Saeed International Commerce Center

Project Information

Mixed use
Date: 2015 – 2022
Status: under construction
Location: Iran, Sari
Area: 70000
Client: Arian Saeed industrial group

Credit

Architecture

Design: Hooman Talebi – Farshad Mehdizade
Project Architect: Amir Badie
Team: Maryam Amiri, Alireza Hoobakht, Yalda Aminshahidi, Reza Ghafoori, Nakisa Montazeri, Reza Pooladvand, Ali Ghadyani, Mehrafarin Sooraki, Amin Bahrami, Amirhosein Adelfar

Branding

Design: Maria Araya – Hooman Talebi

The Arian Saeed International Commerce Centre is situated within the flat terrain of plains and agricultural lands along the renowned Farahabad road, which connects the city of Sari to the Caspian Sea in Iran. The project site features diverse characteristics in various directions. Its northern front, characterized by extensive agricultural lands, offers a broad landscape. In contrast, Sari Industrial Town 2 to the west presents an industrial view marked by a dense network of streets and sheds. Additionally, the major MDF factories owned by the project client are located to the east of the site, providing a suitable platform for showcasing these facilities. However, the primary visual aspect of the site, like most projects in northern Iran, is defined by its alignment along the narrow southern edge of the Caspian Sea and the Alborz mountains, adjacent to the Farah abad road.

 
 The architectural strategy for the project, which encompasses more than 65,000 square meters of varied functions, is guided by a vision to avoid creating a large building mass or a monumental object. Instead, the design is defined by cuts and slashes in the context, akin to making scratches on an intact canvas. Triangular surfaces are formed by these cuts along two main diagonals, connecting the corners of the irregular rectangular site. The project is organized by grooves shaped like a giant ‘X,’ dividing the site into four large triangles. The facing corners of these triangular surfaces at the centre of the ‘X’ gradually elevate from their vertices, forming “roofs” that create spatial depth between themselves and the land. 
The use of cuts and scratches serves as a design tool throughout the project, functioning at multiple scales—from organizing the master plan to creating openings on the peeled surfaces with varied dimensions. In this approach, four primary surfaces cover the underlying areas, each designated for different functions: a hotel, an exhibition center, a convention center, and commercial spaces. Along the ‘X’ cut, commercial spaces are arranged as small shop units, providing a flexible typology that, like adhesive, connects the other three major programs of the project. Meanwhile, the triangular area near the main road, aligned with it, is positioned lower in height to afford a view of the central plaza from the road.
 
In the central plaza, visibility extends toward the other side of the road where the Arian Saeed factory is located, creating a visual continuity between the Arian Saeed multi-purpose project and its associated factory. 

The hotel is strategically located to face the plains and fields, allowing views of the agricultural lands and creating visual benefits for its occupants. The hotel primarily serves individuals engaged in commercial activities, as it functions as a space for short business stays. Meanwhile, the conference center and exhibition halls are positioned adjacent to the industrial areas, establishing direct connections to them. 

Ultimately, all project layers are sewn together through the ‘X’ scratches at different elevations, forming the cohesive Arian Saeed International Commerce Centre.