Seaside vista
BLANKPAGE Architects and Karim Nader Studio designed Villa Kali, a contemporary oasis in one of Lebanon’s ancient cities
BLANKPAGE Architects and Karim Nader Studio designed Villa Kali, a contemporary oasis in one of Lebanon’s ancient cities.
A vivacious intermingling of classic and modern, Villa Kali sits some 40 kilometres north of Beirut in Mounsef, close to the ancient seaport city of Byblos. Alive with the exhilarating natural elements that create its environs, its inimitable views of Mediterranean Sea are matched only by its sleek, yet inviting style.
Villa Kali was designed by architects Patrick Mezher and Walid Ghantous of Lebanon-based BLANKPAGE Architects, and Karim Nader of Karim Nader Studio, who were commissioned to undertake the project because of their overwhelming success in the region.
In 2011, BLANKPAGE was declared winner of two competitions: with the SEF 355 office complex in Sin el Fil commissioned by Express International; and Triade, a multi-use project commissioned by Medproperties and M-Tower S. A. L. In 2012, the company was declared the laureate of the Kfardebian country club competition, amongst a panel of twelve competing firms, and more recently won the commission for a 20,000 m2 eco-resort in Bamako, Mali, organised by Omnium Capital.
Karim Nader, who recently opened his own studio in Saifi, in the heart of the Beirut art scene, was named first prize winner of the Azar Award as well as the third prize winner of the Areen Award for Excellence in Architecture at the American University of Beirut.
The 2000-square metre home’s contemporary design integrates the sunshine, the air and the rock formation of the coastline into a warm, elegant site of respite. But it’s the sea – the main character of this architectural production – that takes centre stage.
“The openness to the surrounding landscape was very important for our clients. They wanted a minimal level of obstruction between themselves and the environment. We responded to their requests with an open plan arrangement for the house with rooms that capitalise on views, sunlight and wind exposure. You can smell the salt-kissed breeze passing through the rooms,” says architect Ghantous.
The house, whose composition of overlapping levels were inspired by the nearby rock formations, refers to the layout of traditional homes where rooms are grouped around a courtyard. The courtyard here opens up completely towards the sea, the two side volumes set at an angle that allows them to embrace as wide a horizon as possible, nature flowing through them. In this sense, the topography and the rock formations of the coastline continue ideally within the house; the sea itself is very much part of this residence, as water and the salty breeze dialogue with the stratification of its architectural elements.
The architects spent almost four years working on the luxury beach-front mansion, designing every single detail. The home consists of two volumes opening towards the sea in a V-shape, with connecting bridges.
The two side wings direct people’s gaze towards the Mediterranean through an ample staircase that leads from the garage to a reception area, in the very core of the house. Around this more public area, that may be sheltered or