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Zahra Soori

@zso.ori

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Interdisciplinary Design & Research
Regenerative Urban Spaces | Low-Impact Materials | NbS | M.Sc. Sustainable Architecture Student
Collaborations🔻

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

• Kaira Looro 2026 | A community center woven from earth, water, and Teranga;
> The spirit of unconditional welcome <

-Team: Fatemeh Ashtiani @fatemeh_ashtiani_ , Hasti Soleymanzadeh Azar, Zahra Soori @zso.ori
-Year: 2026
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#architecturalpresentation #architecturalcompetition #architecturalvisualization #lowtecharchitecture #climateresilience by @zso.ori

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3 months ago

• Weaving together water, earth, agriculture, and community...

“Teranga” was our proposal for @kairalooro 2026
- A Community Center in Southern Senegal
- Team: @fatemeh_ashtiani_ @zso.ori and Hasti Soleymanzadeh Azar

• Modularity; A Kit of Parts

Collected from local agricultural waste materials, invasive plants like Typha and traditional construction techniques; Repeatable bays with a shared frame & roof, where infill walls alternate between solid CEBs with local geometric patterns and woven Typha panels.

This allows the community to adapt the layout for diverse uses. All materials & finishes are locally sourced, rooted in Senegalese traditions, and harmonized with the regional climate.
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#architecturalcompetition #kairaloorocompetition #sustainabledesign #climateresilience #sustainablematerials by @zso.ori

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Building an Earthen Module | 7 Steps

Kaira Looro 2026 | Community Center, Casamance, Senegal

1. Site Preparation
Excavation and ground preparation mark the beginning of the construction process.
2. Foundation
Discarded tires are filled with compacted gravel, followed by earth layers and gravel bags to create a stable, raised foundation.
3. Structural Frame
The earthen foundation is completed, column bases are installed, and the timber frame and thresholds are assembled.
4. Roof Construction
The roof structure is erected, followed by layered Typha thatch to provide shade and weather protection.
5. A Usable Pavilion
At this stage, the covered structure already functions as a shaded pavilion for community activities while construction continues.
6. Infill Walls
Wattle, wattle-and-daub, and compressed earth block walls are constructed, while openings and ventilation details are completed.
7. Finishes
Natural plasters, pigments, and final finishes complete the building, giving it its final appearance and durability.

Team: Zahra Soori, Fatemeh Ashtiani, Hasti Soleymanzadehazar
#architecturecompetitions
#EarthArchitecture #SustainableArchitecture #vernaculararchitecture taken in Casamance by @zso.ori

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Project by👥 Zahra Soori @zso.ori , Fatemeh Ashtiani @fatemeh_ashtiani_ , Hasti Soleymanzadehazar

@kairalooro 2026 | Community Center, Casamance, Senegal

Teranga: The Spirit of Unconditional Welcome
Our proposal for the Kaira Looro competition was developed as a community center for the rural villages of Casamance, Senegal—a place where architecture is not conceived as an isolated object, but as an integral part of everyday life.
The project is inspired by the idea of weaving and connecting—a space that interlaces people, nature, and culture like the threads of a woven fabric. At its heart lies a central courtyard that harvests rainwater, channels prevailing winds, and becomes the social core of the community.
The center is designed to be built through local knowledge and community participation. The use of low-carbon, locally sourced materials—including compressed earth blocks, Typha reeds, and shell-lime plaster—alongside the revival of traditional crafts, support for women and children, educational and workshop spaces, and strategies for food security and water management, all form an integral part of the project's approach.
For us, this project was more than the design of a building; it was an attempt to create a place where architecture, nature, and community are woven together once again.

#Kairaloorocompetition #kairalooro #vernaculararchitecture #architecture #architecturecompetitions by @zso.ori

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3 months ago

Kaira Looro 2026 | Community Center, Casamance, Senegal

Team: Zahra Soori, Fatemeh Ashtiani, Hasti Soleymanzadehazar

Teranga: The Spirit of Unconditional Welcome
Our proposal for the Kaira Looro competition was developed as a community center for the rural villages of Casamance, Senegal—a place where architecture is not conceived as an isolated object, but as an integral part of everyday life.
The project is inspired by the idea of weaving and connecting—a space that interlaces people, nature, and culture like the threads of a woven fabric. At its heart lies a central courtyard that harvests rainwater, channels prevailing winds, and becomes the social core of the community.
The center is designed to be built through local knowledge and community participation. The use of low-carbon, locally sourced materials—including compressed earth blocks, Typha reeds, and shell-lime plaster—alongside the revival of traditional crafts, support for women and children, educational and workshop spaces, and strategies for food security and water management, all form an integral part of the project's approach.
For us, this project was more than the design of a building; it was an attempt to create a place where architecture, nature, and community are woven together once again.

#Kairaloorocompetition #kairalooro #vernaculararchitecture #architecture #architecturecompetitions taken in Casamance by @zso.ori

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3 months ago

Kaira Looro 2026 | Community Center, Casamance, Senegal

Team: Zahra Soori, Fatemeh Ashtiani, Hasti Soleymanzadehazar

Teranga: The Spirit of Unconditional Welcome
Our proposal for the Kaira Looro competition was developed as a community center for the rural villages of Casamance, Senegal—a place where architecture is not conceived as an isolated object, but as an integral part of everyday life.
The project is inspired by the idea of weaving and connecting—a space that interlaces people, nature, and culture like the threads of a woven fabric. At its heart lies a central courtyard that harvests rainwater, channels prevailing winds, and becomes the social core of the community.
The center is designed to be built through local knowledge and community participation. The use of low-carbon, locally sourced materials—including compressed earth blocks, Typha reeds, and shell-lime plaster—alongside the revival of traditional crafts, support for women and children, educational and workshop spaces, and strategies for food security and water management, all form an integral part of the project's approach.
For us, this project was more than the design of a building; it was an attempt to create a place where architecture, nature, and community are woven together once again.

#Kairaloorocompetition #kairalooro #vernaculararchitecture #architecture #architecturecompetitions taken in Casamance by @zso.ori

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3 months ago

▫️Design is defined by the convergence of heritage, climate, and urban life, each layer informing the other.

— The site was read through its historical fabric, environmental pressures, and the everyday experiences of its residents, from dust and heat to fragmented pedestrian paths.

— A transport hub was envisioned that bridges past and future, inspired by tradition, responsive to today, and adaptable for tomorrow.

•These insights were woven together into a pedestrian-oriented and universally accessible framework, where mobility and safety are prioritized for all.

— A 3D modular cubic network was introduced to reactivate the station’s semi-open courtyards, transforming neglected spaces into lively public zones.

— Water channels created a calming microclimate, while care was taken to preserve the historic fabric of the original building.

•This approach extends outward to a new civic plaza,
a lasting gathering space that anchors the entire intervention.
• Designed as a catalyst for urban regeneration…
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• Project: Baghdad Veil: Weaving Time
As our entry for #dewanawardforarchitecture
Organized by @tamayouz.award
— Reimagining A New Crossroads for Baghdad Central Railway Station

• Category: Adaptive Heritage Intervention

• Status: Top Shortlisted

• Year: 2025

🔸Team members:
@therezarch @heliathelast @zso.ori
✨Thanks to @majid.aghazade.official for their support and mentorship.

#sustainableheritage #architecturalcompetition #sustainableurbanism #sustainabledevelopmentgoals by @zso.ori

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▪️Climate-Responsive Strategies: From Analysis to Architecture

• How does a design respond to Baghdad’s extreme climate, intense sun, dust, and heat?

▫️Our modular membrane shell integrates passive and active strategies:

— Shading & Ventilation: Perforated membrane filters dust and directs airflow, while the modular PTFE/ETFE shell controls daylight transmission.

— Energy Generation: Prism solar panels on the secondary dome support the building’s clean energy demand, while supporting hot air extraction.
A double-skin geodesic solar-dome, protecting the historical turquoise dome beneath its surface.

— Water Cycle: Rainwater is collected from porous pavements and soil, filtered on-site, and reused for irrigation and water features.

— Thermal Comfort: Native vegetation provides natural shading, while passive hot air exhaust vents reduce heat gain.

— Sustainable Materials: Lightweight, self-cleaning panels lower maintenance needs and environmental impact.

This is not just a building—it’s a responsive system, working with the environment to create a comfortable, resilient public space.

#climateresilience #baghdadcentralstation #sustainabledevelopmentgoals #dewanawardforarchitecture by @zso.ori

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“I pass through here every day... I wish there was a safe, shaded path.”
— A voice from the site.

▪️Before we could design, we had to listen.
Our analysis of Baghdad Central Station’s urban context revealed layered challenges:
— High-density residential fabric with critically low green space (just 13.3% per capita)

— Traffic congestion and pedestrian-unfriendly streets

— Infrastructure decay, especially in railways and walkways

— Environmental stress from dust days, heat, and water scarcity

▫️Through site mapping, mobility studies, and climate analysis, we identified key opportunities:

— Reconnecting the station to Al-Zawraa Park and the Tigris

— Creating shaded, human-scaled public spaces

— Designing for pedestrian comfort and passive cooling

These diagrams tell the story behind the design, a research-driven process that begins with listening to the city.

• Project: A New Crossroads for Baghdad
Reimagining The Central Railway Station
#dewanawardforarchitecture

• Competition Organizer: Tamayouz Excellence Award

Status: Top Shortlisted
Year: 2025
Location: Baghdad, Iraq

#urbananalysis #baghdadcentralstation #siteanalysisarchitecture #humancentereddesign by @zso.ori

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Dewan Award for Architecture 2025 | A NEW CROSSROADS FOR BAGHDAD

Result: Shortlisted | Top 20
Title: The Baghdad Veil: Weaving Time
Team Name: Politecnico di Milano
Designers: Majid Aghazadeh Ghezghaleh, Reza Barati, Helia Heidarian, Arian Nikoueinejad, and Zahra Soori.
Country: Italy

#architectureawards #architecture #architectureprizes #architecturestudents #architectureprojects #tamayouzaward #architectureaward #tamayouzexcellenceaward #dewanaward #dewan_award_for_architecture #dewan_award #جائزة_ديوان #جائزة_ديوان_للعمارة by @zso.ori

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10 months ago

“The Baghdad veil: Weaving
Time”
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■ مفتخریم که در میان ۲۰ نامزد نهایی Dewan Award for Architecture 2025، که توسط Tamayouz Excellence Award برگزار شده، قرار داریم.
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■ عنوان مسابقه: یک تقاطع جدید برای بغداد
مسابقه: A new Crossroads for Baghdad
Reimagining The Central Railway Station - Dewan Award For
Architecture
برگزارکننده: بنیاد جهانی تمیُّز
وضیعت پروژه: فینالیست
سال طراحی : ۲۰۲۵
موقعیت: بغداد، عراق
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اعضای گروه:
رضا براتی @therezarch
هلیا حیدریان @heliathelast
زهرا سوری @zso.ori
آرین نیکویی‌نژاد @aariaan___
با تشکر فراوان از راهنمایی‌های دلسوزانه دکتر مجید آقازاده.
@majid.aghazade.official
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■این پروژه از یک پرسش اساسی شکل گرفت:
چگونه می‌توانیم گذشته یک شهر را پاس بداریم، در‌حالی‌که آینده‌اش را با ظرافت می‌سازیم؟
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با الهام از میراث غنی معماری عراق، از چادرهای سنتی تا طاق جاودان کسری، پوسته‌ای سبک، ایستگاه را همچون پرده‌ای محافظ دربر گرفته است. این پوسته فضاهای عمومی سایه‌دار خلق می‌کند، تعامل اجتماعی را تقویت می‌نماید و در عین حفظ اصالت مکان، طراحی پایدار را نیز به کار می‌گیرد.
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در قلب این طرح، یک پلازای جدید، ایستگاه را به شهر متصل می‌کند و به کانونی پویا برای همه شهروندان تبدیل می‌شود. المان‌های مدولار این امکان را فراهم می‌کنند که طرح بتواند تطبیق یابد و رشد کند؛ گذشته را حفظ کند و همزمان، لایه‌های تازه‌ای از زندگی شهری را میزبانی نماید.
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این پروژه فراتر از یک ایستگاه است؛
پلی است در گذر زمان.
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■ با تشکر ویژه از Dewan Architects + Engineers و Tamayouz Excellence Award برای ایجاد این فرصت ارزشمند که بتوانیم در گفتمانی برای آینده‌ شهرهایی مانند بغداد مشارکت کنیم.
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■ We are honored to be among the 20 finalists of the Dewan Award for Architecture 2025, organized by Tamayouz Excellence Award.
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■ Project title: The Baghdad veil: Weaving Time
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Competition: A New Crossroads for Baghdad
Reimagining The Central Railway Station- Dewan Award for Architecture
Competition organizer: Tamayouz Excellence Award
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Status: Top shortlist
Year: 2025
Location: Baghdad, Iraq
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Team members:
@therezarch
@heliaathelast
@zso.ori
@aariaan___
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Special thanks to our instructor, @majid.aghazade.official, for their mentorship and support. taken in Baghdad, Iraq by @zso.ori

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a year ago

“The Baghdad veil: Weaving
Time”
.
■ مفتخریم که در میان ۲۰ نامزد نهایی Dewan Award for Architecture 2025، که توسط Tamayouz Excellence Award برگزار شده، قرار داریم.
.
■ عنوان مسابقه: یک تقاطع جدید برای بغداد
مسابقه: A new Crossroads for Baghdad
Reimagining The Central Railway Station - Dewan Award For
Architecture
برگزارکننده: بنیاد جهانی تمیُّز
وضیعت پروژه: فینالیست
سال طراحی : ۲۰۲۵
موقعیت: بغداد، عراق
.
اعضای گروه:
رضا براتی @therezarch
هلیا حیدریان @heliathelast
زهرا سوری @zso.ori
آرین نیکویی‌نژاد @aariaan___
با تشکر فراوان از راهنمایی‌های دلسوزانه دکتر مجید آقازاده.
@majid.aghazade.official
.
■گسترش ایستگاه در مقیاس شهری و اتصال مؤثر آن به بافت پیرامونی منجر به شکل‌گیری پلازایی عمومی و سایه‌دار شده است که به‌عنوان بستری پویا برای فعالیت‌های اجتماعی عمل می‌کند. این پلازا ضمن فراهم‌سازی فضایی در دسترس و مشارکتی برای عموم شهروندان، شامل عرصه‌هایی برای فعالیت دست‌فروشان، آمفی‌تئاتر روباز، فضاهای نمایشگاهی آزاد، مسیرهای تفکیک‌شده دوچرخه‌سواری و پیاده‌روی و دیگر کارکردهای شهری می‌باشد.
■ ایجاد ارتباطی پویا و یکپارچه با شهر از طریق شبکه‌ای از مسیرهای پیاده و دوچرخه با قابلیت سایه‌اندازی و آسایش اقلیمی، موجب تقویت تعاملات اجتماعی و افزایش بهره‌وری عملکردی و اجتماعی ایستگاه گردیده است.
■ حضور مؤلفه‌های طبیعی نظیر آب و پوشش گیاهی بومی در طراحی منظر (لنداسکیپ) پروژه، به پویایی فضایی و افزایش کیفیت زیست‌محیطی و حس طبیعی بودن فضا کمک کرده است.
■ در راستای ایجاد هویت بومی و تقویت حس تعلق مکانی در میان بازدیدکنندگان، از المان‌های نمادین و فرهنگی شهر بغداد، از جمله نماد میدان التحریر، در طراحی مجموعه بهره‌گیری شده است تا بعد فرهنگی و ملی پروژه پررنگ‌تر گردد.
■ استفاده از سازه‌های مدولار و انعطاف‌پذیر در طراحی، امکان گسترش‌پذیری، چینش‌های متنوع فضایی و تطبیق‌پذیری با نیازهای کاربران مختلف را فراهم ساخته است. این ویژگی به شهروندان، مسافران و کارکنان مجموعه اجازه می‌دهد تا از فضاهای گوناگون برای استراحت، تفریح، خرید سوغات و فعالیت‌های روزمره بهره‌مند شوند.
■ به‌منظور تأمین نور طبیعی مناسب برای بخش‌های زیرین پوسته‌ی نهایی سازه، این پوسته به‌صورت غشایی نیمه‌شفاف طراحی و اجرا شده است تا نور را به‌صورت کنترل‌شده و بدون افزایش دمای محیط، به سطوح زیرین منتقل کند و از این طریق کیفیت نوری و بصری فضاهای داخلی بهبود یابد. taken in Baghdad, Iraq by @zso.ori

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