View of a minimal interior featuring dark timber bookshelves, doors, and panelling with monumental perforated metal shutters on the far wall.

zen

architecture and interior design including fit-out, equipment, and finishes

beirut, lebanon

A calming and beautiful beach front property in Beirut.

We adapted the top two floors of this beautiful beach front building into an exclusive penthouse for family use, and as a regional pied-à-terre for the international owners.

View of the Mediterranean Sea, from the large square floor to ceiling window of this Beirut penthouse.
Minimal view of the large empty reception room, with a view of the Mediterranean outside all windows.
View looking down the length of the large reception room with a solitary figure standing at the end. Light streams in the window filled wall on the right-hand side.
Same view as the previous, with the room partly obscured by large sliding doors finished in dark stained oak.
A detail of a radiator within a niche, with a large bronze door to the left. Walls are clad in grey stone and everything is right angles.
A minimal room with massive, two-storey perforated metal shutters on the far wall. They are just cracked open.
A minimal room with massive, two-storey perforated metal shutters on the far wall. A person is opening the right-hand shutter.
View of a bookshelf with a small staircase suspended over a void to access the further bookshelves.
View of a staircase arriving at an upper storey, with views out to the sea from the windows in the background.
Detail of a carved grey stone handrail, that is recessed and lit in the wall of the staircase.
View of a kitchen with large glazed walls and red lacquered feature cabinets, within this otherwise austere interior.
View looking down the length of the large reception room, from the opposite direction than previous photos.
Same as previous, with large sliding doors partially closed at the far end.
Exterior view of a large terrace with a balcony above and the sea in the distance.
View of jacuzzi bath with grey stone clad double height volume above.
View over still water of the bath, reflecting the slatted timber privacy panels covering the window above.
Same as previous with one of the panels now open revealing a view of the beach and sea below.
View of the Mediterranean Sea at dusk, from a darkened interior, through the large square picture window.
Daytime view of the Mediterranean Sea with a sliver of beach.

area: 8,000 ft²

client: private

Our goal w as to privilege the 360 degree views and exceptional connection with the sea and horizon of this unique property. We have transformed it into a dark stage set for family life, reflecting the exterior onto the interior like a camera obscura. At the same time, the users are protected from the heat and glare of the sun on the horizon at the end of day.

The floor plans have been arranged for multi-functional use, with the spaces made adaptable using sliding partitions. We took a bold approach within a minimalist framework, creating double height spaces and connection between the floor levels to create a sense of volume and space where it did not exist.

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