The Morshedi Carpet Museum is located within the historic fabric of Kashan, one of Iran’s most renowned carpet-weaving centers. The project site was relatively small and embedded in the dense urban texture, creating unique design challenges. The solution was to expand the building downward, forming three underground levels organized around a central lightwell and a tree that grows through the heart of the museum. This tree, visible from all floors, symbolizes life and continuity while establishing a dialogue between architecture and nature. The exterior is constructed with kāhgel (traditional mud plaster), a local and sustainable material that evokes Kashan’s desert architecture and harmonizes with its historic context.

The client, Ali Morshedi—a prominent figure in Kashan’s carpet-weaving tradition—commissioned the project to preserve, exhibit, and narrate his family’s heritage and workshop productions. The primary concern was to create a space that would safeguard carpets as cultural treasures while presenting them to the public. The limited plot size and the need to combine exhibition, education, and storytelling functions within a compact setting posed the project’s key challenge.

The design is inspired by Kashan’s carpet motifs—such as medallion, corner, floral, and hunting patterns—as well as the logic of desert architecture. Vaults, domes, and lattice skylights are reinterpreted in the project to reinforce a sense of place rooted in Iranian identity. Circulation within the museum is intentionally open and non-linear, allowing visitors to shape personal journeys of discovery. The central tree and its natural light anchor the design, creating a distinct and human-centered spatial experience.

The museum is not only an exhibition space but also a platform for experience and education. A key innovation is the introduction of “Philosophical Carpets”—a contemporary concept intertwining patterns, poetry, and nature. Dedicated zones for weaving and dyeing enable visitors to engage with the creative process as well as the final product.

The museum introduces carefully designed display systems: • Anti-scratch, anti-reflective plexiglass showcases. • Velcro-based hanging methods to protect carpets. • Interactive touchscreens for engaging with motifs and colors. • Ancillary exhibits, including natural dye powders, yarns, and weaving tools, enriching the narrative.

The Morshedi Carpet Museum carries a social responsibility as a cultural hub: preserving one of Iran’s oldest crafts and passing it on to future generations. Educational and interactive sections for children and teenagers, family and school programs, and the retelling of Kashan’s carpet history all contribute to cultural enrichment and a deeper public connection with heritage.

The project operates across three design scales: • Urban scale: engaging with Kashan’s historic fabric and employing kāhgel, a vernacular desert material, in harmony with the local context. • Architectural scale: three underground levels are organized around a central lightwell and a tree that visually and spatially connects all floors. • Detail scale: showcasing the smallest elements of carpet-making—from yarn and natural dyes to weaving tools—so visitors can perceive the craft in layered depth.