Shahrak Villa is the renovation of a 250-square-meter residence in Shahrak-e Gharb, Tehran. After nearly four decades of use, aging infrastructure, numerous decorative arches, and limited ceiling heights no longer responded to the residents’ way of living. The design process began with a careful investigation of the existing structure, and during demolition, previously concealed architectural potential was revealed—including the original high pitched roof and several columns that were found to have no structural function. These discoveries created the opportunity to fundamentally redefine the spatial quality and organization of the house.

By removing unnecessary partitions and suspended ceilings, the shared areas were transformed into a more open and continuous environment. The entrance, now benefiting from greater height, became the primary distribution point of the house, while the living room, dining area, bar, and family lounge unfold in sequence with varying degrees of intimacy. This hierarchy was developed in direct response to the family’s way of living, moving gradually from more formal spaces toward increasingly private areas.

The ceiling design and lighting strategy were developed as part of the same spatial transformation. Sections of the original pitched roof were preserved and revealed, allowing the true height of the building to become part of the interior experience, while lighting emphasizes circulation routes and key spatial moments. Shahrak Villa is ultimately an exercise in uncovering the latent potential of an existing house and constructing a new domestic environment from within its original structure, without completely erasing the building’s past.