Mohat Office’s Bonlad project addresses the architectural and social challenges of Ilam, Iran, by rethinking the design of low-quality residential apartments. Led by chief architect Mohammad Hadianpour, the firm focuses on creating semi-open, active spaces within an apartment building on a fully occupied urban lot, offering solutions for the city’s lack of livable areas.
Bonlad employs the concepts of “Spatial Border” and integrates voids and corrosion as a spatial system. The design tackles contextual limitations, including prohibitions on direct views towards a neighboring government building, by incorporating setbacks—recessed profiles that create step-like formations— and vertical porosities. This approach not only ensures privacy but also enriches the façade with texture. Intermediate boxes and large terraces enliven the apartment spaces, balancing openness with privacy.
Tectonic details are central to the project, particularly in the perforated brick façade & vertical louvers, adding visual depth while regulating light. The construction process involved precise grooved brick patterns and careful drilling to minimise errors, further emphasising craftsmanship. Designed for two brothers who wished to live independently, Bonlad reflects an experimental take on apartment typology, with varied architectural languages on its different sides. The lower floors house public functions such as commercial spaces and offices, while horizontal and vertical openings on the upper floors connect the residential units. A rooftop terrace links the apartments, offering open views of the sky. Vertical louvers and terraces up to seven meters deep filter natural light, creating a unified yet dynamic façade. Bonlad combines traditional Persian architectural principles with contemporary design, creating a new dialogue between interior and exterior spaces.
