Bagh Shahr Villa by Experience Studio: A Dialogue Between Independence and Connection

Bagh Shahr Villa, designed by Experience Studio in Shahrekord, Iran, is a contemporary residence completed in 2022. Covering 460 m², the villa explores the tension between independent spatial units and their fluid connections, creating a distinctive architectural language that merges landscape, structure, and lifestyle. Photographed by Deed Studio, the project highlights a bold interplay of exposed concrete, geometric volumes, and layered transparency, offering a fresh approach to modern villa design in Iran.

Site Context and Design Approach

Situated on a 25 x 60-meter sloping plot with a 7% gradient, the villa overlooks a plain stretching from the mountains. The area is characterized by villas of varied scales and eclectic materials. Rather than conforming to this context, Experience Studio proposed a critical response to the dominance of repetitive domino-style structures in local architecture.

Instead of beginning with the site, the design process started with a conceptual diagram. Each unit of the villa was imagined as free, independent, and unconstrained, defined only by the client’s program requirements. This diagram-driven strategy allowed for new possibilities in spatial composition and user experience.

Modular Volumes and Spatial Relationships

The villa is formed from a cluster of box-like volumes, each treated as an independent architectural unit. The challenge was to organize these units within the site while maintaining both individuality and cohesion.

By interconnecting these volumes, the architects introduced residual spaces or in-between spaces that blur the line between interior and exterior. Transparent surfaces at key junctions transform open gaps into habitable zones, creating unexpected spatial transitions. This fluid relationship gives the villa a dynamic quality, where each movement through the house feels like a discovery.

Light, Views, and Orientation

The orientation of the boxes was carefully considered to maximize views of the mountains and the city while avoiding harsh sunlight from the east and west. South and north-facing facades are treated with large glazed openings, ensuring transparency and visual continuity with the surroundings. In contrast, the rigid concrete side walls protect the villa from unwanted solar gain, maintaining both comfort and privacy.

Structural Integrity and Materiality

The villa’s structural system consists of concrete walls and slab roofs, chosen for their durability, simplicity, and alignment with the architectural diagram. The exposed concrete surfaces not only serve a structural function but also establish a minimalist, raw aesthetic.

Inside, concrete ceilings integrate lighting and mechanical systems seamlessly, while furniture pieces—such as cabinets, TV stands, and fireplaces—are conceived as independent objects against concrete backdrops. To balance the cool materiality, wooden parquet flooring introduces warmth, ensuring a harmonious living environment.

Circulation and Vertical Connections

A metal staircase connects the upper and lower levels, emphasizing vertical circulation and maintaining visual continuity between volumes. Varying box heights respond to the natural slope of the site, creating multi-directional views while preserving spatial independence.

The deliberate contrast between rigid concrete structures and light transparent connections enhances the architectural narrative: a balance between solidity and openness, permanence and flexibility.

Pool and Landscape Integration

At the client’s request, a swimming pool was incorporated as an independent programmatic element. Like the villa itself, it interacts with the surrounding boxes to form distinct yet connected outdoor experiences. The landscape is not treated as a backdrop but as an active participant in shaping movement, views, and light within the villa.

Bagh Shahr Villa demonstrates how architecture can challenge conventional villa typologies by rethinking spatial organization, structure, and materiality. Through its diagram-based design, the villa achieves both independence and interconnection, offering residents a constantly evolving spatial experience. The use of exposed concrete, strategic transparency, and warm material contrasts establishes a strong identity while responding sensitively to context and client needs.

All Photographs are works of  Deed Studio