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View of the two houses from farther away. Smaller house is above on the hillside with the larger house below. The gray stone cladding is contrasted by the green trees, grasses and tan hillsides.

Two Houses for Two Brothers

Jezzine, Lebanon

 

The vernacular Lebanese house form - a rectangular stone box with a hipped roof - was the starting point for these two summer houses set on an old olive orchard in the mountains above Sidon.

Elevation view of the house. Grey stone clad walls and roof with sunken opening for windows. Ground is a mix of grass, pavers, and wood decking.
Elevation view of the entry cutout. Dark gray wood in the cutout accents the rectangular grey stone clad walls and roof. Background shows a wooded hillside and the foreground has trees and stone pavers.
Side view of the entry cutout. Dark gray wood in the cutout accents the rectangular grey stone clad walls and roof. The ground is covered with loose gravel, stone pavers, and grass
Line drawn axonometric of the larger house showing the removed volumes from a rectangle.

Using one stone material for both the roof and the exterior walls reinforces the house as a diagram of this traditional form, while a large cutout corner of the building lined in stained cedar is a modern gesture toward site conditions and the service area. The secondary skin of glass windows and doors moves independently of the masonry walls and creates a play of shadows across the facades.

Corner view of the house. Grey stone clad walls and roof with sunken opening for windows. Ground is a mix of grass, pavers, and wood decking.
Elevation view of the house from below in the landscape. Bushes and a wood railing screen the house.
Side view of the house. Grey stone clad walls and roof with sunken opening for windows. Ground is a mix of grass, pavers, and wood decking. Partial view of trees in the foreground and background.
Line drawn axonometric of the smaller house showing the removed volumes from a square.
Interior view from the loft looking down to the living room. Bright white space with a skylight above. Furniture is a dark gray couch and single yellow chair.
View of the house from above on the hillside. The gray stone cladding is a stark contrast with the green landscaping. Trees and a hillside can be seen in the background.