make your fridays matter with a well-read weekend

 

Living on the edge with Iranian architect and designer, Milad Eshtiyaghi

Suspended between hills or jutting off cliffs, these five conceptual homes by Milad Eshtiyaghi provide slices of escapism and inspiration for cinematic, imaginary architecture.

by Jincy IypePublished on : Jun 19, 2021

Milad Eshtiyaghi is an architect and designer based in Tehran, Iran, who has amassed a vast following on Instagram with his spectacularly escapist projects visualised in dramatic, often precarious locations. Cantilevering off cliffs, suspended between hills, or perched at the edge of lakes, Eshtiyaghi’s works of imaginary architecture are epic in scale and setting, and are creatively daring. We round up five of his most standout, quintessential residential designs, that literally, live on the edge.

Suspended House

03 mins watch Suspended House | Living on the Edge with Milad Eshtiyaghi | STIRworld
Suspended House Video: Milad Eshtiyaghi

Designed not for the faint of heart, this A-frame cabin for two is suspended between edges of rugged cliffs in Mendocino, California, with nothing but five high-tensile cables hoisting it in place. The hideaway cabin dangles above water, its jet-black skin, glass floors and daredevil location embodying fear and excitement, while its insides contrast with warmth and cosiness. A mast at the back secures the house via a set of high cables that bear the weight of gravity while lower cables withstand lateral and upward wind forces, tethering the dwelling to it.

  • Front view of the Suspended House | Living on the Edge with Milad Eshtiyaghi | STIRworld
    Front view of the Suspended House Image: Milad Eshtiyaghi
  • Glass floors and transparent furniture | Living on the Edge with Milad Eshtiyaghi | STIRworld
    Glass floors and transparent furniture Image: Milad Eshtiyaghi
  • Dusky interiors are given warmth by wooden features | Living on the Edge with Milad Eshtiyaghi | STIRworld
    Dusky interiors are given warmth by wooden features Image: Milad Eshtiyaghi

Most of the house remains tethered on solid ground except the expansive living area that is left exposed, fitted with glass floors and transparent furniture that leads into dusky interiors, to heighten the thrill. The mostly dark and chic interiors feature walls decked with greens and accents of timber that inject warmth. The private areas such as the bedroom, washroom, family lounge and work studio are nestled into the back of the residence, in the hollow of the hills.

Mountain House

01 min watch Mountain House | Living on the Edge with Milad Eshtiyaghi | STIRworld
Mountain House Video: Milad Eshtiyaghi

Jutting out in three dimensions over a rocky Canadian cliffside, this residential architecture is designed to avoid clashing with the site’s existing trees. The dramatic angles of the house are given a cinematic aura by perching it a few meters above a waterfall. Square volumes are stacked on top of each other to form the slender, intersecting volumes of the cantilevering house. Milad Eshtiyaghi Studio shares that the house is planned across three levels: for the parents, the sons’ family and a recreational space for sports and play that connects the two. Replete with a cantilevering, glass-bottomed, infinity pool, the residence sticks true to its adventurous form and scene.

  • The geometric dwelling juts out of cliffs | Living on the Edge with Milad Eshtiyaghi | STIRworld
    The geometric dwelling juts out of cliffs Image: Milad Eshtiyaghi
  • Aerial view | Living on the Edge with Milad Eshtiyaghi | STIRworld
    Aerial view Image: Milad Eshtiyaghi
  • The misty interior of one of the bedrooms | Living on the Edge with Milad Eshtiyaghi | STIRworld
    The misty interior of one of the bedrooms Image: Milad Eshtiyaghi

White surfaces combine with glass to make up the houses’ geometric modules, each imagined with full height walls of glazing that can be opened with mechanical cable systems. The misty interiors are filled with light during the day and become semi-outdoor terraces when these windows are opened.

Covid House

01 min watch Covid House | Living on the Edge with Milad Eshtiyaghi | STIRworld
Covid House Video: Milad Eshtiyaghi

Envisioned in a craggy, sparse terrain in British Columbia, Canada, the Covid House takes its namesake literally by hanging in midair, like suspended virus particles. This daredevil escapist home is inspired by the coronavirus form, “to remind everyone that the virus still exists, so do not forget your mask,” says Eshtiyaghi. How apt for the times.

  • Covid House hangs in mid-air like its namesake | Living on the Edge with Milad Eshtiyaghi | STIRworld
    Covid House hangs in mid-air like its namesake Image: Milad Eshtiyaghi
  • The protruding parts host solar panels | Living on the Edge with Milad Eshtiyaghi | STIRworld
    The protruding parts host solar panels Image: Milad Eshtiyaghi

The protruding parts of the white spherical volume are made up of photovoltaic cells that power the dwelling and are supported by cables hitched to the surrounding rocks and ground. Cables also support a bridged corridor with glass floors that leads to the isolated house, celebrating its fear-inducing site and the virus it is named and shaped after.

Bridge House

Bridge House | Living on the Edge with Milad Eshtiyaghi | STIRworld
Bridge House Image: Milad Eshtiyaghi

Also located in British Columbia in Canada, the twin cubical volumes of this house affix themselves to two ash grey concrete cores that sit opposite each other on separated cliffs and a waterfall that gushes dangerously below them. Two pools dress each unit, encased in aqua blue glass frames that contrast the craggy mountainous setting.

  • The volumes are fixed on two vertical concrete cores | Living on the Edge with Milad Eshtiyaghi | STIRworld
    The volumes are fixed on two vertical concrete cores Image: Milad Eshtiyaghi
  • The upper floor’s pool becomes the ceiling for the level below  | Living on the Edge with Milad Eshtiyaghi | STIRworld
    The upper floor’s pool becomes the ceiling for the level below Image: Milad Eshtiyaghi

Forming a bridge and overlooking the sea, the white residence has a bright, airy interior. Vertical access is provided via an elevator as well as suspended stairs that are visible from afar. Small punctures dress the exterior of the Bridge House, emitting an eerie glow at night, making it a beautiful yet macabre setting fit for a horror film.  

White House

White House | Living on the Edge with Milad Eshtiyaghi | STIRworld
White House Image: Milad Eshtiyaghi

Manifesting serenity and luxury, this unblemished residence grows out of the quiet sea waters in Arendal, Norway. A long bridge provides access to the conceptual, futuristic house, taking one away from the hustle and grime of life in a metropolis by providing scenic vistas and fresh perspectives.

  • The White House begins and ends with the sea it sits on the edge of | Living on the Edge with Milad Eshtiyaghi | STIRworld
    The White House begins and ends with the sea it sits on the edge of Image: Milad Eshtiyaghi
  • The all-white form sits in contrast to the glassy water and dense forest | Living on the Edge with Milad Eshtiyaghi | STIRworld
    The all-white form sits in contrast to the glassy water and dense forest Image: Milad Eshtiyaghi

With a graphic backdrop of a dense thicket of trees, this pearl white villa starts off resting parallel to the water and takes a sharp upturn into a dramatically tall A-frame cabin with an entire glass front. “The house begins and ends with the sea,” shares Eshtiyaghi.

These imagined homes certainly are creative slices for some lockdown escapism, but one cannot help but ponder their constructional feasibility and practicality. What do you think of these conceptual designs?

What do you think?

About Author

Recommended

LOAD MORE
see more articles
4906,4933,5068,5037,5074

make your fridays matter

SUBSCRIBE
This site uses cookies to offer you an improved and personalised experience. If you continue to browse, we will assume your consent for the same.
LEARN MORE AGREE