Adaptive Courtyard Living in Tabas, Iran Project by Babak Khabaz
Reviving Iran’s courtyard heritage through sustainable design, passive cooling, and intergenerational privacy in dense urban housing.
Located in the hot and arid city of Tabas, Iran, this residential design revisits the core principles of sustainable residential architecture by reimagining traditional courtyard homes. Babak Khabaz's project "Nano Nest|Vast Ego "addresses the spatial limitations of narrow urban lots while integrating environmental strategies rooted in vernacular design.
Contextual Roots: Privacy and Cultural Sensitivity
The house is designed for a three-generational family, comprising six members: grandparents, parents, and two children. Responding to deep-rooted Iranian cultural norms, the project prioritizes privacy while fostering communal family life. The layout reflects a hierarchical spatial organization where public areas are placed at lower levels and private bedrooms occupy the upper floors. This layered strategy ensures both accessibility and seclusion, drawing on the historic logic of old-style Iranian homes.
Environmental Responsiveness: Wind, Light, Water, and Soil
The design harnesses the local climate's challenges to create passive comfort strategies:
- Wind: A curved front façade and vertical wind corridors funnel air through the structure, mimicking the traditional windcatchers (badgirs) of Persian architecture.
- Light: A central courtyard void brings daylight deep into the structure while louvers and sunshades regulate solar gain.
- Water: Rainwater is harvested from the roof and reused for irrigation. Greywater from household use supports gardening.
- Soil: A small garden placed at the center echoes the green core of historical courtyard houses. Green facades further cool the building and purify the air.
These passive strategies elevate the project into an exemplar of sustainable residential architecture by reducing mechanical dependency and improving indoor thermal comfort.
Facade as Environmental Filter and Cultural Element
The building envelope is constructed using locally sourced palm tree mesh and bamboo, forming a breathable façade. This mesh maintains privacy while allowing light and air to filter through. Its sculptural, curved shape enhances airflow and generates a distinctive urban identity. Inspired by traditional Persian design but reinterpreted for modern needs, the façade becomes both a climatic tool and a cultural statement.
Interior and Spatial Organization
The interior layout reflects modern lifestyle dynamics while ensuring connectivity among generations. Split across multiple floors, the spaces include designated areas for working parents, elderly rest zones, and shared family gathering spots. The central courtyard acts as a unifier, visually and spatially linking different levels and age groups.
Urban Strategy: Breathing Between Buildings
The project introduces the idea of creating air corridors between densely packed buildings. By shaping the structure to allow wind flow through side gaps, it contributes to a broader urban ventilation strategy. This not only supports the house’s internal climate but also enhances the microclimate of the neighborhood.
A Place to Gather
Defined as "A Place to Gather," the home is a reinterpretation of traditional values through modern architectural expression. It illustrates how sustainable residential architecture can harmonize privacy, climate adaptation, and multi-generational living within dense urban settings.
Project Credits
Architect: Babak Khabaz
Competition: Nano Nest 2020
Location: Tabas, Iran
