Credits:
Partners in Charge: Youssef Mallat
Architect in Charge: Richard Kassab
Team: Richard Azzam, Joy Traboulsi, Samer Bazzy,
Location: Baabda
Project area: 1800m2
Year: 2012-2017
Project Description:
When four brothers with four distinct personalities wanted
to construct an upscale residential building in a wooded Beirut suburb, 109 Architectes played on the concept of a harmonious
quartet.
Four blocks anchor the project to the plot, a hill blanketed in pine and oak trees. Together, the
blocks form four stories that interact with the environment, demonstrating the
green approach that saturates the
building from design to material. They preserve the forest while overlooking
the city below.
A distinct function is assigned to each box: the sleeping
area; the guest room or office; the service area; and the reception area. Three
are constructed as solid boxes with stone cladding. With exposure to the
elements, the stone will naturally fade into the
environment over time. Full-height windows allow of flood of natural light and panoramic
views. On each floor, they are positioned to maximize an exclusive vista of trees and topography lines.
In contrast, the reception block materializes as a series of
stacked white slabs framing the scenery. It establishes a direct dialog with
the surrounding trees, sliced on one side to accommodate an existing trunk, or
reaching out to a centuries-old branch.
A book-lined corridor acts as a boulevard connecting the blocks,
and a family room is the heart of each house. On each floor it overlooks the front
and back of the forest, creating an uninterrupted network of inhabitants, branches,
and birds. The layout maximizes cross ventilation, allowing nature’s elements
to interact with the building.
Creating an exceptional
experience for each brother was essential to the project. The architects considered
an individual home’s relationship with the trees to create its distinct
character. The ground floor is washed in soft sunlight, set within the tree
trunks and beneath the canopy. The first floor hovers among branches, and the
second floor floats just above the treetops, giving the illusion that one could
reach out and touch them. Perched high above the woodland, the third floor looks
out onto the horizon.
Collaborators:
Structural consultant: B.E.T. Mattar
Mechanical consultant: Barbanel & Ibrahim Mounayar
Electrical consultant: Gilbert Tambourgi
Photos: Ieva Saudargaitė
Factsheet:
Location: Baabda
Client: Private
Project area: 1800m2
Year: 2012-2017
Project status: Completed;