SCoopA, Solutions- Expo Milano Competition 2015
Teamwork with Nakisa Dehpanah
Desertification has become a significant challenge worldwide, with over one-third of the planet’s land surface (38 percent) under threat. At the same time, overpopulation intensifies the pressure on habitable land. The Green Desert project addresses both issues by reimagining the desert as a viable habitat while countering the effects of desertification.
Located in the Middle East, Iran’s deserts cover roughly 25 percent of its territory. The Lut and Kavir Deserts are the country’s largest, with the Lut Desert notable for its diverse hydro-aeolian processes and striking yardang landforms. Yardangs, elongated ridges and furrows formed by wind and water erosion, dominate the western part of central Lut and create a distinctive landscape for settlement.
The project proposes a series of cities integrated into these yardang formations, leveraging natural energy sources — sunlight, geothermal heat, and wind — to meet residents’ needs sustainably. In soft desert soils, drifted sediments create small hills and furrows, which have been used strategically in the city layout.
Transportation System: The design includes three interconnected hydro-powered wheels that transport residents across different levels of the city. Water sourced from qanats and other channels flows through the wheels and into residential blocks, simultaneously moderating temperature differences, reducing energy consumption, and cooling the complex.
Night Cooling Strategy: At night, the central roof moves outward, while blocks closer to the roof shift along rails beneath the floors. This movement exposes the structure to the desert night air, which acts as a cooling agent, absorbing heat accumulated during the day and reducing indoor temperatures. This dynamic system uses natural thermal exchange to enhance comfort while minimizing energy use.
The Green Desert project demonstrates how architecture can respond to extreme climates, harness natural resources, and transform arid landscapes into sustainable and habitable environments.