Aylout 32

Aylout 32
© Pavlos Nicolau

AYLOUT 32

Akl Architects + Patrick Boustany Architect

ARCHITECTS
Akl Architects, Patrick Boustany Architect

ARCHITECT IN CHARGE
Akl Akl

PHOTOGRAPHS
Pavlos Nicolau

DESIGN TEAM
Akl Architects

MANUFACTURERS
AutoDesk, Chaos Group, Jotun, Saint-Gobain, Envirobuild, RAM Metal, Techncal

CLIENTS
Aylout 32

ENGINEERING & CONSTRUCTION
Solidia Engineering and Construction

ENGINEERING
Solidia Engineering and Construction

CONSTRUCTION
Solidia Engineering and Construction

CATEGORY
Residential

LOCATION
Baabda, Lebanon

YEAR
2016

AREA
2250 m²

Text description provided by architect.

Located in the suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, in a highly-populated area, the plot benefits of a green neighborhood which makes it rare in the urban tissue.

Aylout 32
© Pavlos Nicolau
Aylout 32
© Pavlos Nicolau

The triangular shape plot is surrounded by a three stars' hotel from its rear side, an "evergreen" land from its secondary boundary, whereas the main road elongates its prime elevation.

The 16 units building consists of small-sized apartments, 2 and 3 bedrooms' units, not exceeding 160 square meters per unit and targeted for young middle-class couples.

Aylout 32
© Pavlos Nicolau
Aylout 32
© Pavlos Nicolau

Due to the site's unusual shape, the building was conceived in an "L" shape, which gives the opportunity of having on its wider façade and lateral elevation big openings in relation with the context and from the rear side of the building, a patio that serves as a source of light to the apartments.

The process started with a regular, "L" geometry, followed by a series of fragmentations.

Aylout 32
© Pavlos Nicolau
Aylout 32
© Pavlos Nicolau

The mass becomes extruded volumes. Disparate openings of all sizes randomly positioned, create framed views on the green scenery. Loggias and balconies with depressed accessible flowerbeds act as an extension of the green surroundings towards the internal functions.

The entire building becomes a series of fragmented masses with various openings and loggias interacting with the surroundings.

Aylout 32
© Pavlos Nicolau
Aylout 32
© Pavlos Nicolau

The building is divided into two separate entities. Each entity is composed of a core serving two apartments per floor.

The units are spread all along the main and lateral elevations and are mainly conceived in a double oriented plan, which makes the light pass through each unit from its both sides.

Aylout 32
© Pavlos Nicolau
Aylout 32
© Pavlos Nicolau
Aylout 32
© Pavlos Nicolau

Double oriented units composed of simplexes and duplexes benefit from the light. Site regulations impose the use of stone cladding on all elevations and red bricks tiles on the roof.

As an answer, the fragmented volumes were cladded with a natural stone skin covering a honeycomb wooden texture acting as a frame around all the openings and Recessed Red bricks covering up the roof interspersed with vertical windows acting as loopholes in the massive stone.

Various points of view towards nature and the surroundings, double-oriented layout plans, and double-height duplexes, fragmented treatment of the volumes, and a complex mix between stone cladding, wood, and disparate openings, form the identity of the building.

Aylout 32
© Pavlos Nicolau
Aylout 32
© Pavlos Nicolau


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Section
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Elevation


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Mass Plan
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Third Basement Plan
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Second Basement Plan
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First Basement Plan
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Ground Floor Plan
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First Floor Plan
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Mezzanine Floor Plan
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Second Floor Plan
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Roof Plan


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Render / Sketch
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Detail