Habitat for Orphan Girls (Khansar, Iran)

New home for Orphan Children

The architecture of this Iranian Habitat for Orphan Girls is both modest and monumental. The Habitat for Orphan Girls is located in the historical fabric of Khansar, a small town in the heart of Iran. Before evolving into a residence for orphan girls, our charitable client had intentions of building a public clinic.

The aim was for them to move away from being under surveillance toward having a normal life in the introverted and closed-minded social context of Khansar. The residence aimed to provide the girls with not only a dormitory with public and private spaces but also with special balconies that set the stage for a sociable scenario: they can express themselves through the changing festivities of mourning and celebration or the changing seasons by changing the 'Hijab' of their balconies, just like they are used to wearing and changing their Hijab and Chador in accord with the town's cultural timeline.

In this project, the architects decided to push the boundaries of architecture and use it as a medium that can affect humanity and to improve the quality of life.