My Architecture Projects at a Glance (3) | Best of Architech Studios

The main purpose of publishing those kinds of projects is only informative and instructive. Because of the huge lack of references, notably in the Arab region, which limits especially the Architecture academic students from doing their research, I hope these posts will bring some help where needed.

Furthermore, because of some old mentality that forbids their owners from bringing their projects to light due to their possession of the copyright of the material in question, as they said, in which I have serious doubts...

The following projects have been sorted randomly, and for information purposes only; they are copyrighted materials as well. So please, consider Inspiring not just Cloning!

As I did explain in my previous posts, my projects are sorted into two categories, and in this post, I will be reviewing the partially designed ones.

To be more clear, the partial work provided could be a study for the elevations, concerning the materials to be used, or for architectural purposes or simply full editing or modification of a certain project part already in an execution stage, or else, but for some reason, the owner required to modify it in the best way possible.

Actually, there is no harder than dealing with a client who doesn't understand what a drawing featuring a plan/top view or a section means. And I am not blaming the client here, of course! It is just a way to describe the hardness of such a situation where you are in the middle of something and in need of just a method, and unable to make your ideas clearer and understandable to others...

Anyway, I always find a way out of a condition like this with the proper and simplest approach available that lets my client always be convinced of the solution and the results I provide.

Read more: Have a look at my two posts My Projects at a Glance (1) | Best of Architech Studios and My Projects at a Glance (2) | Best of Architech Studios, as it is the first and second parts of the series: The Best of Architech Studios.

After this foreword, let us enter the best projects my office/agency partially contributed to the design, but because there are so many, I will choose only the best and the most convenient ones to shorten my list as much as possible.

Let us make a brief critique of Fig. 1 and what is inside: As we can see and notice in the first place, the terrible balcony extends all over the floor plan, along with the facade covering the two conjoined apartments.

We can imagine the sort of facade that will result from such a bad plan layout: it is similar to a plant or school corridor or narrow pathway that leads to different succeeding rooms that stack before each other in a boring way. (see fig.2 below)

Not surprising at all, because a Civil engineer cannot replace an Architect in his work, and the contrary goes also; A popular mistake that we are still suffering from in our Arab region in general.

Of course, the designer didn't forget to put the separation between the two apartments, but apparently, he ignored all that is related to a good architectural conception.

Fig.1- The original layout of the current floor before being modified later, Photo Source: 101ArchiTech Archive

Fig.2- The initial conception of the project: a total ignorance of the simplest and primitive regulations for managing an elevation the right way, and I apologize for this piece of crap!

• The effective Entrance Area should be very distinguished from the other area that leads to the bedroom or the private area in the home. (Area 1)
• The transfer Area to the bedrooms' privacy. This area can feature built-in closets needed for storing various household linens and other useful stuff, therefore limiting the wasted spaces in general. (Area 2)

Fig.3- The proposed layout plan with the necessary modification. Photo Source: 101ArchiTech Archive

As you can see, the general layout is now more flexible and functional than before. The huge and unnecessarily long balcony is divided into smaller balconies with full respect for the privacy of each apartment, which is a must: you can now access the bedrooms' balcony without getting worried about being monitored from the reception area.

That is the first benefit revealed and gained from the owner, which was totally understandable given the fact described above.

We still have the second part of the mission which is the exterior elevations. Since we did solve the plan layout and almost all its issues, all the remaining tasks will be automatically fixed; A method that I always follow based on a good design must commence from the inside and then reach the outside.

Fig.4- The final conception rendered with the mental ray engine, Photo: 101ArchiTech Archive. All rights reserved © 2013

As it is shown the result is worth it, in comparison to the initial design; a truth confirmed and approved by another colleague-architect as well, who had accompanied the owner since our first meeting.

The next selected project in the review was compounded from four blocks, similar to each other: All I had to do was model just one of them and then clone the others along in a straight line. A housing project and commercial retail at the ground level, this resort was somehow a first of its kind in its geographic location, where there are some restrictions for using materials and architectural conception as well. It is located in the Northern Governorate of Lebanon, in Meriyata town.

As you can notice, the constraints were already here! Difficulties in adopting the relevant architectural treatment for the elevations and a big challenge to face within an environment that restricts the glazing openings and allows privacy in all its communities' activities.

I was asked to generate a facade treatment solution that includes the different materials to be used, including colors, etc. (see Fig. 5 below)

Fig.5- The complex in a general view, starting from the street below. Photo: 101ArchiTech Archive, All rights reserved © 2013

The materials were selected according to the local environment, such as the Hammered Natural Stone Cladding type and color. Kour (the type name was derived from a region recognized for its containment and extraction of natural rocks, especially noted for its natural and original color)

Fig.6- The Tinol Color Palette Catalog

Another wall stone cladding is to be used on the external parts of the building. The concept of this treatment takes into consideration the vitality of such a resort that includes all types of entertainment and services.