Francis Apartment

Francis Apartment
© Rami Nihawi

FRANCIS APARTMENT

Hatch Architects & Planners

DESIGN TEAM
Sandra Richani, Nada Borgi, Hiba Hteit

ARCHITECT IN CHARGE
Nada Borgi, Sandra Richani

MANUFACTURERS
Flos, Luciferos, Ado Lights

COLLABORATORS
Cleerstudio

CONSULTANTS
Lightbox, Fabraca Studios, architecture et mécanisme

CLIENTS
G. Francis

DEVELOPERS"
Technical Office for Engineering and Contracting, A.Charafeddine

PHOTOGRAPHS
Rami Nihawi

AREA
180 m²

YEAR
2018

LOCATION
Ain Saadeh, Lebanon

CATEGORY
Apartment Interiors

The project involves the design of an apartment that was bought as a shell and core. The client, a young banker living and working in Dubai, wanted to create a space that caters for house gatherings and seasonal vacations, but equally practical for the families future growth.

Francis Apartment
© Rami Nihawi
Francis Apartment
© Rami Nihawi

The challenge was to create the dialogue between the living spaces without compromising privacy and separation, a main aspect of the Lebanese lifestyle.

The client’s enthusiasm to house a multi-functional space to create intimacy in an open space that may contract and expand invited us to play with the idea of fragmented zones and a series of filters that slide open and disappear when required.

Francis Apartment
© Rami Nihawi
Francis Apartment
© Rami Nihawi

Partitions had to be flexible, lighting had to be varied, materials had to be raw and bold, the ceiling had to indicate fragments without separating, and the ground had to be continuous and warm.

At the entrance, a black steel booth was inserted. This object invites you to transition from the noise of the city into a moment of transcendence, recline, play a game, take a breath, hang your coat and then join the gathering.

Francis Apartment
© Rami Nihawi
Francis Apartment
© Rami Nihawi

In the main space, large leather couches and a perforated wood closet created a display to peak into as you socialize.

A fair faced concrete wall was used to highlight a transition between the various forms of gatherings.

A perforated black steel library with a built in chimney created a two sided lounge zone.

Francis Apartment
© Rami Nihawi
Francis Apartment
© Rami Nihawi
Francis Apartment
© Rami Nihawi

An intimate bed behind it for a moment to gaze at the printed back-lit false ceiling or a moment in front of the chimney with a good drink at an arm's length were integrated.

A bench facing a beautiful balcony and view negotiated between the interior and exterior.

A marble wall, and a large perforated sliding door allowed us to transition into a TV room.

Francis Apartment
© Rami Nihawi
Francis Apartment
© Rami Nihawi
Francis Apartment
© Rami Nihawi

Service spaces that include the kitchen and toilets used a similar palette of materials, colors, and play.


Francis Apartment
Floor Plan