East Village designed by J.M.Bonfils and Associates, The concept consisted of lifting key contextual elements – traditional building material and Lebanese gardens –and revives them with contemporary interpretations. So conventional wood and dark stone found an unexpected contrast in vivid red metal, and space-efficient vertical gardens replaced their horizontal predecessors. These elements complement the diversity of the surrounding context.
Photography by © Kinan Mansour
While it looks like a simple geometric shape from afar, the structure consists of three parallel elongated blocks each with a unique identity that’s revealed on approach, while a cantilevered section that extends out towards the street emphasizes the building’s partly public function, a contemporary art gallery that occupies the ground floor to introduce a cultural and commercial element to the project.
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East Village includes 13 loft units, each of the double height characteristic of the region: 10 duplexes, two penthouses with pools on each of their terraces, and one simplex, its balcony framed by red metal. On the simplex’s terrace is a private bar that overlooks the pubs and lounges scattered across Gemayzeh and through Downtown, exposing a panoramic view of the city.
© Kinan Mansour
“East Village is a kind of suprematist composition playing with the paradoxical conditions of today and linking us to a kind of paradigm” – Jean-Marc Bonfils
Photography by © Kinan Mansour
Product Description: Vertical Garden influenced by a public garden located in the adjacent 1960s Electricite du Liban headquarters, that is no longer accessible to the public. The aim is to reintroduce a more space-efficient vertical green space that the community could enjoy.
Photography by © Kinan Mansour
Project Info:
Architects: J.M.Bonfils and Associates
Location: Bayrut, Lebanon
Architect in Charge: Jean-Marc Bonfils
Area: 8000.0 m2
Project Year: 2015
Photographs: Kinan Mansour, Wael Khoury Photography, Chadi Younes
Manufacturers: Swisspearl, Hunter Douglas US, Exotica
Products: Swisspearl Fiber Cement Large Size Panels
Project Name: East Village
Ruba Ahmed, a senior project editor at Arch2O and an Alexandria University graduate, has reviewed hundreds of architectural projects with precision and insight. Specializing in architecture and urban design, she excels in project curation, topic selection, and interdepartmental collaboration. Her dedication and expertise make her a pivotal asset to Arch2O.