Villa Abdel Maksoud Ahmad Bey

Notes

Given that this type of rural villas would usually include a large garden planted with apple trees, the architect chose to include this feature while elevating the ground floor three meters from the street level. In this manner, the residents would enjoy an unobstructed scenery with the apple tree garden just below their field of view. On the other hand, the living rooms facing the sea were set on the street level. In the backside of this level, spaces for the servants and the kitchen were set. Sayed Karim was able to achieve an organic transition between these two levels by constructing an artificial talus slope. In this context, akin to a “raumplan” configuration, the ground floor spread across different levels. Spaces like the veranda, bedrooms, and living rooms unfolding within the surrounding landscape. 

The first floor, reserved for the bedrooms, was composed of two disconnected wings of slightly different levels. Between them, a family lounge was set. The veranda, the balconies, the bedrooms, and the living rooms were strategically situated for each to profit from unique ambiance and scenery from the surrounding landscape. Additionally, at different instances during the day, each balcony would enjoy its share of sunlight creating synchronously a routine for the residents.

Sources

Majallat Al-Imarah, 1950, Volume 10, (no.1-5)

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