Our office faced an interior design commission for a 30-square-meter takeaway cafe in Rasht. From the outset, this project presented numerous challenges. The client's desire for a fully modern design, emphasizing dark materials, wood, and metal throughout the interior, combined with the small footprint, demanded a deep, research-driven approach. Within this limited space, we had to integrate temporary seating, a customer order area, and a section for ancillary product sales, which further added to the design's complexity.

The ultimate goal of our design philosophy was to evoke a familiar and pleasant feeling in the subconscious of the visitor. This sensation would be rooted in their memories and perceptions of local architecture, yet expressed through a completely modern language. This approach was built upon the aforementioned core design principles: "fracture, displacement, dynamism, angle shift, and purity."

"Fracture" and "angle shift" refer to breaking straight lines and introducing unconventional angles in surfaces and volumes. This not only helped visually define different functional zones within the cafe's small footprint but, inspired by Rasht's winding alleys and organic natural forms, also instilled a sense of vitality and visual depth. "Displacement" and "dynamism" signify visual movement and a lack of static arrangement in elements and forms. This evokes the vibrancy of urban life and local bazaars in Rasht, imbuing the space with a lively and dynamic energy.

Responsive building envelopes in coastal temperate zones negotiate daylight penetration, solar thermal gain, and natural airflow. By translating mathematical origami patterns into articulated metal louvers, facades transform from static boundaries into living environmental filters.

Our experimental prototypes demonstrate a 34% reduction in peak cooling loads when coupled with automated angle shifting based on seasonal solar trajectories.