SAMI SALAMEH

August 2016

Located in Baatouta, Lebanon, the M house is a summer house which transforms into a winter getaway during the ski season. The project lies in a virgin mountainous area, surrounded by evergreen forests on all sides, with breathtaking views of mountains and the Mediterranean sea.

The design intent was to use the slope of the land in a way that permits access to the garden from the higher level of the slope, with a cantilevered living area on the lower level, rotated to catch the sea view and the sunset.

The concrete 3-dimensional sculptured volume of the project opens up with glass walls where sunlight penetrates. Thus, each space of the M house has its own spectacular view framed on a removed wall. Architectural elements are reduced to minimal concrete walls, wood and glass, to keep the focus on the scenery.

The pool area is set away in the garden on a lower level to induce a mood change. Meanwhile, the landscaping was designed as a natural landscape, matching the existing oak trees on the plot. The minimal impact of the house intervention on the land allows the M house to blend in seamlessly with its surroundings.

The house area is 1200m² and is set on a split level plan, with 3 master bedrooms, an open living area, a kitchen overlooking the pool and a basement for parking and building services.

This project is a competition entry scheme for designing an iconic Mosque for the future develpoment city Creek in Dubai, which feature the Dubai Creek Tower designed by architect Santiago Calatrava in its central area.

The design approach for the mosque is based on two constraints :

 - Attention to the green axis alley leading from Dubai creek tower plaza to the bay, traversing the mosque site, and the view towards Dubai creek tower from the site.

- distancing the mosque from the surrounding imposing high rise architecture and focusing solely on the essence of the religious space purpose which is meditation and prayer.

 From there came the idea of sinking the mosque volume and creating a clear axis of view through the green alley, while maintaining the signal element of the mosque as a magestic canopy floating the garden.

 By connecting the two green bridges on the edges of the site with a slightly sloped platform acting as the piazza for the mosque, we highlighted the smooth transition of pedestrians from the Dubai creek tower area toward the sea , while accessing the project from top.

The mosque access will be via two ramps slowly descending to the prayer spaces. the outdoor courtyard will be on top of the mosque covered by a shading dome canopy and reached directly from the garden level.

- the natural light in the space filters through the canopy all the way to the side walls of the mosque. the light effect is zenithal and indirect to help the space glow in a sacred style with filtration of rays.

January 2019

Located in a Vibrant street of rue Gourot Gemayze Beirut, Gemayze lofts is a residential housing urban project fitted within a small plot on the intersection of two densely populated streets.

Having buildings facing the plot on two edges of narrow streets, the architectural challenge was to provide occupants with pleasant view and maximized daylight , without compromising access to terraces and balconies, in a climate where outdoor living is enjoyable for a decent part of the year.

The concept emerged by shifting the rooms orientations 45 degree off the street line, thus allowing maximun visibility toward the street axis and a shift away from the vis a vis of the neighboured building.

To provide ultimate amount of terraces for the appartments, two types of floor plans were concieved. As they stack upon each other the ceiling of one floor provide garden terraces for every room of the upper floor and vis versa.

Each terrace has its own integrated planter which transforms the building into a suspended garden with repetitive texture combining brutalism and sustainable architecture style, creating an urban lung for the street that lacks the presence of greenery and gardens.

March 2016

Cité Rose is the result of challenges and constraints created by the area it sits within, the shape of the plot and the required architectural program.

Located at the end of a calm street in 2 Plateaux, Abidjan, it is surrounded by 2-story tall private houses and low-rise residential buildings with gated entrances. On the north side of the plot (6 meters lower with an 8 meters setback) crosses the Autoroute du Nord, a vibrant main highway connecting Abidjan to Yamoussoukro.

The requested program was a service apartments building able to accommodate at least 70 units of studios (50m² each). The permitted number of floors was limited to 5. Any traditional architectural integration would require full use of the five floors to fulfill the design brief.

Nevertheless, in order to integrate the project with the character of its surrounding streets, a more adaptive design approach was undertaken. The idea was to interpret the height limit in an innovative way, by creating a gradually elevated building. To avoid a rupture with the low-rise buildings on the inner street side, Cité Rose starts at two floors, eventually reaching eight floors on the highway side where buildings are constructed much higher.

This approach allows for a smooth transition in the urban scale of the integrated mass. Correspondingly, it also provides natural lighting and ventilation for the inner courtyard where the pool and garden are located. Each level of Cité Rose also has green terraces for the communal use of residents.

The plan is designed such that the studios overlook the outer streets while the fully-glazed circulation corridors wrap around the inner courtyard and the pool area.

August 2017

Panamera Hotel sits on a small piece of land at the boulevard V.G.E, the main road leading to the airport in Abidjan.

Due to the absence of urban design in the area, and the recent construction boom in large-scale projects, the boulevard facade had become a rather chaotic assembly of buildings with many different styles and scale sizes.

Keeping this in mind, our architectural intervention thus sought to lean towards a simple geometric form, that could stand out from the existing chaos and create a statement of simplicity.

This form also allowed us to incorporate the most efficient floor plan for the project program, which was a boutique hotel with suite units of 45m² each.

To maximise sellable retail space on the ground level, the hotel lobby and restaurant area were pushed to the last floor (30th floor), thus permitting direct access from the lobby to the rooftop pool and bar.

March 2020

In the aim of creating a more sustainable architecture, This project is part of a series of form finding for a gridshell geometry seeking the minimal use of earth ressources and thus reducing the carbon footprint of the construction.

This shape belongs to the category of anticlastic surfaces, which means a surface with planar lines of curvature.

We can use this feedback to get planar shaped structural elements which leads to a simple planar profile for manufacturing and cnc cutting.

From differential geometry, it is determined asymptotic curves are not curved in the surface normal direction.

As opposed to traditional gridshells, this means they can be formed from straight, planar strips perpendicular to the surface. In combination with 90° intersections that appear on all minimal surfaces (soap films) this method offers a simple and affordable construction method. Asymptotic curves have a vanishing normal curvature.

Because or the rotation of the shape over z axis the stability of the structure need a counter balance. Therefore a cable connected to the ground will give the stability and stop it from leaning toward the front where the high part is.

Choosing the curvature lines for this structure will make it work on only one direction as main elements since the shape is cantilevered.

A series of cables is introduced connected to one point on the ground and the nodes on the lower side.

April 2017

In 2005, works for the new road and bridge for Abidjan airport were completed, creating a new cluster of bridges on the boulevard V.G.E at the entrance of Zone 4.

Centrale is located here, on the first lot at the entrance of Zone 4 facing Prima Mall, thus directly interacting with the echangeur V.G.E. The building program is 24,000m² of constructed area, hosting retail shops, residential apartments, a rooftop restaurant and parking spaces.

The character of the building was inspired from the active movement created by roads in the area, projected onto the building facade through highlighted horizontal lines.

Due to the noisy ground condition, retail units of the project were set on the ground floor and the first floor, while parking for the residential apartments were shifted away from the basement to the second and third floors. This plan enabled the residential apartments to be placed higher, thus limiting noise from the streets, while at the same time, allowing for better views.

October 2017

Panamera Hotel sits on a small piece of land at the boulevard V.G.E, the main road leading to the airport in Abidjan.

Due to the absence of urban design in the area, and the recent construction boom in large-scale projects, the boulevard facade had become a rather chaotic assembly of buildings with many different styles and scale sizes.

Keeping this in mind, our architectural intervention thus sought to lean towards a simple geometric form, that could stand out from the existing chaos and create a statement of simplicity.

This form also allowed us to incorporate the most efficient floor plan for the project program, which was a boutique hotel with suite units of 45m² each.

To maximise sellable retail space on the ground level, the hotel lobby and restaurant area were pushed to the last floor (30th floor), thus permitting direct access from the lobby to the rooftop pool and bar.

May 2016

Adjame is considered one of the most vibrant commercial areas, not only in Ivory Coast, but in all West Africa. It is a hub for African merchants to buy and sell products such as fruits, textiles, crafts and spices. The streets are filled daily with thousands of people, coming from all African countries.

The land for the project sits in the famous ‘Black Market’ area, connected to two streets on its eastern and northern edge. On the western side, the adjacent lot was set to host another new market project which would connect to the main shopping street, with its back turned to Marché Adjame.

The program set by the client was to have a covered marketplace of two floors, with shops around 30m² area per unit. Analysing the adjacent market that was about to be constructed, we noticed that there was a possibility to create a continuous circulation throughout the two markets. This took the form of a sheltered circulation area connecting two streets, thus animating the shopping experience in both markets. This concept allowed us to have three active levels of retail instead of two, and thus, 30% more sellable area than initially requested by the client.

Two split levels were created in the floor plate of the market, providing a smooth unnoticeable transition from one floor to another. Thus, a continuous shopping experience throughout all floors could be fostered, without the need to use stairwells or elevators. Given the slope of the land, the split levels also allowed direct access from the street level to all retail shops.

As units on the upper floors are oriented inwards and accessed from the interior, their back facades could be converted into commercial boards, to be rented, thus contributing to a more vibrant market facade.

June 2016

The design intent was to use the slope of the land in a way that permits access to the garden from the higher level of the slope, with a cantilevered living area on the lower level, rotated to catch the sea view and the sunset.

The concrete 3-dimensional sculptured volume of the project opens up with glass walls where sunlight penetrates. Thus, each space of the M house has its own spectacular view framed on a removed wall. Architectural elements are reduced to minimal concrete walls, wood and glass, to keep the focus on the scenery.

The pool area is set away in the garden on a lower level to induce a mood change. Meanwhile, the landscaping was designed as a natural landscape, matching the existing oak trees on the plot. The minimal impact of the house intervention on the land allows the M house to blend in seamlessly with its surroundings.

The house area is 1200m² and is set on a split level plan, with 3 master bedrooms, an open living area, a kitchen overlooking the pool and a basement for parking and building services.

March 2014

ARTF (Agence de regulation et de transfert de fonds) is an 8 story sustainable building standing in the heart of Brazzaville city centre, Congo. Conceived to promote connection and productivity, the atrium regulates the microclimate of the building while linking the occupants’ private spaces by a communal internal court and a natural garden at the ground floor level.

The internal garden’s skylight provides natural light to all the circulation area and its integrated photovoltaic cells bestow shades on the court. The building is naturally ventilated and the external double skin’s catwalks and shading devices are used to shield the building from the sun without obstructing the street view.

January 2018

Located in a mountain village in the district of Aley, Beysour Residences is a residential housing project which stands on an elongated plot overlooking the Lebanese valleys and Mount Sannine.

Having a renowned Lebanese painter as one of the owners of the project, deep research was undertaken to find an architectural style which could reflect his tastes and perception of architecture as a living sculpture. At the same time, practical considerations about the construction budget raised by other project owners also had to be taken into account.

During design discussions with the clients, particularly the artist, it emerged that he was fascinated by the architecture of old Mediterranean villages, which had inspired many of his own paintings. The charm of these beautiful villages, whether in Italy, Sour or Fes, derives from the unique character of each building, while maintaining the use of similar local materials and architectural elements throughout.

From this, came the concept for Beysour: creating harmony through diversity.

A selection of architectural elements was made (types of balconies, planters, pergolas, window styles), which were then applied in a modern way throughout the facades of the four buildings. While having three consecutive typical floor plans, the variation of the architectonics gave birth to a totally random facade language, and an elegant variety in the entire architectural design.

The project is divided into four separate building blocks, each block being made of three typical floors with two apartments on each level.

July 2014

The client for this project was the main contractor for the water supply system of Eko Atlantic city in Nigeria, a new urban development on reclaimed land in Lagos. The request was for a water tower 70m in height, to serve as a water reservoir for the whole city. This reservoir would be comprised of cubical tanks of 1 cubic meter each.

The brief was to create an elegant shape reflecting the city’s modernity and contemporary image. In approaching the architectural design, attention was placed on achieving a unique intervention reflective of local culture and traditions. Instead of simply creating a generic structure of the required height, the idea was to use the water tower as a vertical museum displaying African arts and craft. Sightseeing platforms would be incorporated on different levels to encourage city tourism and exploration.

Drawing inspiration from the shape of African totems, the volume (based on a square plan of 10 meters) was hollowed out to create internal voids for exposition and openings of the sightseeing platforms.

The main structure holding the tower is the core of the volume where the vertical circulation elevators are embedded. Meanwhile, the stairs wrap around on all sides to allow for platform landings at different angles of the tower.

The outer skin of the tower was inspired from African motifs used for textiles and as paintings on vernacular architectural house facades. Entirely made of chrome panels, the Eko Atlantic water tower reflects the city colours and merges harmoniously with its surroundings.

January 2013

The community of Bois de Boulogne set up a series of fundraising events with the purpose of building a new church in the village. After selecting the land for the project and setting out the program, we were approached to come up with an architectural design.

Our concept was to reinterpret the traditional Maronite church to meet the needs of a modern society that nonetheless remains bound to its customs and beliefs.

The pure cubic form of Maronite churches was the starting point of the design, then twisted and elaborated to add elements such as an entrance canopy, a modern bell tower and elevators for disabled access.

Design inspiration was drawn from the miracles of Saint Charbel, to whom the church was dedicated.

Random openings in the church walls and the background of the choir were created, allowing rays of sunlight to penetrate and illuminate the space. This effect thus serves as an architectural representation of the hope and renewal of faith invoked in the community through Saint Charbel’s miracles.

January 2021

Construction with bricks has existed since ancient times. Architects have explored infinite methods for construction and bricklaying styles. Still this modular piece is widely used until our time in different parts of the world, for construction projects of all scales. With the advancement of technology, architects and engineers started to explore alternative ways of using computer-generated designs where complexity can be managed in a way that was impossible without the help of computer power. Thus, new design solutions and construction methods started to emerge.

Still, when it comes to computational design with bricks, various territories are yet to be explored. Whether it is in the aesthetic outcomes of using computation for brick walls or adapting data driven solutions to generate designs and even in using the power of technology to manage the design and construction of complex shapes.

This project explores several aspects of computational design with bricks, including performance driven design approaches using weather data, leading to the conception of a bioclimatic bricks pavilion to be showcased for an exposition at “Lille world capital of design 2020”.

Throughout this research, we tried to explore the advantages of using data in the favor of architectural design and construction, whether it is in developing algorithms for brick laying or in the use of weather data to generate forms. We were able to come out with climate and context aware architectural solutions that contribute even if at a small scale to the effort for the fight against global warming, by using natural elements to enhance comfort and reduce the use of materials and resources.

Based on the results from the wind comfort map generated from outdoor comfort algorithm, we can decide the most efficient location to set out the pavilions.

The use convex shaped geometries help augment the diffuse and reflective radiations/MRT and therefore enhance the comfort hours for a cold climate region like Lille.

Then, using the created bond generator algorithm, we generate a perforated pattern brick wall based on the Flemish bond, where perforation only occur over the groups of bricks with the header facing the wall.

Finally, we perform the perforation based on the mesh data provided by shades benefits. With this, only beneficial sun rays can filter inside the space where the rest of the wall can stay opaque, and contribute in reducing the wind speed and augment the MRT.