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Sumit Singhal
Sumit Singhal
Sumit Singhal loves modern architecture. He comes from a family of builders who have built more than 20 projects in the last ten years near Delhi in India. He has recently started writing about the architectural projects that catch his imagination.

Casa Brutale – Lyrical Brutalism in Faqra, Lebanon by LAAV Architects

 
May 16th, 2019 by Sumit Singhal

Article source: LAAV Architects

Casa Brutale is a geometrical translation of the landscape. It is an unclad statement on the simplicity and harmony of contemporary architecture. It is a chameleonic living space, created to serve its owner and respect the environment. It is the inverted reference to Casa Malaparte, encased and protected by the tender earth that has hosted the human civilization for millennia. It is a complete study of aesthetics, structure, function and engineering, which thoroughly detailed, awaits solely its realisation.

Image Courtesy © LAAV Architects

  • Architects: LAAV Architects
  • Project: Casa Brutale – Lyrical Brutalism
  • Location: Faqra, Lebanon
  • Renderings: Terpsichori Latsi (LOOM Design)
  • Client: DEMCO Properties
  • Head / Project Architects: Laertis Antonios Ando Vassiliou
  • Associate Architects: Michalis Takopoulos, Anna-Rosa Moschouti
  • Interior Architect: OPA (now LAAV Architects)
  • Scriptwriter/Publication manager: Xanthippi Alexi Vassiliou
  • Project management: OPA & Arup Amsterdam
  • Structural, electrical and mechanical engineer; fire safety, acoustics and building physics consultant: Arup Amsterdam
  • Design management, cost consultant and Main contractor: Bloc7
  • Landscape Architect: Partnership pending
  • Programme: Vacation residence of 180m² (concept) – 270m²
  • Design: 2015
  • Realisation: 2019-2021

Last Perspective, Image Courtesy © LAAV Architects

Casa Brutale is OPA’s challenging vision of innovative architecture, where innovation refers to long forgotten terms such as ambience and materiality. Its subtle form allows for the magnificent view and the game of light and shadow to take center stage. The residence is constructed with simple materials:  wood, glass and concrete, the convergence of the surrounding earth and water. The landscape is integral to the underlying concept, since elements penetrate and prevail over the construction. The roof of Casa Brutale, a glazed bottom swimming pool, is a continuation of the poetic Aegean Sea and in perfect communication with the vast blue of the Greek sky.

Epic Staircase, Image Courtesy © LAAV Architects

Cliff-perspective-2, Image Courtesy © LAAV Architects

In essential simplicity, Casa Brutale is defined by three thick concrete slabs with all the installations preformed. The crystalline pool, made by reinforced glass, is set between the walls to smoothen the hard materials and let the abundant natural light through, illuminating the residence. The enormous glass façade frames and extracts the beauty of the Aegean. And small details of black-coated steel and brown/red aged wood complete the composition.

Top view, Image Courtesy © LAAV Architects

Front View, Image Courtesy © LAAV Architects

In literal groundbreaking integration, Casa Brutale penetrates the landscape. The underground building benefits from a perfect homeostatic mechanism with thermal insulation from the surrounding ground, and the cooling properties of the swimming pool. The optical impact of the building on the landscape is minimal, with only one façade on the cliff side and no volume extruding from the ground level.

Light penetrates the transparent or semi-transparent surfaces of Casa Brutale, bringing it to life. The dynamic light patterns caress the bare concrete with refractions and shadows. Bare concrete, or beton brut, is the finishing technique that gave the name to both brutalism and Casa Brutale. Raw, unpretentious, monolithic, marked by the wooden planks used to mold the casting.

Front View day, Image Courtesy © LAAV Architects

Teaser, Image Courtesy © LAAV Architects

After descending 50 stairs to the Aegean, under the shadows of epic concrete beams, you reach the entrance (also accessible by elevator). The tall, rotating door of aged wood (with the axis at ¾ lengths) opens to a breathtaking sea view, through the glass façade. The remaining space is bare, pure and simple; minimalism at its best. A concrete cast dining table is combined with concrete benches, clad with warm wood. Smooth curves sculpture the fireplace on the wall next to the bench. Behind the dining table, the guest room is formed under an old-fashioned Zoellner slab with a glass corner. Next to the guest room, there is a small passage to the utility rooms (storage room, bathroom and WC).

Entrance, Image Courtesy © LAAV Architects

Interior, Image Courtesy © LAAV Architects

An inner staircase consists of thin, steel steps that allow the optical continuity from the kitchen to the glass façade. The staircase leads you to the mezzanine floor, where the master bedroom is exposed to the same overpowering vision of the Aegean. The bed is cast of concrete with wood finishing, while the walls are covered with mirror to enhance the play between light and shadows.

Casa Brutale redefines the harmonious coexistence of human and nature in a poetic homage to pure Brutalism.

Mezzanine, Image Courtesy © LAAV Architects

Master bedroom, Image Courtesy © LAAV Architects

Kitchen Shot, Image Courtesy © LAAV Architects

Facade to Aegean, Image Courtesy © LAAV Architects

The swimmer, Image Courtesy © LAAV Architects

Staircase, Image Courtesy © LAAV Architects

Image Courtesy © LAAV Architects

Image Courtesy © LAAV Architects

Image Courtesy © LAAV Architects

Elevation, Image Courtesy © LAAV Architects

Image Courtesy © LAAV Architects

Section BB, Image Courtesy © LAAV Architects

Image Courtesy © LAAV Architects

Image Courtesy © LAAV Architects

Image Courtesy © LAAV Architects

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Categories: House, Residential




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