This rocky site in Zaarour offers in its convexity an exceptional panorama east to west. East for overwhelming sunrises where one immediately imagines himself having breakfast. West for exceptional sunsets, maybe a local rosé by a pool. The clouds in this valley tend to get stuck under the peaks creating an uncanny ‘over the cloud’ situation. One would dream of creating a venue that would be in communion with such unexpected forces of nature.
A series of blades, like in the movement of a Samurai training in front of the valley expresses an architecture that builds up upon the natural vectors, never to exceed them, always to appreciate them. A venue under a dark grey roof opens up to the various orientations. Inside, a series of terraces gently espouses the existing slopes, exiting from the north facade and extending into outdoor terraces where the ground surfaces start to merge seamlessly with the rocks. On the eastern side, a cantilevering pool clad in black steel, cuts the water at an infinity edge and makes a swim as if suspended within the valley.
Programmatically, the project is a venue for the pleasure of taking a break on our way to the mountain, or on the way back down. In the winter, it composes with the snowy landscapes, in the summer it shades under its extensive roofs. Internally one can lounge, enjoy a musical performance or simply dine, at any moment of the day. Externally, one can rest, have a hot tub experience, a drink in the immersed bar in the pool, or a swim, of course.
Local grey basalt for a cladding, fair-faced concrete occasionally and a light pine ceiling extend the merging into the landscape while the movement of sun, east to west animates the primordial architecture across the day, the seasons, or the years.
Project Status: Ongoing.
Designed by Karim Nader with Soumer Al-Kamand and Reem Obeid.
Collages by Reem Obeid.