M Penthouse
Minet El Hosn, Lebanon 2021
Some already see in the coastal region of Minet el-Hosn the next Monte-Carlo of the Middle East. A rather hasty comparison! However, the constructions of luxury residential towers follow one another, fitting with varying degrees of success into the landscape. Naturally, this region is not for middle-class Lebanese, but rather for the local crème de la crème and wealthy Lebanese expats. At the foot of the Marina Towers, we are surprised to find a small Anglican church, which seems a little lost in the middle of these towers. Luxurious minimalism best describes the interior of this apartment located in a prime location in the city center of Beirut with a breathtaking view on Beirut’s seashore. In response to the brief the original layout of the apartment was sympathetically reconfigured; the kitchen and entrance were shifted towards the courtyard inside the building giving more light to those important functions; the master bedroom was isolated comprising now a lobby, walk-in closets and large bathroom and the main living/dining room become a large open space giving to the view.
Our design response introduced a modernist formality to the spaces, a refined elegance to the rooms based on a well curated furniture selection that achieves a sense of balance, and minimalist elegance. Vintage furniture and accessories were mixed with modern pieces to achieve a luxurious minimalist interior. A pallet of soft grey tones anchors the design and reflect the tones of the Naval ships that appear within the visual landscape, while polished sculptural objects and cut crystal add a touch of glamour. Reduced design and clear lines in anthracite and white decelerate and let forget the stressful everyday working life. The individually designed and comfortably equipped kitchen also inspires with high-tech: the surface made of the Fenix nanotech material is resistant to fingerprints and is also easy to clean and very durable. White finish in the ceiling, clear and bright walls, embedded wooden carpentry and pietra gray marble flooring provide quality, craftsmanship and warmness for a house that invites us to think, due to its introspection, achieving a disconnection between its aesthetics and its context (centre of Beirut), but simultaneously, it remains connected with its 8 balconies to the metropolitan chaos, turning the house into an own personal temple.
