Studio Toggle Porto, Lda.

Edges Apartments

Edges Apartments
© Gijo Paul George
Edges Apartments
© Gijo Paul George

EDGES APARTMENTS

Studio Toggle

ARCHITECTS
Studio Toggle

DESIGN TEAM
Gijo Paul George, Hend Almatrouk

PHOTOGRAPHS
Gijo Paul George

AREA
25000.0 ft2

YEAR
2014

LOCATION
Salmiya, Kuwait

CATEGORY
Apartments

Text description provided by architect.

The ‘Edges Apartments’; with its articulated brick cladded façade; lights up one of the back-streets of the predominantly expat neighborhood of Salmiya, in Kuwait.

A simple rhythmic twist, achieved by transposition of the vertices on either side of a finite axis imparts dynamism and drama to the façade.

Edges Apartments
© Gijo Paul George
Edges Apartments
© Gijo Paul George
Edges Apartments
© Gijo Paul George

A very restrained palette of locally sourced natural brick and exposed concrete finish further emphasizes the massing and gives the building its unique personality.

The challenge for the Architects was to give the building an instantly recognizable identity at the same time respecting an extremely restrictive budget.

Functionality and serviceability were also as important. The building had to withstand the unforgiving summer heat of Kuwait made unbearable also by the occasional dust/sand storm.

Edges Apartments
© Gijo Paul George
Edges Apartments
© Gijo Paul George

The fired brick cladding acts as an effective thermal protection as well as being hardy enough, along with the exposed concrete finishes, to withstand the harsh desert climate.

The major windows are recessed to block out the direct sun and Aluminum louvers are employed wherever possible to reduce the heat gain and the glare.

These small but calculated steps along with the rhythmic façade makes the Edges Apartments stand out amongst the rows of expat housing in the area.

Edges Apartments
© Gijo Paul George
Edges Apartments
© Gijo Paul George


Edges Apartments
© Gijo Paul George
Edges Apartments
© Gijo Paul George
Edges Apartments
© Gijo Paul George


Edges Apartments
Floor Plan
Edges Apartments
Floor Plan
Edges Apartments
Floor Plan

Studio Toggle Porto, Lda.
T +351 223 215933
Studio Toggle Porto, Lda.
R. Direita de Francos 943, Porto, Portugal