In the heartland of Iran adjacent to the great Maranjab Desert and the Salt Lake, sits the historic city of Kashan. With archaeological sites dating back 8000 years and world-renowned for its glazed ceramics and textile arts, today it is also a veritable treasure trove of historic houses. The restoration and renovation of this 140-year-old historic house--with its introverted garden courtyards on three levels covering over 1000 square meters of closed, semi-closed and open spaces constantly flowing into one another -- reconciles the past with the present.

Designed as the residency of a heritage NGO and its research institute whose aim is to help protect, preserve, and promote historic cities while imbuing them with contemporary relevance, the design juxtaposes age-old traditions of Iranian architecture and crafts with those of cutting-edge contemporary materials, details, and techniques.

Executed exquisitely by the finest of craftsmen and women, the once dilapidated and partially collapsed building has been brought back to its original glory while daring interventions, paring down of traditional motifs and an unusual selection of new materials, colors, and furniture have infused the spirit of the house with a compelling contemporary edge, manifesting the idea that historic places are not irrelevant relics of the past, but brimming with the potential of a vibrant life today.