floors accommodate single-unit residential apartments, each crafted with distinct levels for varying degrees of privacy. The fifth floor serves as a communal hub, offering shared amenities such as fitness spaces, a party room, and recreational zones—enhancing social engagement within the building.

Sectional Design and Spatial Zoning

A defining element of the project is its strategic sectional intervention, which creates two major breaks in the volume, resulting in three interconnected levels. The central level serves as the primary entrance for each unit, containing the sitting room, main kitchen, and service kitchen. Below this level, on the southern side, lies a public living room and guest bedroom, reinforcing hospitality and social interaction. Above, the northern upper level accommodates three master bedrooms, ensuring privacy and comfort for family members.

This thoughtful arrangement not only enriches spatial dynamics but also enhances natural light penetration, ventilation, and visual continuity.

Functional Mezzanine and Integrated Communal Spaces

The sectional play generates a mezzanine between the ground and first floors, dedicated to storage and caretaker facilities, optimizing service areas without compromising residential quality.

On the fifth floor, varying levels create a multi-functional courtyard that acts as the heart of communal activity. This stepped courtyard opens views, draws natural light deep into the building, and provides access to the upper party room and lower fitness zone, strengthening the building’s social cohesion.

A Responsive Façade Balancing Light and Privacy

One of the project's most compelling features is its façade—designed as an architectural solution to the eternal tension between transparency and privacy. The architects carefully balanced these dualities by designing a façade that acts not only as an external shield but also as an interior design element.

To achieve this, the façade transforms from a two-dimensional surface into a three-dimensional spatial component, integrating shading devices, depth, and articulated materials. Terraces feature partition walls that control sunlight, frame views, and ensure privacy for residents while maintaining visual openness.

A Transitional Space Between Home and City

The façade serves as more than a protective shell—it becomes an intermediary zone, softening the boundary between indoor and outdoor spaces. This creates a gradual transition from private interiors to the public realm of the city, redefining how residential architecture interacts with its urban context.

All photographs are works of Deed Studio