EMBASSY OF IRAN IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
MASTER THESIS PROJECT PEGAH AMINI GIOVANNETTI
Pegah Amini Giovannetti pegah.a123@gmail.com (830)515-8630 University of Texas at San Antonio 2016
CONTENT
BACKGROUND Timeline of Iran - U.S. Relations References SITE PROPOSAL Building Form Program Material Storyboard Visual Floor Plans Sections Elevation Model
3 5 - 6 7 - 8 9 - 11
13 15 18 25 30 33 35
-
12 14 16 17 22 23 29 32 34 39
1
BACKGROUND
2
Diplomatic relations between the United States and Iran ended after the Iran revolution in 1979. The Iranian embassy in Washington D.C. has been abandoned ever since. After the sanctions were imposed on Iran, its relations with the Western countries became further limited. After so many years of clash and confrontation between Iran and the United States, however, the negotiations and agreements in 2015 and early 2016 have initiated a hope for the betterment of the relationship of the two countries and has led me to the design of an Iranian embassy in Washington D.C.
their embassy buildings around the world. If there was to be an Iranian Embassy in D.C. it would be one projecting a democratic and friendly image of the country to the people of the United States, and showing the aspects of Iran, its culture and history that have been obscured by media and politics in the eyes of the American people. In the last few years embassies around the world, including Iranian embassies, have been endorsing arts and cultural programs as a representative of their country. Examples of such programs include art exhibitions, music performances, film festivals, and lectures.
Having studied the Iranian embassies around the world as precedents, I came to an understanding that the Iranian government puts great importance on the design of
3
TIMELINE OF IRAN - U.S. RELATIONS
1960
1979
Former Iran embassy in Washington, D.C.
Iran revolution and change of government. End of diplomatic relations between Iran and the United States.
4
1980
2006
Imposition of Iran Sanctions by the European Union and the United States.
2011
2016
2015
British embassy in Tehran Historic agreement signed between the closed. U.S. and Iran.
British embassy reopened.
The United States and EU lifted economic sanctions against Iran.
5
RECENTLY BUILT IRANIAN EMBASSIES
Having studied the Iranian embassies around the world as precedents, I came to an understanding that the Iranian government puts great importance on the design of their embassy buildings around the world. If there was to be an Iranian Embassy in D.C. it would be one projecting a democratic and friendly image of the country to the people of the United States, and showing the aspects of Iran, its culture and history that have been obscured by media and politics in the eyes of the American people. In the last few years embassies around the world, including Iranian embassies, have been endorsing arts and cultural programs as a representative of their country. Examples of such programs include art exhibitions, music performances, film festivals, and lectures.
6
Iranian embassy in Japan built in 2004
Iranian embassy in England proposed by Daneshgar Architects in 2010
Dutch embassy in Germany by OMA built in 2003
French embassy in China built in 2009
CONCEPTUAL REFERENCES
One of the inspirations for the design of the Iranian embassy was the traditional stepped villages in Iran, where houses where connected to each other through courtyards and rooftops. These villages are usually located on hillsides with moderate to cold climate not much different from the climate of Washington D.C. The dense form of these buildings is harmonious with the slope of the site. The interconnectivity of the buildings in these villages creates opportunities for human interaction . Another conceptual reference for the design of this embassy was traditional Iranian mansions with multiple inner gardens and courtyards that allude to a paradise.
Central coutryard houses
Central courtyard
Masuleh, Iran
Palangan, Kurdistan, Iran
7
SITE
8
Embassy of Iran in the United States is proposed to be on the site of the former embassy of Iran, located at 3005 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20008. The building includes a chancery, a consulate, an ambassador’s residence, and a Persian cultural center. The site area is 105,000 sf. The area sits on a beautiful slope where the height above sea level drops from about 150 ft at the highest part of the site to about 125 ft at its lowest part.
Embassies
Site
Roads 9
Embassy site National parks Building footprints Topography 2 ft contours Roads
0
10
Legend National_Parks
Feet
Building_Footprints Topography__2_Foot_Contours
140 280
560
Feet 840
PROPOSAL
11
BUILDING FORM
The main idea for the design of the Iranian embassy in Washington D.C. is to create a world that both fits within the context of American society and is nostalgic of Iran. In order to achieve this goal I decided to break down the scale of the building to a more humanistic and relatable scale by taking advantage of the programmatic conditions. As a result the building is an agglomeration of cubes of different programs placed at different angles in relation to one another, as if they are groups of standing people having a conversation with each other. This projects an image of the embassy that not only is approachable and inviting, but also stands out as a contemporary building for pedestrians and all people of Washington D.C. The embassy building consists of multiple courtyards and rooftops formed by the gathering of interconnected rectangular spaces. The form of the building alludes to a
12
village similar to ancient Persian villages where houses where connected to each other through courtyards and rooftops. The slope of the site allows for stepped courtyards and rooftops of one building to be a courtyard of another one at a higher elevation. Angular courtyards are formed in a way that when you are standing at one point of a courtyard you do not necessarily see the other side of it, however you know there is something beyond where you are standing. This stimulates sense of curiosity and makes you want to move through and experience the space. In addition the existence of multiple courtyards allows for not only cross ventilation through the building but also the embodiment of nature.
160 150 142 135 128 120 ft 50 ft 100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
500
Section through the site shows slope of the site along Massachusetts Ave.
Residence Embassy Cultural Center
Approximate location for embassy, cultural center, and ambassador’s residence based on access, views, privacy and security measures.
Creating masses based on different components of the program for the embassy, ambassador’s residence, and Persian cultural center.
Spreading the mass to create multiple courtyards and break down the scale of the building to a more humanistic and relatable scale. 13
MA
SSA
CHU
SET
TS
W ET N STRE 30TH
PROGRAM
AVE
COURTYARDS
Residen
SSA
AMBASSADOR’S RESIDENCE
14
Entrance, galleries, dining Guest rooms Private residence
4,790 sf 3,190 sf 5,250 sf
Subtotal
13,230 sf
CHU
SET
TS
30TH
MA
W ET N STRE
ce Entra nce
Drop off
Residence courtyard Embassy courtyard Embassy rooftop Cultural center courtyard Cultural center rooftop
AVE
Emb
ass
yE ntra
EMBASSY
MA
SSA
Staff entrance Consulate Cultural section Economic section Education & press section Main conference room Cafe and dining Accountant Translator Deputy chief’s office Ambassador’s office
1,800 3,960 4,620 4,620 4,620 1,850 1,850 1,780 2,800 1,935 3,400
sf sf sf sf sf sf sf sf sf sf sf
Subtotal
33,235 sf
CHU
Con
SET
TS
W ET N STRE 30TH
nce
sula
AVE
te E ntra n
ce
SSA
PERSIAN CULTURAL CENTER
CHU
SET
TS
AVE Cafe entrance
Entrance Library Temporary exhibition Permanent exhibition Performance Cafe
2,080 2,400 7,010 3,360 1,700 770,
sf sf sf sf sf sf
Subtotal
17,320 sf
W ET N STRE 30TH
Cultural Center entrance
MA
15
MATERIAL
20.8 in
Brick is a material that has been used for thousands of years in different parts of the world. It is still a major building material in many parts of the world such as Iran. The earthy appearance of brick is not only nostalgic of Persian architecture for Iranians but also a relatable material for passersby. Brick is made from naturally abundant materials, capable of being recycled and highly durable. South facing walls have perforated brick curtain walls to allow for filtered daylight to get in while protecting from glare.
1.96 in
Solid brick wall, Kolumba brick
Perforated brick walls are traditionally built by alternate laying of bricks, and the size of perforations are limited to the length of a brick. The brick proposed for this building measures to 20.8 x 4.3 x 1.5 inches. Manufactured by Kolumba, the linear shape of this kind of brick allows for having deliberate perforations of multiple randomized patterns and sizes. This allows for a variety of interior and exterior spatial qualities, views, and light patterns. Pattern of perforation
16
STORYBOARD
One of the major criteria that I was mindful of throughout the whole design process was the experiential aspect of the design. The village-like formation of spaces creates an opportunity for different groups of users to have a different experience. Angular courtyards are formed in a way that when you are standing at one point of a courtyard you do not necessarily see the other side of it, however you know there is something beyond where you are standing. This stimulates sense of curiosity and makes you want to move through and experience the space. Each interior space is specified for a certain group of users. For example, the Public Diplomacy section of the embassy has its own building which is connected to other sections of the embassy. Also, the embassy’s
cafĂŠ and main conference room are located in their own building at the heart of the embassy where it is easily accessed by all the staff. This allows for spaces to be more individualized and users to feel more privacy, and therefore feel that the building puts more importance on each single occupant of the building. Connection to outside and variations of view to courtyards also allow for a pleasant experience for users. In an embassy building where security measures do not allow for much transparency to the outside world, these strategies create a building that is a different world with its own gardens and trees.
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Let’s get a book, grab a coffee and hang out in the garden. A
garden
A
library cafe
18
Celebrating the Persian new year and beginning of spring in the lecture hall and on the roof top. B
B
rooftop events
19
Section officers and counselors have a meeting with the ambassador in the conference room. C
ambassador
section
conference accountant section
C
section
consulate
20
Reception party at the ambassador’s residence. D
dining
gallery C
reception courtyard
21
22
23
LEVEL -1 VISITOR PARKING
UP
A
PERSIAN CULTURE CENTER A
101
Visitor parking
20
-1 parking 3/64" = 1'-0"
10
50
Ft.
LEVEL 0
A 0' - 0"
A
UP
UP
A
UP
B -
DN
B B
B
0' - 0"
3' - 6"
UP
EMBASSY A B
B
UP
0' - 0"
A
Consulate waiting area Consulate counters PERSIAN CULTURE CENTER
A B C D E F
A
E
C
D
Entrance / lobby Temporary exhibition Permanent exhibition Library Cafe Lecture hall AMBASSADOR’S RESIDENCE
A
10
Private residence
20
50
Ft. 25
LEVEL 1
UP
B
C B
UP
B
15' - 6"
UP mech
D
DN
DN
A
DN
E D
11' - 6"
UP
UP
C C UP
DN
11' - 6"
B
D B
13' - 6"
UP DN
EMBASSY A B C D
A
Cultural section Economic section Translators Staff parking PERSIAN CULTURE CENTER
A B C D
Entrance / lobby Temporary exhibition Permanent exhibition Rooftop AMBASSADOR’S RESIDENCE
A B C D
10
Entrance hall Gallery Dining Private residence
20
1
level 2 exhibition 1" = 20'-0"
50
Ft.
A
LEVEL 2
A
A
DN
DN
A UP
UP 15' - 6"
I
H mech
UP
23' - 0"
F
mech 23' - 0"
UP
D
UP
E
23' - 0"
DN
A
G
UP
14' - 0"
B
mech
UP
mech
C DN
EMBASSY A B C D E F G H I
Entrance hall Economic section Cultural section Education, public diplomacy, press section Main conference room Accountants Translators / Monitoring room Ambassador’s office entrance / waiting area Ambassador’s office AMBASSADOR’S RESIDENCE
A
10
Guest rooms
20
50
Ft. 27
1
Level 3 1" = 20'-0"
LEVEL 3
DN
mech
G
F
D DN
34' - 6"
E
A
DN
DN
B mech
34' - 6"
C
EMBASSY A B C D E F G
10
Entrance hall Economic section Rooftop Education, public diplomacy, press section Cafe and kitchen Rooftop cafe Deputy chief’s office
20
Ft.
50 1
Level 4 1" = 20'-0"
10 20
SECTION THROUGH CULTURAL CENTER
10 ft 5 ft
1
Section throu Culture Center 1/16" = 1'-0"
5
10
20
Ft.
29
SECTION THROUGH EMBASSY 10 ft 5 ft
1
1-2 1/16" = 1'-0" 2
5
10
2-3 1/16" = 1'-0"
Ft.
20
10 ft
10 ft 5 ft
5 ft
SECTION THROUGH AMBASSADOR’S RESIDENCE
1
5
30
10
20
Ft.
Section1 16Section 16 1/16" = 1'-0" 1/16" = 1'-0"
2
Section2 1/16" =
2
3
3-4 1/16" = 1'-0"
Section 18 Section 18 2 1/16" = 1'-0" 1/16" = 1'-0"
A103 3
Section 17 Section 17 3 1/16" = 1'-0" 1/16" = 1'-0"
31
SOUTH-WEST ELEVATION
32
33
34
35
36
37
38