- Project: Villa Hesar
- Architect: Afshin Khosravian
- Location: Iran, Toroqbeh
- Year: 2023
- Area: 1800 m2
- Photography: Nimkat Studio
Sculpting Architecture Into the Mountain Landscape
Located in the mountainous region of Toroqbeh, near Mashhad, Villa Hesar by Afshin Khosravian and Associates demonstrates how architecture can engage directly with challenging terrain. The 1,800 m² residence is set on a steep hillside with over 20 meters of elevation difference, offering a unique opportunity to integrate form and landscape.
Instead of resisting the topography, the architects shaped the villa with it—embedding the structure into the slope, using terraces and courtyards to establish a rhythm of descent from street level down to a river that borders the site. The result is a home that feels both monumental and deeply rooted in its environment.
A Design Born from Site and Climate
The design follows the logic of the land. The volumes cascade along the slope, connected by transitional terraces, bridges, and stairways. This dynamic composition allows each space to capture distinctive views of the mountains and valleys while maintaining privacy between levels.
Local climate conditions also shaped the architecture. Toroqbeh’s strong southeast winds and high solar exposure prompted a design that channels airflow through the building’s core. A central courtyard acts as a natural cooling element, oriented to direct the mountain breeze through the living spaces while framing reflections of the surrounding peaks in its water feature.
Spatial Organization: Movement, Light, and Layers
Villa Hesar unfolds in layers of openness and retreat. The upper levels host the entrance and public functions such as the living and dining areas, which open toward expansive mountain views. Descending through the building, more intimate spaces emerge—bedrooms, family zones, and a spa-like retreat by the pool.
Circulation weaves through courtyards, terraces, and bridges, creating a sensory journey defined by shifting light and temperature. Each transition reveals a new dialogue between built form and natural slope, turning everyday movement into an architectural experience.
Material Palette and Craft
The villa’s material language strengthens its connection to place. Facades are clad in locally sourced stone, cut with vertical grooves that mimic the texture of nearby cliffs and tree trunks. The interplay of shadow and light across these surfaces animates the structure throughout the day.
Large expanses of glass dissolve boundaries between inside and outside, while steel and concrete elements add structure and precision. The restrained palette—stone, glass, metal, and water—creates a serene visual consistency and ensures durability in the mountainous climate.
Courtyard as the Heart of the Home
The central courtyard is both architectural and climatic core. It brings daylight deep into the home, enables natural ventilation, and defines the home’s identity. Water from the reflecting pool moderates temperature and enhances the tranquil atmosphere, while native vegetation softens the hard surfaces.
This courtyard-centric design recalls the traditional Iranian concept of chahar bagh—a space where architecture, water, and nature coexist harmoniously—translated here into a modern architectural language.
Integration with Nature
Despite its size and complexity, Villa Hesar maintains a human scale through thoughtful composition and proportion. Roof gardens, green terraces, and existing trees are preserved and integrated into the design, blurring the line between built and natural environments.
At night, the villa transforms: warm lighting emphasizes its sculptural geometry, and reflections from the pool and stone walls create a luminous, intimate atmosphere amid the rugged landscape.
Villa Hesar stands as a testament to Afshin Khosravian and Associates’ philosophy—architecture as a mediator between human life and nature. The project turns topographical and climatic constraints into creative opportunities, crafting a residence that is both grand and gracefully attuned to its setting.
With its seamless integration of form, function, and landscape, Villa Hesar redefines contemporary living in Iran’s mountain regions—offering an architecture of serenity, substance, and spatial poetry.
