Hidden Boxes Indlu Yokuhlala by Yahya Kashi

Hidden Boxes Indlu Yokuhlala by Yahya Kashi is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 Umklomelo Wensimbi we-A' Design Award in Ukudizayina Ezokwakha, Izakhiwo Nezinhlaka Competition Category.

InsimbiEzokwakha· 2025

Hidden Boxes Indlu Yokuhlala

by Yahya Kashi

Client: Kasa Office

Umklomelo Wensimbi we-A' Design Award Winner in Ezokwakha Category

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The Design

About Hidden Boxes Indlu Yokuhlala

Iphrojekthi ye-Hidden Boxes iphendula ukubusa okuqhubekayo kwezakhiwo zesikhala ezijwayelekile ekwakheni kwesimanje, naphezu kwemiqondo yomlando efana ne-Raumplan, i-Domino, ne-Universal Plan. Ifuna ukuhlahlela kabusha lezi zilungiselelo ukuze idale inhlanganisela entsha, ibhekane nezindaba zokwakha zangaphakathi njengokuhlela kwesikhala, ubudlelwano phakathi kwe-Mass ne-Void, nokusebenzisana kwezindawo zobuso, kanye nezici zangaphandle ezibandakanya isimo sezulu, ubumfihlo, nezidingo zamasiko.

The Recognition

About the Umklomelo Wensimbi we-A' Design Award

Hidden Boxes Indlu Yokuhlala iwinile uMklomelo Wensimbi we-A' Design Award, ukwaziswa okuhloniphekile okunikezwa imiklamo emihle ehlangabezana nezidingo zobungcweti nezemboni ezilindelekile ezimpahleni ezihlelwe kahle. Abawinile beNsimbi babonisa ikhono elikhulu, ubungcweti obuphezulu, ukuqonda kochwepheshe namandla okudala abadali babo. Hidden Boxes Indlu Yokuhlala ilindeleke ukuba ibe yinto exatshwa kakhulu, edunyiswayo nethandwayo esebenzayo nenezinto ezintsha. Lo mklamo owinile uMklomelo Wensimbi we-A' Design Award uhlanganisa izindlela ezinhle kakhulu zemboni futhi unezimfanelo zobuchwepheshe ezifanelekile ezihlanganiswe nolwazi nethalente. Hidden Boxes Indlu Yokuhlala iyahlonishwa ngenxa yokucophelela kwayo futhi ihlelelwe ukulethela izinguquko zomgangatho wempilo ezisiza ukwenza umhlaba ube yindawo engcono.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: The Hidden Boxes project in Hamedan redefines residential space by deconstructing monotonous spatial structures. In pursuit of this, we sought to break down the monotony by placing independent spatial boxes together to form a cohesive whole, balancing internal elements like Mass/Void relationships with external factors such as climate, privacy, and cultural needs.In the end, we tried to redefine a residential space in the context of structural binary oppositions between the internal and external issues of architecture with a view to the history we have gone through.
Dimensions & Packaging: 20.30 m x 12.45 m x 16.00 m
Tags: HiddenBoxes, Kasaoffice, Iran, Hamedan, Residental, Void, Brick, House,
Production Technology: The project features a prestressed structure with a column system, chosen to accommodate cantilevered slabs and optimize structural efficiency. The facade was designed to create a transparent yet solid boundary between interior and exterior spaces. Utilizing Fakhr o Madin bricks, connected with bolts and anchored to the main structure, ensures privacy, light control, and spatial coverage while addressing contextual considerations.
Design Challenge: The Hidden Boxes project in Hamedan addresses the challenges of contemporary Iranian architecture, which is dominated by monotonous spatial structures. The project aims to break these structures, focusing on internal architectural elements like the Mass/Void relationship, and external factors such as climate, privacy, and cultural needs. Historical architectural references and native residential types were considered, while issues such as sunlight control and privacy were key factors in the design process.
Research: The project advanced its research through multiple layers. The historical and architectural discipline layer explored concepts such as the Raumplan, Domino, and Universal Plan. Meanwhile, the formal and spatial analysis layer examined the vernacular houses of Hamedan, aiming to reinterpret and represent aspects of their spatial organization within the project.
Inspiration: "Hidden Boxes" reflects architectural history, responding to the persistence of monotonous spatial structures despite concepts like Raumplan, Domino, and Universal Plan. This project explores deconstructing conventional configurations to form a new synthesis, addressing both internal factors-spatial organization, Mass/Void dynamics, surface relationships, and fragmentation and external concerns such as climate, privacy, and cultural needs.
Project Duration: Hidden Boxes started in 2019 and finished in 2021 in Hamedan, Iran.
Operation Flow: The surrounding urban fabric primarily consists of residential buildings. Due to rapid and unregulated urban development, the area is transitioning from a low-density, villa-dominated neighborhood to one characterized by high-rise apartment buildings with maximum height density. Consequently, the project is positioned at the intersection of these two typologies, engaging in a dialogue between low-rise single-family houses and high-density apartment structures. This hybrid villa-apartment typology responds to and interacts with its contextual surroundings.
Patents: Copyrights belong to Kasa Office, 2022
Image Credits: Image #1: Photographer Mohammad Hassan Ettefagh, Hidden Boxes, 2022
Image #2: Photographer Mohammad Hassan Ettefagh, Hidden Boxes, 2022
Image #3: Photographer Mohammad Hassan Ettefagh, Hidden Boxes, 2022
Image #4: Photographer Mohammad Hassan Ettefagh, Hidden Boxes, 2022
Image #5: Photographer Mohammad Hassan Ettefagh, Hidden Boxes, 2022