Herzog and De Meuron Create Privacy and Sustainability Through Strategic Layers and Vegetation

Beirut Terraces. Beirut, Lebanon.

Swiss architects, Herzog and de Meuron worked with developer, Benchmark, to design a new concept in high-end urban living. Located in Beirut’s Minet El-Hosnneighborhood, near the marina, the development has integrated with the city’s Master Plan to revive Beirut’s Central District with the installation of modern infrastructure, restoration of historic buildings and creation of public spaces, including: gardens, squares, belvederes and promenades. The Master Plan’s goal is to have a vibrant urban area divided into sectors. Beirut Terraces is located among other high-rises in the area dedicated to offices and high-end residential, near the St George’s Hotel. The area continues to rehabilitate following the car bomb attack outside the hotel in 2005, which killed Lebanese Prime Minister Rafic Hariri.

Completed in 2017, the building’s design draws on Beirut’s diverse and tumultuous history and the influences of Roman, Mamluk, Ottoman, and British and French colonial rule, which have shaped the city’s architecture. Beirut is situated on Lebanon’s Mediterraneancoast and has a mild climate. Herzog and de Meuron stated, “The moderate climate of Beirut is undoubtedly one of the city’s greatest assets, it makes outdoor living an integral part of Beirut’s urban culture.” Their concept of a vertical city or “vertical boulevard” was created to blend the building into its surrounds as well as to infuse privacy and heat reduction into the design through potted plants and hanging vegetation. This was accomplished throughstaggered floor plates and recessed floor-to-ceiling, double-glazed windows. The resultallows for large planted terraces to surround the 119-meter tower, and provide extended indoor/outdoor living spaces- offering views of the marina, mountains and city. Each floor plate has been placed to provide privacy and shade, with cutout perforations strategically placed to allow in sunlight. The extensive overhangs of at least 60cm reduce solar gain. Additionally, per ArchDaily, “The floor plates are thick enough to balance the daily temperature cycles by virtue of their thermal mass, storing cold though the night and releasing it though the day. Such passive strategies make the building a truly sustainable place to live in. Where necessary, perforations in the overhangs modulate the lighting and exposure to the sun. Their density, shape and the shadows they generate form a striking pattern that gives the tower a distinctive identity and sets it off from its surroundings.” The stratified structure with its irregular sized floor slabs and indefinite outline somewhat resembles Herzog and de Meuron’s New York City skyscraper, 52 Leonard, located in Tribeca- often referred to as “Jena-like” in its appearance.

As well as being guided by their respect forBeirut’s history, Herzog and de Meuron state that they adhered to Five Principles: Layers and Terraces, Inside and Outside, Vegetation, Views and Privacy, and Light and Identity. The apartments housed in the structure vary in sizes and type with some spanning one floor and others being two-story. The size of unitsrange from 250sqm to 1050sqm, and the size of terraces range from 28sqm to 400sqm. There are five modular floor plans repeated in different combinations throughout the building. The building’s structural load is carried by its central core and by a regular column grid that spans 14.7 meters. This design means interior walls are non-load bearing- providing open and flexible interior spaces. Parking is located below-grade with retail stores surrounding the building at ground level. Residents share amenities and facilities such as a private drop-off area, water features, landscaping, swimming pool, gym, sauna, and steam and massage rooms, along with a shared rooftop-viewing terrace. Herzog and de    Meuron stated, “The result is a vertically layered building: slabs of varying sizes allow for interplay between openness and privacy that fosters flexible living between inside and outside.”  Of the building, ArchDaily stated, “Fine detailing and a focus on the concerted orchestration of quality materials produce a structure that is both efficient and luxurious. Careful environmental engineering and specific use of vegetation further enhance sustainability and the quality of life within the building.” Beirut Terraces was awarded 3rdPlace for Best Future Project at the 2013 MIPIM Awards as one of the best un-built sustainable projects.