Carl Gerges Architects is a Lebanese firm whose work is thoughtfully considered in terms of culture, environment and heritage. Villa Nadia and Batroun boutique Hotels are two of the studio's unbuilt projects that showcase a combination of architectural tradition and contemporary design through a poetic sensibility and a deep understanding of the local social, environmental and historical landscape.
Villa Nadia is a private residence of Bei Mery, which has been described as a "witness to the architectural history of Lebanon". Built in the mid-19th century, the villa is now in a precarious state after being abandoned for 45 years. The renovation project aims to highlight historical layers while incorporating the comforts of contemporary living. The design retains arched Windows, red-tiled roofs and restored woodwork using traditional techniques. The project restored the elegance of the interior, restoring the chandeliers and Carrara marble, retaining the wooden beams, arches and featuring a range of major furniture pieces.
The conservatory's design incorporates floral motifs "inferred from rigorous research and analysis of traditional Lebanese decor", while the arched basement was transformed into a spa with earthy aesthetics. Meanwhile, the new guesthouse is designed in wood and steel joinery, similar to tree houses in lush gardens.
The Batroun boutique Hotel project also has an intervention in the existing structure, this time dating back to the 17th century. The two buildings, located in northern Lebanon, have been carefully restored using local sandstone and handmade wooden shutters to preserve the cross-vaulted architecture typical of the time and place. Connecting the two existing volumes is a white cement extension that includes a cafe and an internal courtyard with an Ottoman-influenced central pond. Throughout the project, vegetation is used to connect different structures and form a specific aesthetic framework.
Architect:CarlGergesArchitects
Photos:CarlGergesArchitects
Words:AndreeaCutieru
Copy:Archdaily