Silver A' Design Award Winner 2023
Yaser and Yasin Rashid Shomali's architectural language in the Mijan Holiday House employs the folded roof plane as a primary symbolic gesture, evoking associations with shelter as protective embrace, the origami art of transformation through folding, and the tent or pavilion archetype representing temporary yet meaningful dwelling within landscape. The ascending diagonal trajectory of the roofline may suggest aspiration and uplift, a visual metaphor for elevation of spirit that traditional sacred architecture achieved through spires and vaulting. The copper-bronze materiality carries rich cultural associations with durability, warmth, and the honorable aging process that develops patina over time, suggesting architecture that improves rather than deteriorates with the passage of seasons. The extensive transparency at ground level symbolically dissolves the traditional fortress mentality of domestic architecture, proposing instead a philosophy of openness, trust, and communion with the natural world that surrounds and nurtures human habitation. The water element positioned in the foreground functions as a classic threshold symbol, representing reflection, contemplation, and the liminal space between exterior approach and interior sanctuary. The careful framing of the structure within mature trees suggests the archetypal sacred grove, architecture positioned reverently within nature rather than dominating it. The geometric assertiveness of the angular forms balanced against organic landscape informality may represent the productive tension between human ordering impulse and natural growth patterns, suggesting that meaningful dwelling emerges from dialogue between these complementary forces rather than victory of one over the other.
Drawing inspiration from local buildings with sloping roofs, this architectural design blends traditional and modern elements. The wooden sloping roof provides a cozy atmosphere inside and a striking shape outside. Adding modern touches created a design that harmoniously blends with the surroundings. The solid form feels powerful and safe, while the fluid and corner shapes, warm colors, and unique floor materials inside create a cozy feel. The second conventional area elevates the viewer's eye level, presenting different points of view.