Laying remotely within Lebanon’s most arid and historical naturescape, Villa Chams embraces its surrounding’s identity from the flora to the Roman temples, and presents itself as a melodically elemental story teller.
Designed by Beirut-based architecture studio Carl Gerges Architects, Villa chams is located in Baalbek, Lebanon.
At a distant glance, this one shelled structure grounds itself horizontally, while respectfully blending in with the mindfully preserved rocks, opunita, olive trees and other flora on a backdrop of distant mountains.
Upon a more intimate inspection, sporadically equidistant walls and columns orchestrate a rhythmic flow on a rudimentary grid, creating both introverted spaces and open extensions.
Visualization © Carl Gerges Architects
The pool is floored with rough terrazzo, mixed with native mineral aggregates, which emits a grounding effect and massages the feet. Flowing like a river through concrete columns, the water comes to a gentle rest by bordering rocks that lead to a view of neighboring plants, distant mountains and sky.
Visualization © Carl Gerges Architects
Rooms are naturally furnished with poured earth concrete walls, stone, light and layers of view, emitting an earthy sensorial balance. The music and reading room is infused a level lower into the ground which further introverts the spirit of it’s function and opens to an eye level glazed view of the outdoors.
Visualization © Carl Gerges Architects
The bathroom, irradiated solely through a skylight, is embraced with a floor to ceiling rock and contrasting smooth sound reflective walls which further enhance the soothing water acoustics. In further manifestation of the living nature of this house, certain materials are encouragingly left to change color aesthetics with the natural wear and tear of time.
Visualization © Carl Gerges Architects
The seasonal nature of Baalabek adds another dimension to this built environment. Dry and sunny days can be enjoyed under shaded areas and within cooling rocks, while chilly mystical nights can be spent stargazing by the fireplace around the heated pool. Touching on all elements of the earth, this house is meticulously designed to emit feelings of harmonious tranquility with nature’s many sensorial layers, for a solemn retreat.
Visualization © Carl Gerges Architects
Visualization © Carl Gerges Architects
Visualization © Carl Gerges Architects
Visualization © Carl Gerges Architects
Architecture firm: Carl Gerges Architects
Built area: 700 m²
Tools used: Autodesk Autocad, Autodesk 3ds max, Corona Renderer
Project name: Villa Chams
Principal architect: Carl Gerges
Interior design: Carl Gerges Architects
Design year: 2017
Completion year: 2020
Site area: 3200 m²
Landscape: Carl Gerges Architects
Visualization: Carl Gerges Architects
