Dopendar House by Sinze Studio: Redefining Tradition and Modernity in Yazd Residential Architecture

Completed in 2023, Dopendar House by Sinze Studio is a 320 m² contemporary residence in Yazd, Iran that masterfully bridges the gap between traditional Iranian architecture and modern living. The project, photographed by Khatereh Eshqi, responds to the unique cultural and social context of Yazd while addressing the distinct preferences of its clients, Hamed and Motahareh.

The design process confronted two primary challenges: interpreting the rich architectural heritage of Yazd in a modern framework and harmonizing the differing visions of the clients. One perspective favored a modernist house with expansive openings, green roof spaces, and openness to the exterior. In contrast, the other leaned towards the introverted characteristics of traditional Yazd homes, featuring enclosed windows and limited outward views. Sinze Studio navigated these opposing desires by adopting a dual-concept strategy, creating a home that reconciles tradition with modern spatial aspirations.

The house is structured as a duplex along the boundary of two contrasting diagrams—introverted and Dom-Ino layouts. The northern façade incorporates a corbel-like entrance, reimagining the traditional Yazd corridor and doorway, while the southern façade features a versatile wicker envelope. This envelope functions as a privacy screen and sunshade, creating flexible indoor-outdoor connections. When open, it offers shade and integration with the ground floor courtyard; when closed, it provides seclusion for the first-floor private areas.

Central to the design are two courtyards that mediate between public and private life. The ground floor “orange courtyard” acts as a semi-public reception area, reflecting the outer courtyards of traditional Yazd houses. The first-floor “blue courtyard” functions as a private space for the family, elevated to create vertical openness while maintaining a visual connection to the lower courtyard through a suspended passageway. This layered courtyard strategy allows the home to transition fluidly between openness and privacy, creating a dynamic interplay of spaces and experiences.

By reinterpreting the two-courtyard typology of Yazd with a contemporary lens, Dopendar House achieves a dialogue between historical architectural patterns and modern lifestyle needs. The house demonstrates how Iranian residential design can embrace cultural identity while incorporating innovative spatial solutions, offering a nuanced response to both the physical context and the social aspirations of its inhabitants.

All photographs are works of Khatereh Eshqi