Building Rafic Ghandour

Notes

The Ghandour Building in Raouché is representative of the opulent, well crafted, and elegant apartment buildings that sprouted on the Corniche facing the sea starting in 1956. The plan is very functional, with a clear reading of the various parts that accommodate the living areas, services, and the three bedrooms. An additional room can be used, due to its location, either as an additional bedroom, or as an attachment to the reception areas that provide a view of the sea. A general effect of lightness is achieved through the use of many architectural devices. In the main elevation, the unavoidable presence of two big posts, supporting the deep cantilevered balcony, is by-passed by their shape, thus giving the impression that each of them is a combination of two thin columns. A play of the slabs gives the eye a thin profile, which extends beyond the corner of the building to insist on the horizontal stacking of the floors. In the entrance, the canopy that seems hung from the building, the dark pâte de verre of the columns, and the aluminum panels of the walls all contribute to an effect of lightness. In 1999-2000, the building was renovated and altered. For example, the claustras facing west were removed and the twin rounded plastered columns were united in a rectangular one clad with marble.

Sources

Information in this database is updated constantly. Do not hesitate to send us comments, information, or illustrations (with appropriate credits) to database@arab-architecture.org