The House That Always Was

This project was commissioned by a prominent political figure wishing to return and settle in his ancestral region. The site, a 15,500 sqm plot, crowns a hill of nearly 282,000 sqm, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, the coastal village below on one side, and the green hills of the surrounding villages on the other. The client’s program called for a total interior built-up area of approximately 7,200 sqm.

The basement, covering about 4,000 sqm, accommodates parking facilities, storage rooms, technical areas, staff quarters, and a bunker. At this level, two VIP guest bedrooms are discreetly integrated into the terraced landscape, offering privacy and direct access to the gardens.

Above it, the ground floor is aligned with the site’s natural reference level. Through a strategy of terracing, the slope of the terrain is gradually stepped until it reaches a plateau of approximately 10,100 sqm, which accommodates the project’s public functions. This plateau serves both as the foundation of the ground floor and as the interface between the client and the community he intends to serve and represent.

On this level, a grand dining hall and an entertainment area—both designed for public gatherings—extend outward onto the plateau. The ground floor also includes the client’s office, his wife’s office, a gym, and a spa and clubhouse connected to a large outdoor pool oriented to the east. These functions are articulated as independent pavilions, tied together by exterior covered circulation that frames views toward the landscape. In total, the ground floor accommodates approximately 1,400 sqm of interior built-up area, with 2,200 sqm of covered outdoor areas.

Hovering 13 meters above, the family residence—referred to as The House That Always Was—occupies approximately 1,800 sqm of interior space: 1,600 sqm on the first level and 200 sqm on the upper floor for guests. From this height, the dwelling benefits from uninterrupted panoramas as well as increased security and privacy. The architectural language of the residence is reminiscent of what commonly recognized as traditional Lebanese architecture, with sand stone walls, sloped roofs, and terraced layers that merge the house into its hilltop context. The residence includes a master wing for the parents, three master bedrooms for the children, three guest suites, a junior lounge, and generous reception and dining areas with an open kitchen connected to staff and service quarters. The dwelling is surrounded by a 2,100 sqm open-to-sky terrace with a second outdoor pool oriented to the west.