Arch-SoHo
Project Name: Harvesters' Place
Year: 2021
Client: Wooden Village of Neyshabur
Employer: Arch-SoHo
Location: Neyshabur, Khorasan Razavi, Iran
Keywords: Renovation, Moments that matter, Mapping students’ experiences, Excavating modernist architecture
Challenge: The project was initiated in response to the needs of the Wooden Village's saffron farm in rural Neyshabur, facing logistical and security challenges during harvesting season. The brief annual harvesting window necessitated a "storage facility" capable of accommodating over 20 commuting contract harvesters for chemical-free, manual processing, alongside addressing significant security concerns for the high-value crop.
Solution: This project introduces an architectural solution tailored to elevate socio-economic conditions, revive urban-rural connection, streamline workflow efficiency, and uphold worker dignity at a saffron farm nestled within the Wooden Village in northeast Iran. Recognizing the intricate balance between the saffron's delicate harvesting process and the socio-economic dynamics of rural farming, our team developed a multi-purpose design solution that served as a processing facility as well as temporary lodging for both seasonal harvesters and off-season city dwellers.
Instead of offering one large processing and storage facility that allows commuting contractors a place to also rest during the day, the design team developed eight temporary lodging units accommodating overnight stays, which also facilitate the processing and storage of the harvest. This effectively transitions from the traditional agro-industrial method of harvesting to an innovative agro-residential model that fosters worker dignity and community. This strategy not only ensured the safety and quality of the saffron but also enhanced worker morale and productivity by offering them a place of rest and community. Furthermore, these units doubled as a retreat for city dwellers, hosting visitors in the village and ensuring the site's vibrancy and utility beyond the harvesting season.
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Beyond the impact outlined above, this project has further contributed in three notable ways:
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1. Community and Economic Impact: Since its completion, the project has also diversified income sources for the farm, matching saffron sales with off-season rental revenue in 2023. This economic strategy, coupled with improved commute and living conditions for harvesters, exemplifies a successful blend of economic viability and social responsibility, strengthening the rural-urban nexus and appreciation of rural life among urban dwellers.
2. Typological Innovation: By introducing live-work units within an Iranian architectural context, the project presents a novel typology to confront challenges faced by Iranian villages which have been experiencing significant migration to urban areas. Metamorphosing the traditional courtyard into a liminal space and making the façade occupiable to facilitate workflow were among the requisites of this new typology.
3. Sustainable and Local Practices to Encourage Adoption: The project simplifies implementation for villages by using locally-sourced materials and construction techniques, ensuring both environmental sustainability and a tribute to regional craftsmanship. This strategy aims to encourage village adoption by proving the typology's feasibility.
integrating sustainable construction.
