The Abu Musa Residential Complex Competition calls for the creation of an integrated residential community on Bumusa Island, located in Persian Gulf - southern Iran. The site extends over approximately 24,339 square meters and lies just 35 meters from the island’s northern shoreline. This unified urban plot is registered under a single title deed, with no permissions for subdivision.
Envisioned within this framework are between 122 and 155 residential units, complemented by essential supportive housing services—all conceived as a cohesive architectural ensemble. The competition aimes to elevate housing quality and address compensation needs on Bumusa, honoring the lifestyle of its inhabitants. It promotes sustainable population growth while setting a precedent for supportive housing typologies in the region. The design strives for a harmonious blend of diverse housing units, establishing a dialogue between built mass and open spaces that respond sensitively to the local eco-cultural context.
This project exemplifies a synthesis of contemporary architectural practice with respect for the Bumusa Island cultural and climatic identity, creating a living environment that is both functional and deeply rooted in its regional context.
The master plan for the site is inspired by the traditional Charbagh philosophy, integrating considerations of water systems, light and shadow, and the relationship between mass and space. This organizational concept is enriched by the incorporation of vernacular architectural elements and materials, fostering a design language that resonates with the cultural and climatic identity of the island. The project targets a medium-income demographic, emphasizing accessibility and livability within its architectural expression.
Buildings are organized into structural blocks based on core typologies, with dwelling sizes ranging from 95 to 100 square meters. Thoughtful planning of access routes, courtyards, and terraces ensures privacy while optimizing natural daylight and cross ventilation.
The Anjir Residential Complex is an affordable social housing initiative situated on Abumusa Island in southern Iran, designed with strong inspiration from the Charbagh principles—a traditional Persian garden typology recognized for its sustainable and context-responsive qualities. The project seeks to deliver high-quality living standards while remaining economically accessible, rooted deeply in the island’s environmental, cultural, and social context.
Geometry and Layout
The organization of the complex follows the Charbagh’s symbolic quadrant geometry, with a central landscaped axis intersecting perpendicular pathways, generating clear spatial hierarchies and visual corridors. This arrangement creates a legible urban fabric where movement and gathering naturally converge at communal nodes. The built volumes are arranged in low-rise blocks, oriented to optimize cross-ventilation and maximize exposure to views of the surrounding coastline, while also ensuring privacy within each housing unit.
Water Use System
Water conservation is integral to the design, drawing from Charbagh’s historic methods of channeling and directing water. A gravity-fed network and modern purification systems supply clean water to shared courtyards and gardens, while recycled greywater irrigates planting zones. Shallow reflecting pools embedded in shaded courtyards provide microclimatic cooling and offer social focal points, evoking the cooling and aesthetic role of water in Persian gardens.
Contextual Planting
The planting palette prioritizes native and adaptive species, chosen for resilience in the coastal island climate and low irrigation demand. Date palms, fig trees (referencing the “Anjir” name), and salt-tolerant shrubs provide shade, seasonal fruit, and environmental integration. Green buffers help block prevailing winds and filter dust carried from the shoreline.
Contextual Resource Use and Materials
Unlike Kish Island, where coral stone is commonly used, Abumusa’s geology favors other local resources—primarily volcanic material and stone, complemented by regionally sourced clay bricks and lime plaster. These materials provide essential thermal mass to stabilize indoor temperature, offering both environmental durability and cultural linkage.
Natural Light and Ventilation
Housing units are designed with dual-orientation openings, allowing air to pass through naturally—reducing reliance on mechanical cooling. Deep-set windows, adjustable wooden louvers, and skylights capture daylight while minimizing glare. Roof apertures and clerestory openings channel breezes throughout the interior spaces.
Porous Organization for Climate Control
The spatial layout ensures permeability, with open interstitial spaces between blocks that allow wind movement to flush out humidity. This porous configuration helps regulate temperature, moisture, and air quality, while providing shaded shared alleyways that connect residents and reduce exposure to direct sunlight.
Social and Play Zones
At the heart of each Charbagh-inspired quadrant lies a communal garden, doubling as a playground and gathering area. These spaces are shaded by native trees, equipped with seating, and designed for multi-age activities. Smaller semi-private courtyards foster neighbourly interaction while respecting personal boundaries.
Views and Orientation
The architectural planning highlights two main vistas: unobstructed views towards the sea and dramatic perspectives of the nearby Halva mountain. Elevated terraces and balconies reinforce these visual connections, strengthening community identity and everyday engagement with the island landscape
The Anjir Residential Complex leverages historic design wisdom and context-driven planning to create affordable, resilient, and socially vibrant housing. Its synthesis of geometry, adaptive resources, and environmental consideration redefines standards for island living in southern Iran.
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- Project Name: BUMUSA National Competition
- Client: National Design Competition
- Author Architects: Amir Abbas Aboutalebi, Firouz Firouz
- Design Architects: Zeinab Hooshangi, Farnoosh Baratlou
- Design Team: Mohammad Hasan Savari, Anahita Nabiri, Arash Tabrizi, Nikan Hejri, Meisam Zaferankar, Kiana Amirmazaheri, Farnoosh Bandi, Negar Movahhedi,
- Location: Bumusa Island
- Status: National Design Competition
- Project Year: 2024-25