AVA Communications Building by KRDS: A Dynamic Fusion of Industrial Architecture, Structural Innovation, and Sculptural Form

Located inside Pardis Technology Park—20 kilometers northeast of Tehran—the AVA Communications Building, designed by KRDS (Kourosh Rafiey Design Studio), stands as a bold exploration of industrial architecture, spatial fluidity, and hybrid structural systems. Completed in 2024, the 1,100-square-meter building serves as the headquarters, office, and workshop for Ava Communications Company, transforming an 800-square-meter plot at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac into a sculptural landmark.

Site Influence and Conceptual Beginnings

The project’s narrative began with an unexpected intervention: the installation of a decommissioned airplane as a sculptural centerpiece on-site. This unconventional move shaped the architectural strategy, prompting a design response that integrates the aircraft as both a visual anchor and a contextual catalyst.

With a pedestrian pathway bordering the eastern edge and the building slightly recessed from the main street, the design team embraced the challenge of visibility and presence. The top floor tilts forward toward the street, creating a strong visual connection while generating a curved rear volume that aligns seamlessly with the pedestrian path. This thoughtful adjustment balances architectural expression with contextual sensitivity, ensuring harmony between the built form and its unique surroundings.

Program Organization and Circulation

The building’s functions unfold over three floors above ground and one basement level, arranged with clear vertical zoning:

• Upper floors house administrative offices designed for collaboration, daylight access, and spatial flexibility.
• Basement level accommodates the workshop and parking, featuring a separate entrance connected directly to the pedestrian path—maximizing site efficiency while respecting the sloped topography.
• Ground floor includes the main entrance, where visitors are immediately greeted by the dramatic interplay of light and structure.

The highlight of the circulation system is the suspended metal staircase, which ascends through the central vertical void like a sculptural spine. Visible from the entrance, its shifting geometry and layered progression create a dynamic spatial journey, blending functionality with architectural artistry.

Carved Void: Light, Space, and Environmental Performance

One of the building’s most defining features is the deep vertical void carved along the western façade. Emergent from the volumetric rotation of the top floor, this void begins with a skylight and extends all the way to the basement, forming a continuous four-story atrium.

More than a formal gesture, the atrium enhances environmental performance by:

• Drawing natural light deep into the building
• Supporting cross-ventilation across all levels
• Creating visual and physical continuity between interior and exterior
• Offering layered perspectives as occupants move between floors

Its subtle diagonal shift reinforces a sense of movement, echoing the building’s dynamic geometry and guiding circulation along the vertical axis.

Hybrid Structural Logic: The Dance of Concrete and Steel

The building’s innovative structural strategy mirrors its sculptural form. Along the center, inclined columns lean and converge like tree branches, creating structural bifurcations that define interior spatial character. In contrast, columns along the southern façade remain vertical, establishing a balanced rhythm across the building.

Originally envisioned as a fully concrete structure, the project evolved to incorporate steel nodes where inclined columns meet the curved walls. This hybrid system—concrete’s solidity meeting steel’s precision—enhances both structural efficiency and architectural expression. The tactile contrast between materials highlights the building’s fluid geometry and underscores its industrial identity.

Spatial Experience: Movement as Architecture

Movement sits at the heart of the design. The staircase, atrium, and inclined structural elements collaborate to create an immersive spatial sequence. As occupants ascend:

• Light shifts from diffuse to direct
• Volumes expand and contract
• Structural rhythms reveal new angles and intersections

This choreographed experience transforms circulation into a journey—an architectural narrative shaped by light, space, and motion.

The AVA Communications Building by KRDS is more than an office and workshop facility; it is a compelling study in industrial architecture, structural expression, contextual response, and spatial storytelling. From the integration of a decommissioned airplane to the hybrid structural system and sculptural voids, the building redefines functional infrastructure through creativity and innovation, positioning itself as a standout architectural work within Pardis Technology Park.

All photographs are works of Mohammad Hassan Ettefagh