Henry Corbin

Henry Corbin complex, located in the center of Tehran, in a historic neighborhood of Sheikh Hadi with an area of 1116 sqm, originally consisted of three residential floors and five retail stores. As it was Built in the 1930s in the first Pahlavi period, the architecture language was highly influenced by modernist architecture and cultural trends of that era. The historic background of this neighborhood and the adjacency of important landmark buildings, foreign embassies, and art and culture centers such as the city hall and city theatre significantly impact the identity of this distinct building. Also, establishing the Philosophy Association of Iran on this street and the residency of well-known philosophers in the area has elevated its cultural and social values.
Like many other buildings of this period in central Tehran, this building had been abandoned by the owners after the Islamic revolution in the late 50s. The original owners, Armenian musicians who were lead piano players near City Hall, resided in the residential units. The retail shops included a famous Armenian coffee shop, a pastry shop, and carpentry. The daily interaction of the original owners of this building with the surrounding neighborhood and the formation of a sense of community within this area that was strengthened by providing a public service through retail stores became the source of inspiration for renovation and the core of the new programming for rehabilitation of this building after 40 years of abandonment.
With the intention of rehabilitation in the central part of Tehran and expanding on a long-time project of reestablishing and resuscitating the urban tissues in these areas, new programs were planned in the original building, and extensions were added. Two 270 sqm residential units on the first and second floor were converted into six 60 to 120 sqm residential units creating a vertical connection and two-story lofts in some areas.

Space planning and design decisions in these areas are based on providing a high-quality space according to the modern needs of younger generations living in the city center. Other than interior qualifications and standards, all units have access to at least one spacious balcony providing visual and actual connection to the surrounding environment, neighborhood, and nature.
The residential unit on the ground floor is converted into a two-story office space with a vertical connection to the southern part of the basement level. Since the courtyard was sunken to the basement level, this level is connected to the courtyard with a high quality of light and air circulation. This office space was added to the project to provide an opportunity for residents adjacent live and work space, minimizing commuting and adding another layer of programming and an active multipurpose city node in the heart of this neighborhood.
The five retail stores under the building were converted into a cafe, pastry shop, and art store, which can be kept separated or connected through interior openings. Inviting and attracting visitors to the complex at the street level will always be possible through these retail stores, highlighting the importance of these commercial units and their significant impact on the project’s identity thriving from daily communication with the neighborhood residents.
Consistent with the historic and cultural identity of the neighborhood and surrounding buildings, as well as creating an urban node, an extension gallery space was designed as a minimal volume and implemented on the roof of this building. This gallery space, with its 7-meter high ceiling, is placed on the old building with a cubic shape is a pure form that evokes stillness and peace. This entirely closed volume stimulates visitors’ curiosity and interest in exploring the complex.

In order to create a unique experience while reaching the roof volume and keeping the existing main staircase only for residential access, a vertical path starting from the east side of the building was added as an extension to the courtyard that leads to the roof gallery through bridges and staircases. This path demonstrates visitors’ unique view of the city and the neighborhood. The terraces in this extension provide a vista with an urban view that forms a connection between the city and its residents. Also, the roof gallery is accessible through an elevator from the street level.
The adjacency of this iron structure to the existing building and the visual connection between the two on the south side emphasizes the existence of the rooftop gallery and the importance of experiencing an extroverted urban life and interaction with the surrounding environment. As the residential space is designed to create a safe and calm environment, the possibility of communication between the residents of the building and the audience of the public part is provided in the intermediate space. This intermediate space would allow visitors to observe and understand a part of this promoted lifestyle.

The existing building, masonry structure, has Load-bearing brick walls and vaulted ceilings, which have been carefully studied. The reinforcement process of the project included strengthening the existing building and adding an additional structure on its southern side.
The existing building was reinforced by identifying the risk levels and improving the structure’s integrity, including hardness and resistance to loads and providing stability. This has been done by adding metal bracings and using steel jackets on the four sides of the existing columns throughout the building. In order to reinforce the existing vaulted ceiling, metal beams were added. Also, metal beams were added to create openings between the floors and balconies.
The additional volumes on the roof were connected to the structure of the existing building by adding a metal grid and creating a raised floor. Despite the metal framework of the roof extension structures, lightweight materials were used to cover the facade and roof to impose minimum extra weight on the building.
Regarding the metal extension structure built in the courtyard, the floor was excavated, and the foundation and guard structure was implemented. Concrete walls were built around the metal skeleton pit, and the stairs structure was connected to it. At the roof level, this structure was connected to the building and integrated with the metal structure on the roof.
The purpose of defining, designing, and executing such projects is to attract a new generation to the center of Tehran. in recent years, Neighborhoods have lost their identity as residential areas and have taken on commercial or administrative use. By creating multipurpose projects in which residential use is an essential fragment, part of the population will return to these neighborhoods to live, work, and create. Giving the district and its residents a sense of hope, belonging, and interest in the neighborhood. During this process, the desire to sell or abandon properties will reduce in the area, and the preservation and revitalization of such valuable buildings will be promoted.