Gold Architecture, Building and Structure Design · 2021
Monolithic House Private Villa
by Ahmed Habib
- A' Design Award 2021 Gold Winner in Architecture, Building and Structure Design
- Awarded April 15, 2021
- CLIENT: Mi-nus
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 37,259
- Verification code FB2A62B366 · Verify this award
About Monolithic House Private Villa
Monolithic House is a private villa in Jeddah. The building is composed of three main masses that are shifted to create external courts, following the arrangement of traditional Arabic houses. The envelope uses semi-transparent screens with an old Saudi pattern inspired by the Mashrabiya. A motorized openable system regulates sunlight, gives shading and privacy on the south facade, and allows natural ventilation. The structure is concrete, finished with honed travertine stone, black steel, stucco and walnut wood. Separate entrances serve family, guests and services.
Ahmed Habib's Monolithic House Private Villa emerges from the tradition of desert architecture that honors both the harsh climatic realities and the profound spiritual heritage of arid regions, translating vernacular principles of thermal mass, filtered light, and courtyard organization into a distinctly contemporary formal language that resonates with the minimalist sensibilities of twenty-first century architectural practice, the primary volume presents itself as an exercise in restrained monumentality wherein a single commanding rectangular form achieves presence not through ornamental elaboration but through the careful orchestration of proportion, material texture, and luminous effect, the limestone cladding with its subtle chromatic variations suggests both the geological formations of the surrounding landscape and the ancient building traditions that employed local stone as the fundamental medium of architectural expression, the integration of the mashrabiya-derived perforated screen element on the secondary volume demonstrates a sophisticated engagement with regional craft heritage, reinterpreting the traditional device for controlling light and maintaining privacy through contemporary fabrication techniques that transform functional necessity into geometric poetry, the reflecting pool extending before the facade serves multiple purposes simultaneously, providing evaporative cooling, creating visual extension of the architectural volumes through mirror reflection, and establishing the contemplative atmosphere associated with paradise garden traditions wherein water represents both physical sustenance and spiritual refreshment, the singular date palm positioned with apparent casualness but evident compositional intention introduces the organic verticality that grounds the geometric abstraction within the living landscape, the crepuscular illumination captured in this presentation reveals the architect's sophisticated understanding of how desert light transforms architecture throughout the diurnal cycle, the warm cove lighting activating the stone surface as twilight deepens, one might contemplate how this residence achieves the seemingly paradoxical goal of creating intimate sanctuary within monumental scale, protective enclosure that nonetheless embraces the vast horizon
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- Conceptual idea was to explore the architecture relation between indoor and outdoor spaces, through a composition of three main masses that were shifted to create external courts inspired from Arabic traditional houses. The house envelope was designed using semi-transparent screens, with old Saudi pattern that was inspired by (Mashrabiya), that have been used to give a dynamic visual interaction, guaranteeing privacy and shading on the south facade, and regulating the entry of sunlight by motorized openable system, while always allowing natural ventilation.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- -Building Plot Area: 1000 sqm - Landscape plot area: 800 sqm -Built Up Area: 1540 sqm -Floors: Basement, Ground, First & Roof -Height Regulation from Street Level: 12 m -Set Backs Regulations: 4 m from street side & 2 m from neighbors
- Tags
- Architecture, Villa, House, Design, Residential, Modern, Landscape, Jeddah, Saudi
- Production Technology
- -Main Structure: Concrete -Main Architectural Finishes: Honed Travertine Stone, Black Steel, Off White Stucco, Matt Walnut Wood, Double Glazed Glass, Perforated Openable Screen
- Design Challenge
- -To create a quality living experience and redefine the image of a residential building in Jeddah while maintaining the climate requirements and privacy needs dictated by the Arab culture, were the main design challenges. -The client requested several separate entrances for gender segregation. -Based on the data collection the Architectural design direction is a mixture of Resort/Luxury design with traditional accents using natural materials. -Height limitation, Setbacks & maximum Built up area was dictated by Saudi Architecture Regulations.
- Project Duration
- Duration: The project design Process started in September 2020 and finished in January 2021 Location: Jeddah
- Operation Flow
- Entrances: - Main: For Family members & guests - Diwaneya: For Formal Events (Male Guests) - Side entrances : Direct Access to Basement Back Garden - Services: Direct Access for Male Staff & main Kitchen Floors Functions: - Ground: Reception & Dinning Spaces for Guests - Basement: Daily Living Spaces including Pool, GYM, Services & Green areas - First:Bed rooms and living space - Roof: Outdoor roof garden and service rooms
- Research
- TYPE-OBJECTIVES-METHODOLOGY
1-Data Collection research-Client needs analysis-Client meetings
2-Cultural research-Project Zoning & Privacy needs-Social Questionnaire
3-Arch. Design Direction research-General mood board, Massing & Materials-Web based research
4-Arch. Technical research-Identify Construction methodology-Subject Matter Experts & Web based Research
5-Environmental research-Natural Ventilation & Sun light-Web based research
6-Landscape research-Hardscape & Softscape design direction-Web based Research - Inspiration
- Inspired by old Arabic houses, the project masses were arranged in a way to enclose the external courts, creating visual interaction between in and out.The house envelope was designed using semi-transparent screens, with old Saudi pattern that was inspired by (Mashrabiya), have been used to give a dynamic visual interaction, guaranteeing privacy and shading on the south
facade, and regulating the entry of sunlight by motorized openable system, while always allowing natural ventilation.
Colors of Monolithic House Private Villa
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