Organon Day Care

Organon Day Care is an experimental example of climate-responsive architecture designed for the hot and arid context of Yazd, Iran. Named after Organon, a musical instrument that produces sound through controlled airflow, the project draws a direct parallel between architecture and breath. Just as the instrument transforms wind into music, the building transforms climatic forces into spatial comfort, learning, and play for children.

Yazd’s desert climate, characterized by intense solar radiation, large diurnal temperature variations, and dry winds, has historically produced one of the world’s richest traditions of passive architectural systems. Organon Day Care builds upon this legacy by reinterpreting vernacular strategies such as wind catchers, earth sheltering, courtyards, and thick rammed-clay walls within a contemporary daycare program. Rather than treating climate control as a hidden technical layer, the project makes environmental systems visible, spatial, and experiential—especially for children.

The architectural form is intentionally introverted and compact, described as a closed mass resembling the knotted fingers of a fist. This dense configuration minimizes exposure to harsh external conditions while protecting internal spaces. Beneath this solid exterior, the heart of the daycare is partially embedded into the ground. Earth sheltering acts as a thermal buffer, stabilizing indoor temperatures throughout the year and reducing reliance on mechanical cooling. The soil becomes an active architectural element, providing insulation, comfort, and a sense of refuge.

Breathing is the central metaphor and performance strategy of the building. A series of wind catchers and solar chimneys, strategically positioned based on airflow simulations, form the respiratory system of the project. These vertical elements capture prevailing winds, guide cool air downward through underground ducts, and expel warm air upward using temperature gradients. The result is a naturally ventilated environment that continuously renews indoor air quality while remaining energy efficient. For children, these elements are not abstract systems but spatial markers—towers, shafts, and courtyards that frame play, movement, and curiosity.

Courtyards play a vital role in mediating between the buried interior and the open sky. Positioned centrally within the plan, they introduce daylight deep into the building while supporting cross-ventilation. These shaded outdoor rooms act as climatic moderators, filtering sunlight, encouraging air movement, and creating microclimates suitable for children’s activities. The gradual transition from enclosed underground spaces to semi-open courtyards and surface-level landscapes establishes a layered spatial experience that aligns with both environmental performance and child-centered design.

The project’s circulation strategy reinforces this environmental narrative. Pedestrian paths are carefully choreographed to prioritize safety, shade, and intuitive movement. Green routes marked by rammed clay walls guide users through the site, while vegetation native to arid climates enhances microclimatic comfort without excessive water consumption. Cypress trees and drought-resistant ground cover provide filtered shade, visual continuity, and ecological resilience.

Functionally, Organon Day Care is organized across multiple levels, each responding to different spatial and climatic needs. The ground level accommodates public and service-oriented functions such as reception, administration, learning spaces, staff facilities, and a café. The level below is dedicated to children and parents, housing play areas, libraries, amphitheaters, clinics, washing rooms, and age-specific activity zones. Service functions, including kitchens, storage, and parking, are placed at the lowest level, maintaining operational efficiency without disrupting children’s spaces.

Energy performance is rigorously tested through computational simulations, including CFD airflow analysis and sunlight studies. These analyses informed the orientation of the building, the placement of wind catchers, and the depth of earth sheltering. Results demonstrate reduced cooling loads, stabilized indoor temperatures, and improved air quality. The thick wall assemblies, constructed using rammed clay and layered insulation, further enhance thermal performance while grounding the project in local material traditions.

Beyond performance metrics, Organon Day Care embodies an educational philosophy. By integrating climatic systems into everyday spatial experiences, the building becomes a teaching tool. Children grow up interacting with wind, light, shadow, and earth—not as abstract concepts, but as tangible elements shaping their daily environment. In this way, architecture fosters early awareness of sustainability, climate, and environmental responsibility.

Organon Day Care is a shortlisted entry of Form Follows Climate 2020, designed by Javad Edalat, Mansoureh Khesali, Zahra Deheshjoo, and Forough Farhadi. The project stands as a thoughtful reinterpretation of Yazd’s architectural heritage, demonstrating how climate-responsive architecture can support social programs, nurture childhood development, and transform environmental constraints into spatial opportunities.

By merging vernacular intelligence with contemporary design tools, Organon Day Care presents a compelling model for future educational architecture in extreme climates—one that listens, breathes, and adapts, just like the instrument it is named after.