A network of palm trusses and a double-layered roof define a guesthouse in rural Iran

Iran's architectural and vernacular milieu is observing a renaissance and renewed global attention owing to its experiments with brick architecture contemporaneously. However, ethnic and religious minorities in the country are often systematically excluded from the country’s centralised and homogeneous development system, which often inspires grassroots initiatives as a response, aimed at reclaiming cultural and historical pride. One such non-profit project has emerged in the remote village of Kahnanikash of the Sistan and Baluchestan Province, home to the Sunni-Baluch community. From land allocation and fundraising to its construction and operation, the region's locals have contributed to making Nedarag Guesthouse a reality. Designed by Alireza Taghaboni-founded Iranian architecture practice NextOffice, the hospitality architecture is built by and belongs to the very people of Kahnanikash.

Based in Tehran, NextOffice is known for approaching the traditional architecture of Iran from a contemporary standpoint, responding to climatic, economic, socio-political and cultural constraints in architecture. Ever since its founding in 2004, the practice has undertaken a variety of projects, ranging from residential, commercial and mixed-use architecture to urban planning. For Nedarag Guesthouse, the Iranian architects turned to Kapar, a traditional dwelling typology often seen in southeastern Iran and the Baluchi-inhabited regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The site, donated by villager Heybatan Baluch, overlooks swathes of farmland and is in proximity of the village council and the residence of the guesthouse host Shanbeh Dehghani. The project sits in harmony within the rural landscape, blending in through its materiality and construction methods, both drawn from local labour and resource conditions. Its architectural character resembles a shelter more than a building, prioritising public gathering and flow within the site.

A cluster of four built masses sits under a double-layered roof, reminiscent of the dome-like geometry of Iranian vaults, ensuring passive cooling while enabling ventilation within the spaces. Supported by a series of handmade trusses in bamboo and date palm tree waste, the roof forms a charming courtyard in the centre with the welcoming sight of a water body, overlooked by the three accommodation units. The units are constructed with thick stone walls, the texture of which adds visual interest to the exterior surfaces, embracing their raw composition.

As executing these designs required expertise in vernacular architecture, local workers and artisans contributed to the project every step of the way. The construction was an entirely collaborative effort, in which the villagers raised the walls over four months and completed the roof over the following year. The site was marked with strings and triangulations instead of conventional surveying tools, while the palm-fibre ropes employed in the roof and elsewhere were woven by the elders. The women prepared daily meals, along with sewing curtains, plastering mud and weaving mats.

The story of the project’s inception is equally inspiring, spotlighting the community’s strength and resolve to elevate local hospitality. The project's initial idea was suggested by social facilitator Mina Kamran, who had previously worked with Dehghani to realise other local interventions, including a library, a water purifier and a bridge—centred around his interest in hospitality and hosting. The project was ultimately realised on a small budget of approximately £8,000, comprising funds from a bank loan, a donation from Dehghani and NextOffice.

While the project is fundamentally designed to serve tourists, it also serves as an anchor for the locals to ground, gather and grow. The imperfections across the project are remnants of the community’s hard work, reflecting its traditions and culture, while contributing to a sense of belonging. Embodying their hopes and aspirations, the rural architecture has supported several livelihoods and is a regular gathering place for locals. Architecture here, empowered by community and the vernacular, emerges as a beacon—a container of culture and a reclamation of identities.