Off-Grid Ski Resort

This B.Sc. thesis proposed a small ski resort in Tochal, Tehran, with six guest suites, a main communal building, and spaces for resort and training activities. It is an early integrative project in which architecture, mountain climate, envelope, water, and energy were developed together.

The steep mountain setting defines access, views, solar exposure, snow, wind, and the relationship between buildings and terrain. The resort is distributed along the slope to reduce the impression of a single large object and to give each suite a more direct relationship to the landscape.

The plan separates the main communal functions from a series of smaller guest buildings while connecting them through the site’s contours. This creates a clear hierarchy between arrival, shared activity, training, and retreat. The strongest explanation is a site plan paired with a section through the slope.

Six suites accommodate groups of up to six guests. Living, sleeping, cooking, and view-oriented spaces are arranged as a compact private retreat within the larger resort. The interiors use long framed views and warm materials to contrast with the exposed mountain setting.

The envelope concept explored smart window film and nanogel polycarbonate alongside insulated opaque construction to balance daylight, views, heat loss, and changing exterior conditions.

The thesis was designed toward off-grid operation and combined wood combustion as a local heat source with a compact, thermally conscious building form.

Precipitation harvesting forms part of the resort’s self-sufficiency strategy, connecting roof collection with storage, treatment assumptions, and potential non-potable uses.

Plans, sections, elevations, and renderings document the complete thesis proposal and clarify how the buildings meet the terrain, organize circulation, and frame the mountain landscape.