Pigeon House

Pigeon House 

Dakhmeh Studio

Pigeon House
© Deed Studio

ARCHITECTS
Dakhmeh Studio

MODELLING
Negar Rashid

PLUMBING
Shahin Parhizkari

MANUFACTURERS
Behrizan, Iranradiator, Sanli, Shouder

ELECTRICAL CONSULTANT
Mohammad Shaban

STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
Hossein Zanganeh

PROJECT MANAGER
Seifollah Nasiri

PHOTOGRAPHS
Deed Studio

AREA
280 M²

YEAR
2022

LOCATION
Tehran, Iran

CATEGORY
Houses, Renovation

Pigeon House
© Deed Studio

"Pigeon house" is a three storey building with a basement, a courtyard, and a caretaker's room on the rooftop, located in the north of Tehran.

The renovation of this building was carried out with an economical budget, focusing on the use of recycled materials, scrap, and affordable, accessible resources, utilizing unskilled labor.

The design prioritizes the maximum use of metal scrap and recycled wooden pallets.

Pigeon House
© Deed Studio
Pigeon House
© Deed Studio
Pigeon House
© Deed Studio

The use of untreated wood and iron in the interior of the units makes them neutral spaces, allowing the residents to personalize and complete them with their own creative input.

Additionally, the durability of these materials significantly reduces maintenance costs and wear and tear on the building.

As part of the renovation, the ceilings were re-layered and re-concreted. The flooring of the units is made of Russian wood planks, which are screwed onto an iron profile structure.

Pigeon House
© Deed Studio
Pigeon House
© Deed Studio
Pigeon House
© Deed Studio

These planks are removable, allowing for the placement of cables and utilities underneath. Three new spaces were added during the renovation: the southern facade with a new balcony, an expanded basement, transforming it from a storage area into a livable space, and an extended rooftop area for the caretaker's living quarters.

By adding a structure to the southern facade, full-length balconies were created for all floors. The new facade consists of metal panels that can be opened and closed, covered with recycled tin sheets from the roof of an early Pahlavi-era building.

Pigeon House
Before
Pigeon House
Before

These tin sheets were stored in a scrap yard for years and were hammered and flattened to be reused with their original weathered, rusty appearance. The added skin not only provides a second security layer but also controls visibility and privacy for each unit, while also functioning as a shade.

The combination of potted plants behind the balcony and the rusted tin sheets creates an organic connection, blending the building's spirit with the historical identity of Tehran.

Pigeon House
© Deed Studio
Pigeon House
© Deed Studio
Pigeon House
© Deed Studio

The basement, initially 30 square meters, was expanded to 50 square meters by excavating towards the courtyard. 

A bathroom, a toilet, and a small kitchen were added, and the space was transformed into a livable unit with natural light through new windows. For the installation of these windows, 40 centimeters of the courtyard's surface was excavated.

On the exterior, the original iron entrance door with floral motifs, reflecting the building's historical era, has been preserved.

Pigeon House
© Deed Studio
Pigeon House
© Deed Studio
Pigeon House
© Deed Studio

The brick sections of the facade were repaired, and three hollow metal volumes were installed between the bricks, designed to create nesting spaces for pigeons.


Pigeon House
Plans
Pigeon House
Section


Pigeon House
Elevation
Pigeon House
Elevation


Pigeon House
Plan - Ground Floor
Pigeon House
Plan - 1st Floor