Water Catchment Roofs: Life-Giving Moisture for Iran

Innovative Sustainable Architecture in Iran

In response to the arid climate of Iran, local architects have introduced a groundbreaking solution. Located in Tehran, BMDesign Studios is one of the architectural firms at the forefront of Iran's rapidly evolving architectural scene. Recognizing the dry climate of their region, the firm's architects have developed a method to offset water consumption.

The Concept of Concave Roof

Concave Roofs are designed to collect rainwater on building surfaces situated in hot and arid climates. This technology involves cooling indoor spaces using rainwater collected on the roofs.

Lead architect Babak Mostofi Sadri asserts that the concept is suitable for arid regions with a hot climate, covering 85% of the country. Many water bodies are drying up due to consistently high temperatures and lack of rainfall. The Concave Roof project consists of a two-tier roof system designed for rainwater collection and storage. The collected water is directed for natural cooling of the interior spaces, reducing the need for air conditioning.

The dual-layer roof can accumulate up to 28 cubic meters of rainwater, contributing to its sustainable use. According to the developers, the outer shell provides additional shade for the dome-shaped roof, allowing air to flow freely and cool both roofs.

The design of the concave roof facilitates the drainage of even the smallest raindrops, which eventually coalesce into larger drops before evaporating.

The team at BMDesign Studios believes that this method can be applied to other regions with similar arid climates as a means to combat global warming through sustainable water sources.