Main Architecture and Design Villa Amchit: Triumph of Horizontality

Villa Amchit: Triumph of Horizontality

Beirut based studio BLANKPAGE Architects recently completed an elegant beach house, perched along the ruggedly picturesque coastline in Lebanon that offers exceptional views of the Mediterranean Sea. A pleasant seaside haven for a family of four that monopolizes on the beautifully warm Lebanese weather, inviting light in, while maintaining privacy and security. In a city like Beirut, where urban chaos and changes are substantial, and where designers are constantly searching for a definition of a cultural identity, the architects at BLANKPAGE have been able to distill a language of their own, one that is capable to learn many lessons from history and to reinvent itself according to time, context and given conditions.

Amchit is a coastal town at the feet of Mount Lebanon, about 40 km north of Beirut. The idea was twofold: integrate the house within a rugged terrain, sloping from east to west, while commanding the best sea views for its occupants. The architects demonstrate a particular sensitivity to the landscape, integrating the building within the topography, avoiding major disruptions to the land. This sensitivity is reflected also in the plans of the house, which show the interrelation between inside and outside, between architecture and nature.

Built on a narrow 10-by-44-meter lot, the nearly 450 square meter, 3 bedroom house has three levels, with the master bedroom situated on the top floor to take maximum advantage of the sea views. All elements of this residence - including the tall glass walls, the outdoor deck and the infinity-edge pool - were, in fact, designed for optimized views and openness to the sea. The structure is distinguished by its large single-plane terrace, which accommodates an elongated lap pool and an expansive sun deck, both directly accessible from the master bedroom.

The external promenade, with its ramps and terraces, is an extension of the building and connects it with the surrounding landscape. The interiors, uncluttered and furnished in the minimalistic simplicity style, reflect the easy living requirements of the clients. A neutral palette of colors - the grey of the ceramic concrete- finish tile in the reception and bedroom areas, the warm brown of the Burma teak flooring in the master bedroom - complement the reddish timber and the concrete finishes of the interior walls.

At the center of the house, a rectangular void is cut out to reconnect the interior with a view to the sky. The warm, wooden inner core of the dwelling flirts with light coming through the skylight and the expansive windows, reflecting the infinite change of light and shadow as it evolves throughout the day.

In the current architectural climate of globalization, which in Lebanon is especially exacerbated by social and political conflicts and sometimes drifts towards historicism and kitsch, BLANKPAGE Architects demonstrate a deep understanding of the Modernist lesson. They emerged, internationally, in 2011, following the completion of PIER 7 nightclub: a piece of land art that relates to its industrial context as well as to its natural seaside landscape.

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