FACADE DESIGN MODIFICATION OF CHAHARBAGH KHAJOO AVENUE

Design Frim: Cama Circle

Role: Coordinate the Design Team, Design, Advise Public-Sector Client, Supervise Construction Team

Client: Isfahan Municipality

Location: Isfahan, Iran

Date: 2022

Chaharbagh Khajo stands as the oldest street in Iran, adorned with a rich tapestry of buildings and diverse utilitarian purposes. The client’s mandate entailed the meticulous reorganization of the street’s facades and their associated extensions. Within this framework, our primary objective is to accentuate the street’s historical significance, thereby aligning our efforts with the client’s vision and establishing a novel architectural identity that harmonizes with its contemporary functions, while also being attuned to future prospects.

Survey

In the process of gathering the requisite information for our design, we concentrated our efforts on two distinct categories of data.

Physical Dimension

The buildings along the street were categorized into three distinct groups based on their respective ages:

less than ten years old – 3 or more floors

10 to 30 years old – 2 or 3 floors

more than 30 years old – 1 floor

The existing facilities encompassed two primary categories:

Urban facilities & Private facilities

Perceptual Dimension

Taking into account the cross-section of the street, users were classified into three distinct categories: pedestrians located in the central thoroughfare, pedestrians utilizing the side sidewalks, and passing vehicles.

These three categories exhibit varying perceptual spans, consequently leading to distinct perceptions of the facade elements based on their respective movement speeds and positions. This dynamic is further influenced by the presence of existing trees and marginal parking, adding additional layers of complexity to the overall urban experience.

Upon the completion of our data collection phase, our initial action involved the removal of facade elements. We then proceeded to categorize the requisite implementation strategies into the following classifications:

Buildings Under Ten Years Old:
- Organizing shop signs panels
- Organizing facilities
- Painting metal elements
Buildings with a Lifespan of 10 to 30 Years:
- Organizing shop signs panels
- Facade washing
- Facade renovation if necessary
- Painting metal elements
Buildings with a Lifespan of More Than 30 Years:
- Strengthening of facades
- Facade reconstruction of the building and creation of a facility dossier
- Organizing shop signs panels
- Painting metal elements

In alignment with the designated strategies, the following executive actions were undertaken:

Facade Reconstruction of Buildings: Given the historical significance and intricate changes experienced by buildings with a lifespan exceeding 30 years, demolition and complete rebuilding were deemed cost-prohibitive. Consequently, a solution was devised whereby a 25 cm deep brick cladding was applied to these structures. The rear of this cladding was deliberately left hollow, serving as a conduit for the installation and routing of various facilities. The architectural inspiration for this facade construction was drawn from the aesthetics of the older buildings along the street, with locally sourced brick chosen as the primary cladding material. To ensure access to urban utility elements, openings crafted from perforated sheets were strategically incorporated into the facade design. Detailed planning and execution of these openings took into account safety considerations related to gas and electricity infrastructure.

Before

After

To streamline the management of both private and urban facilities that had previously traversed beneath the roof overhang of commercial units, a proposal was put forth for the creation of a duct. This duct, constructed with a wooden covering, was positioned beneath the roof, maintaining a consistent separation of 10 cm from it.

Building Restoration: For those structures necessitating restoration, the restoration process was executed in accordance with the available construction pattern.

Organization of Shop Sign Panels: Two distinct proposals were presented, affording each business unit the option to select the approach that best suited their needs:

Removal of Shop Sign Panel Background from Facade:
- In this approach, the background of the shop sign panel was detached from the facade, and identity elements were transferred to the rear of the storefront entrance.
Construction and Installation of a New Shop Sign Panel:
- This alternative entailed the creation and installation of a novel shop sign panel. This panel featured a gray and neutral composite background, with identity elements comprising textured steel sheets in relief and matte white plexiglass. The font employed was the Iranian Nastaliq font. Businesses could opt for this distinctive design to enhance their visual identity.

Shop Sign Panel Design

Detail

Design Process

Define a New Identity

As previously mentioned, Chaharbagh Khajo Street holds the distinction of being the oldest street in Iran, and Isfahan stands as one of Iran’s premier tourist destinations. In light of this context, a primary objective of our project was to imbue the street with a distinctive and novel feature. To this end, we proposed the installation of bronze alloy plaques, meticulously designed to draw inspiration from the ornate forms adorning Khajo Bridge, a historically significant landmark in Isfahan.

These plaques serve a dual purpose: they feature store signage engraved upon them and are strategically positioned on the ground in front of each respective store. At the heart of these plaques lies Isfahan’s iconic historical emblem, while a focused spotlight illuminates them. Consequently, these plaques not only serve as a functional element during the day but also come to life as luminous features in the night, adding an enchanting dimension to the street’s ambiance.

During the design phase, our primary emphasis was placed on human sensory perception. To optimize the navigational experience for individuals, we implemented a deliberate strategy. This involved the removal of extraneous facility elements and shop sign panels, while introducing new, unobtrusive elements with a neutral aesthetic. This intentional reduction in the information presented to individuals aimed to facilitate their ability to locate their desired destinations within the environment effortlessly.

Moreover, the strategic placement of shop sign panels and other identity elements took into account the perceptual spans of both pedestrians and motorists, considering their respective speeds. This meticulous approach ensured that signage and visual cues were optimally positioned to enhance navigation and comprehension for all users of the street.