# ZAV Architects Extends Iranian Villa with Ombre Architectural Limbs A colorful, vaulted extension transforms a weekend villa into a permanent residence in Kouhsar. - **Source:** [Dezeen](https://www.dezeen.com) - **Published:** 2026-11-10 - **Topic:** [culture](https://brifing.si/c/culture) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/16946a88-dd3f-42df-a923-fdfef8a12d5f ## Architectural Grafting Concept ZAV Architects designed the Golmorad extension to transform a weekend villa in Kouhsar into a permanent residence. Rather than creating a separate addition, the studio utilized a grafting process. This approach allows new architectural limbs to emerge organically from the original structure, effectively expanding the home into three adjacent orchard plots. ## Structural Design Elements The extension consists of a series of overlapping arched roofs constructed from masonry. These vaulted forms branch out from the main building, gradually decreasing in height. One wing houses a bedroom and ensuite, while the other contains an open-plan kitchen, living, and dining area that connects directly to an outdoor pool. ## Material and Aesthetic Integration The exterior is coated in plaster to maintain visual harmony with the earthen tones of the original villa designed by Firouz Firouz. While the material choice ensures continuity, the curved geometries of the new arches distinguish the addition from the existing structure, creating a clear dialogue between the old and new. ## Chromatic Gradient Transition A distinctive ombre effect defines the project, with colors shifting from terracotta to blue. This gradient radiates outward from the original core toward the newly formed branches. The studio intended this chromatic spectrum to make the building's evolution visible, with each segmented shell representing a distinct stage in the transformation process. ## Natural Light Integration The design incorporates strategic openings between the overlapping roof planes to facilitate natural light penetration into the interior spaces. By layering these vaulted shells, the architects ensured that the expanded living areas remain bright and airy, despite the thick-earth construction methods that characterize the original villa's underlying architectural logic and style. ## Studio Design Philosophy ZAV Architects emphasizes a third architectural possibility that avoids both direct replication and total separation from existing buildings. By treating the extension as a set of new organs, the studio explores how structures can develop and adapt over time. This philosophy reflects their broader interest in organic, evolutionary architectural interventions. ## Award Recognition Status The Golmorad project has gained significant industry attention, currently being shortlisted in the house extension category of the Dezeen Awards. It recently secured the public vote in these awards, sharing the honor with a playground project also designed by the same studio, highlighting the firm's growing influence in contemporary Iranian design. ## Context of Previous Work This project follows the studio's previous success with the Majara Residence and Community Redevelopment on Hormuz Island. That project, which earned an Aga Khan Award for Architecture, also featured colorful domed structures. These consistent design themes demonstrate ZAV Architects' commitment to vibrant, site-responsive architecture that challenges traditional building forms in Iran. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.dezeen.com/2026/11/10/golmorad-extension-zav-architects/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._