Introduction

Sadra is a newly established city within Shiraz with a short life and no cultural identity and is surrounded by soulless buildings. In 2017, the municipality held an international competition to design a cultural complex in the middle of the city to define its urban identity and be a symbol of the city.

General Concept

Since the proposed site was a hill with a natural topography, we decided not to change its topography as much as possible. Instead, we created a contrast between the empty appearance of the design and the crowded buildings around to make it a symbol of the city،, Like Central Park, which, amid the bustle of New York City’s tall buildings, has given the city its identity by being empty.

Concepts

The most important ideas for our design are the following:

• Natural ventilation has been created by constructing tunnels in the hills, the end of which leads to the symbolic Iranian windmills and establishes airflow in indoor spaces.
• ‏Use natural depressions as social spaces.
• ‏Use the tunnels inside the hill as a gallery.
• Use wind tunnels at the end of the tunnel to symbolize the complex and define its identity.
• The designed complex should look as empty as possible amidst the hustle and bustle of the surrounding buildings.