Hezar-Too: An engaging urban experience
The Hezar-Too installation by Ehsani Sharafeh Associates transforms the entrance of Lale Park in Mashhad into a vibrant participatory space. Commissioned by the Mashhad municipality following the park’s 2022 renewal, this interactive structure invites you to engage with its intricate design through movement and exploration. Positioned at the main entrance from Hafte-Tir Square, it seeks to encourage public interaction with its surrounding environment rather than simply being a static object.
Designing interaction through architectural heritage
The concept of the ‘Syntactic Hezar-Too,’ integral to the installation, draws from traditional Iranian architectural patterns. These patterns, often seen in Islamic domestic architecture, are known for creating fluid sequences of spaces that offer layered movement and discovery. Hezar-Too reimagines these ideas, composed of eight extruded octagons and four square volumes, which feature revolving doors at the core of each octagon. This requires your active participation to navigate through the installation, reflecting the deliberate and gradual transition between spaces as found in traditional Iranian homes.
A vibrant and reflective spatial journey
Color plays a pivotal role in shaping the experience at Hezar-Too. Inspired by the stained glass of historic Iranian houses, each section uses colored acrylic panels to introduce distinct hues. These colors shift as you move through the maze, altering the atmosphere and spatial dynamics. Mirrored ceilings add another layer of complexity, reflecting and fragmenting pathways to heighten the installation’s labyrinthine character. The combined elements of prefabricated metal modules, safety glass, and mirrored surfaces weave a tapestry that challenges and envelops your sense of space.
Reimagining urban space
By embedding a dense circulation system into Lale Park’s open surroundings, Hezar-Too makes movement, color, and reflection the central features of the urban square. This installation not only pays homage to traditional Iranian architecture but also adapts these references within a contemporary context. As a result, the project offers a dynamic and immersive experience that transforms the act of circulation into a key architectural element, inviting you to explore and engage with the project’s unique spatial narrative.
Sources & Links
Source: designboom.com