Eghbal Hospital
Built - 2016 - Tehran
The original facade had become cluttered over time with mechanical installations, inconsistent window arrangements, and an exposed elevator shaft. A third-floor balcony housed essential ventilation equipment that couldn’t be relocated. The hospital had to remain operational during construction, and the active shops on the ground floor required careful coordination. Located at a busy intersection, the building also carried symbolic weight in the neighborhood.
image before renovation
To address these complex demands, we adopted a multi-layered approach grounded in contextual sensitivity, functional flexibility, and visual order; The design evolved into a composition of woven brick ribbons, which follow the established grid and dynamically shift around window openings. This strategy brought a rhythmic yet contextual order to the facade.
expanded facade before and after the renovation
The presence of non-relocatable installations meant that the design had to be highly adaptable, capable of integrating irregularities rather than masking them unsuccessfully. To counteract the visual chaos of the original elevation and the surrounding urban congestion, we deliberately limited the palette of materials and colors. A unifying grid system was introduced, aligning as much as possible with the inconsistent window placements.
Refractory brick was chosen as the primary facade material, reflecting the local architectural language and responding well to the regional climate. Various brickwork patterns were tested to bring rhythm and refinement to the elevation. The final design features woven brick ribbons aligned with a simplified grid, subtly shifting around window openings to organize the existing irregularities. U-profiles and metal surfaces were carefully integrated with the brickwork to enhance the facade’s texture and provide a contemporary contrast.
Client: Eghbal Hospital
Location: Tehran, Iran
Project Year: 2016
Facade Area: 1,700 m²
Project Team: Mehdi Mousavinasab- Sudeh Akhondi- Amir Saadatfard- Peiman Meidani- Hamidreza Nikfarjam- Mohammad Aghayi
Photography: Hosein Farahani