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Emarat House
Emarat House
Rasht, Iran
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Emarat House
Rasht, Iran
Firm
Type
STATUS
Built
YEAR
2024
SIZE
1000 sqft - 3000 sqft
Emarat House: Restoring a Century of Life in Rasht
For more than a century, the Emarat has stood as a landmark within Sagharisazan, Rasht’s oldest neighborhood, embodying the city’s layered architectural heritage and cultural exchanges shaped by its historic connections to the Caucasus and northern trade routes.
After remaining vacant for over a decade, the house had deteriorated to the point where its restoration seemed almost impossible. Structural failures, foundation erosion, damaged masonry, and a collapsing roof had left the building on the verge of disappearance. The project emerged from a commitment not only to preserve a historic structure, but also to return it to everyday life.
Rather than treating the Emarat as a static monument, the restoration sought to reactivate it as a living home capable of accommodating contemporary needs while preserving its historical character. The design approach was guided by principles of minimal intervention, continuity, and respect for the building’s original construction logic.
A detailed investigation of the structure revealed an unexpectedly sophisticated load-bearing system in which masonry walls, openings, and ceiling elements worked together to distribute structural loads. This understanding informed a careful restoration strategy focused on repairing and reinforcing existing elements rather than replacing them. Damaged foundations were stabilized, deteriorated masonry was reconstructed using materials compatible with the original fabric, and the historic roof was restored while preserving its distinctive character.
Research into archival photographs, material traces, and local memories also revealed that the Emarat had continuously evolved over its lifetime through additions and adaptations responding to changing patterns of living. These transformations were understood as an integral part of the building’s identity. New interventions therefore followed the same logic of gradual evolution, introducing only limited and reversible additions to support contemporary use while respecting the historic fabric.
The restoration relied extensively on local craftsmanship and traditional construction knowledge adapted to Rasht’s humid climate. Original materials, architectural details, and construction techniques were preserved whenever possible, allowing the building’s historical authenticity to remain visible while ensuring its long-term resilience.
More than the restoration of a single house, the project contributes to the ongoing revitalization of Sagharisazan. By transforming an abandoned structure into an inhabited home once again, the Emarat reestablishes its relationship with the neighborhood and demonstrates how heritage preservation can support contemporary life. The project ultimately views restoration not as the preservation of a frozen past, but as a process of continuity—one that enables architecture, memory, and everyday life to coexist across generations.
Location: Rasht, IR
Architect & Restorer: Ronak Roshan gilvaei
Client: Amir Tehrani, Omid Mahdavian
Contractor: Ronak Roshan Office
Photographer: Deed Studio
Presentation: Hanie Shafiei
Structural Restoration Engineer: Dr. Moez
Carpenter: Masoud Bostani
Rooftileslayer: Mr Molaei
For more than a century, the Emarat has stood as a landmark within Sagharisazan, Rasht’s oldest neighborhood, embodying the city’s layered architectural heritage and cultural exchanges shaped by its historic connections to the Caucasus and northern trade routes.
After remaining vacant for over a decade, the house had deteriorated to the point where its restoration seemed almost impossible. Structural failures, foundation erosion, damaged masonry, and a collapsing roof had left the building on the verge of disappearance. The project emerged from a commitment not only to preserve a historic structure, but also to return it to everyday life.
Rather than treating the Emarat as a static monument, the restoration sought to reactivate it as a living home capable of accommodating contemporary needs while preserving its historical character. The design approach was guided by principles of minimal intervention, continuity, and respect for the building’s original construction logic.
A detailed investigation of the structure revealed an unexpectedly sophisticated load-bearing system in which masonry walls, openings, and ceiling elements worked together to distribute structural loads. This understanding informed a careful restoration strategy focused on repairing and reinforcing existing elements rather than replacing them. Damaged foundations were stabilized, deteriorated masonry was reconstructed using materials compatible with the original fabric, and the historic roof was restored while preserving its distinctive character.
Research into archival photographs, material traces, and local memories also revealed that the Emarat had continuously evolved over its lifetime through additions and adaptations responding to changing patterns of living. These transformations were understood as an integral part of the building’s identity. New interventions therefore followed the same logic of gradual evolution, introducing only limited and reversible additions to support contemporary use while respecting the historic fabric.
The restoration relied extensively on local craftsmanship and traditional construction knowledge adapted to Rasht’s humid climate. Original materials, architectural details, and construction techniques were preserved whenever possible, allowing the building’s historical authenticity to remain visible while ensuring its long-term resilience.
More than the restoration of a single house, the project contributes to the ongoing revitalization of Sagharisazan. By transforming an abandoned structure into an inhabited home once again, the Emarat reestablishes its relationship with the neighborhood and demonstrates how heritage preservation can support contemporary life. The project ultimately views restoration not as the preservation of a frozen past, but as a process of continuity—one that enables architecture, memory, and everyday life to coexist across generations.
Location: Rasht, IR
Architect & Restorer: Ronak Roshan gilvaei
Client: Amir Tehrani, Omid Mahdavian
Contractor: Ronak Roshan Office
Photographer: Deed Studio
Presentation: Hanie Shafiei
Structural Restoration Engineer: Dr. Moez
Carpenter: Masoud Bostani
Rooftileslayer: Mr Molaei
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