Gelareh transforms a weekend villa into a permanent home in Kouhsar town on the outskirts of Tehran and Karaj, where temporary stays are becoming permanent living.
The Extension concept addresses an anatomic growth, as if new body members are added to an existing body to provide space needed for permanent habitation. This is achieved through a sequence of interconnected vaults that crawl into the garden, integrating the villa into a larger whole. Using a carved design language with low-tech masonry and local craftsmanship, it proposes an alternative model for suburban development based on extension rather than replacement.