S Cube Chalet in Kuwait by AGi architects

Article source: AGi architects

S Cube family chalet is made up of three intertwined beach houses. The owners -two brothers and their sister each with their own families- want to continue enjoying the same exceptional environment in which they grew up, but with complete independency and privacy from each other.

Image Courtesy Nelson Garrido

• Architects: AGi architects
• Project Name: S Cube Chalet
• Location: Kuwait
• Type: Residential | 750 m2

Image Courtesy Nelson Garrido

• Date: 2007-2011
• Client: Private
• Cost: Confidential
• Photographer: Nelson Garrido
• Design Team:  Joaquin Pérez-Goicoechea, Nasser B. Abulhasan, Salvador Cejudo
• Architectural team: Robert A. Varghese, Abdul Hafiz Mohammed, Mónica Marqués,José Ángel del Campo

Image Courtesy Nelson Garrido

For these reasons, the design of these three small houses calls for a duplicated program, which maintains privacy, while benefiting from outdoor areas and sea views, by the use of several terraces.
Architectural solutions proposed by AGi
In order to create private and independent houses for each family -comprising of three young couples with two small children each-, AGi architects have divided the plot into two units, composed of two houses that are mirror images of each other, named S2 and S3. These units are separated by a staircase leading towards the third house, located at the higher level. The third house is positioned on top and across from the two residences, enjoying a large roof terrace with direct views towards the sea. Each of the three houses enjoys an individual outdoor area that is open to the sky, privacy from its neighbor, and extended sea views.

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The highly dense program in the intertwined houses is manipulated to create outdoor spaces which harvest the prevailing winds and enhance their circulation within the courtyards, allowing people to comfortably reside in them. The building is carefully situated to protect its exposure to the sun on the southern façade, whilst increasing shaded space on the northern side to frame views out to the sea as well as create a pleasant outdoor environment.

Image Courtesy Nelson Garrido

The outdoor spaces on the ground floor and the roof terrace of the third house on the upper level are the main distinguishing elements and spaces of this project; from which the three houses are organized around them. They are beach houses designed to optimize and enhance the outdoor experience.

Image Courtesy Nelson Garrido

Program
S Cube chalet is developed into three levels:

S2 and S3 houses comprise of mirrored program, occupying two levels:
– Ground floor. Main bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, living room and a large courtyard open to the sea.
– First floor. Two bedrooms, bathroom and a terrace with side views to the sea, designed as a playing area for children. Terraces of both houses are visually separated by a grid.

S1 house is developed in two separate levels illustrated below:
– First floor. Main bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, living room, and a terrace connected to the S3 terrace.
– Second floor. Two bedrooms, bathroom and a large terrace facing the sea.

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Materials
The flooring, stairs and dividing wall between S1 and S2 are all are cladded using Indian sandstone. Interior walls and ceilings are finished using plaster and paint, whilst handrails are cladded with wood.

The interiors have been designed by AGi architects. All materials used in the S Cube project are locally manufactured. The loose furniture produced by Spanish brands, supplied by Gunni & Trentino.

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AGi architects
Spain and Kuwait-based practice AGi architects was founded in 2006 by the young architects educated at Harvard University, Joaquín Pérez-Goicoechea and Nasser B. Abulhasan. Salvador Cejudo started to collaborate with AGi in 2007 and became a design partner in 2009.

With a noticeable international character and a multidisciplinary focus, AGi architects offer a professional service emphasizing in quality, creativity and exclusive design, with a vision to create environments contributing to a lasting value for clients through distinctive and imaginative solutions. At present, the studio has offices in Kuwait and Madrid, comprising of a team of 30 professionals.

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The studio’s architecture is based on four founding pillars: innovation, an existential component, ecological and social vocation, and research. AGi architects provide comprehensive services in architecture, urban planning and design, interior design, research, consultancy and complementary services.
Among the latest acknowledgements, AGi architects have been commended at MIPIM Architectural Review Future Projects Awards 2012, for their proposals of BBS Preschool -Mixed Use category- and Wafra Living Residential Complex –Residential category-. Both of them are currently under construction.

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The firm has also been awarded with the World Architecture Festival (WAF) 2011 award, in the Future Projects – Residential Category for the project of Wafra Living residential complex, as well as Cityscape Architecture in Emerging Markets 2011 prize, in the Residential Built Category for the single family house project, Secret House. It has also received three prizes in the Arabian Residential Property Awards 2011: Award for Best Architecture 5 stars for Secret House, in the Single Residence Architecture category; Award for Best Architecture 5 stars for the Wafra Living residential complex, under the Multiple Residence Architecture category; and Highly commended for Wind Tower, in the High Rise Architecture category.

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In 2010, AGi architects gained its first WAF award, in Future Projects-Health Category for their elaborate proposal of the Kuwait Children’s Hospital. Furthermore, the studio received an Honorary Mention awarded at the European Commercial Property Awards 2010 in the Leisure Category for their proposal for the Marinha Grande Swimming Pool Complex in Portugal, as well as First Prize in the Arabian Residential Property Awards 2010 in the Best Architecture–Multiple Living Space Category for the Black & White residential complex. In addition, the studio also received four Honorary Mentions in the Cityscape 2010 Awards for Black & White, Star House, Kuwait Children’s Hospital and the Haj House Complex.

Image Courtesy Nelson Garrido

Image Courtesy Nelson Garrido

Image Courtesy Nelson Garrido

Image Courtesy Nelson Garrido

Plan

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Tags: Kuwait

Category: Residential

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