Shabtab Residential by STUDIO SAHEB

Architecture That Breathes Between Home and City

In the dense urban fabric of Qeytarieh, Tehran, Shabtab Residential by STUDIO SAHEB redefines the relationship between private domestic life and the vibrant city beyond. Conceived during a time when the importance of in-between spaces became increasingly evident, this residential building transforms the balcony—traditionally treated as a mere façade opening—into the central architectural element shaping the building’s identity and urban dialogue.

A Vertical Community Rooted in Openness

Comprising ten residential units arranged as two apartments per floor, the building is designed to accommodate contemporary urban lifestyles while maintaining a strong connection to nature. Each apartment is equipped with a generous private balcony, conceived not as a decorative appendage but as a functional outdoor room—an extension of the living space where residents can dine, relax, or simply immerse themselves in the shifting daylight and seasons.

In a city known for its density, these balconies create a sense of openness and retreat, offering a private sanctuary that simultaneously engages with the surrounding neighborhood.

Balconies as Living Prostheses

The project’s defining feature lies in the integration of deep planters and delicate metal frameworks, which together form an expressive, layered façade. Each balcony is designed as a “prosthesis” to the building’s volume—a green extension that blurs the line between architecture and landscape.

Within these planters, mature trees and diverse vegetation thrive, each unit hosting a distinct species to cultivate a rhythm of variation across the elevation. This design gesture transcends ornamentation—it is a conceptual act of identity, granting every apartment its own botanical signature and fostering a subtle sense of belonging for each resident.

Materiality and Urban Presence

A deliberate contrast of materials and colors reinforces the dialogue between solidity and permeability. The interplay between concrete surfaces, metal railings, and organic greenery gives the façade a dynamic, breathing quality—a living skin that evolves with the seasons.

From the street, the building reads as a vertical garden, contributing to Tehran’s urban ecosystem while softening the boundary between private and public realms. From within, residents experience an intimate atmosphere of light, shade, and natural texture—qualities often lost in the city’s fast-paced architectural landscape.

Design Philosophy: Human, Green, and Contextual

STUDIO SAHEB’s design philosophy centers on architecture as a mediator—a tool for creating spaces that connect rather than divide. The Shabtab project embodies this principle by using the balcony as a threshold of exchange, where architecture becomes both a shelter and a stage for urban life.

All photographs are works of Mohammad Hassan Ettefagh, Ali Zanjani