109 Architectes

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© Ieva Saudargaité

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109 Architectes

ARCHITECTS
109 Architectes

PHOTOGRAPHS
Ieva Saudargaité

CATEGORY
Residential

ARCHITECT IN CHARGE
Richard Kassab

DESIGN TEAM
Richard Azzam, Joy Traboulsi, Samer Bazzy

PARTNERS IN CHARGE
Youssef Mallat

AREA
1800.0 m2

PROJECT YEAR
2017

MANUFACTURERS
panoramah!®, Bifem-Paralu, Travertine

CITY
Baabda

COUNTRY
Lebanon

STRUCTURAL CONSULTANT
B.E.T. Mattar

MECHANICAL CONSULTANT
Barbanel & Ibrahim Mounayar

ELECTRICAL CONSULTANT
Gilbert Tambourgi

Text description provided by architect.

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.

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© Ieva Saudargaité
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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.

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© Ieva Saudargaité
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© Ieva Saudargaité
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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.

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© Ieva Saudargaité
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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.

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© Ieva Saudargaité
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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.

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© Ieva Saudargaité
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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.


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© Ieva Saudargaité
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© Ieva Saudargaité
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East Elevation
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West Elevation
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South Elevation
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Typical Floor Plan

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Cross Section

109 Architectes
T +961 5 922183 F +961 5 922330
109 Architectes
19, Street 38, Sector 1, Baabda P.O. Box: 40-222 Beirut, Lebanon