The bazar
is the place where people do both: meet and shop.
And as Iran, i.e. Persia can be
named the cradle of the idea of the bazar, we decided to create a new kind of
bazar for the Benetton Group in Teheran.
Taking the
most distinguished features of the bazar, like the vaulted space, the many
different units close together, and the pleasure to get lost temporarily in
between a fabric of shops and stalls - we wanted to transform this into a new space:
the new bazar as a complex atmospheric and sensational space, which stimulates
emotion and mind.
The
BENettonS BAZAR fills the first two retail storeys of the building.
With a
concrete-steel construction of intersecting spheres and domes, a very unique space
will be generated. All shops have numerous visual connections to outside and
inside, to the mall and the other shops. Lots of shop windows give options for
display. Due to the central atrium the two storeys interconnect visually in
many variations. All shops are accessible through large sliding doors primarily
from groundfloor, but also from the 1st floor. Each shop
interconnects internally over a generous, rounded staircase. The shop facades
can be opened partially to the mall, so a floating, open shopping area for
different labels is conceivable.
The walls
and vaults are tiled with a golden coloured mosaic, supporting the atmospheric
quality of the space, making it a “small world of its own”.
On 2nd
floor the escalators run to the semi-public terrace with a good view over the
street and a little fitness club for the office employees.
Adjacent to
the terrace the office lobby is situated. From here upwards the office spaces are
piled up in a varied pattern, reminding of old oriental cities with their dense
cubic housing. The offices are like boxes (with separating glass walls),
gathered around lobby and corridors. They offer nevertheless, due to an
efficient column grid and a 1.20
façade raster, a high flexibility in use. The three to four office units per
floor can be connected easily to one big space.
With the offices
façades incisions, or “voids”, light is channeled deep into the building. Simultaneously
shadow and wind helps to reduce the cooling demand.
Additionally
the roof can be used for photovoltaic panels.
On 7th
floor, accessible through elevators and an own staircase, the 5 penthouses are
grouped around a patio.
The design
plays once again with analogies from the cultural background of the building
place Teheran. All units are planned as patio types.
Each of the
units has a main patio at the living area, and smaller secluded ones at the
bedrooms.
The whole 7th
floor is bordered by a perforated, ornamental wall, which act like a veil
between city and the privacy of the flats.
The
differentiation of the building obviously helps to lessen the clash in size to
the neighbour buildings. The building in its whole is a complex combination of
three “tones” played together to create a fine “accord” to add to the city
Teheran’s tune.