The competition calls for the construction of a sports club exclusively dedicated for the Engineers and Architects. The site is located on the parcel already occupied by the Order of Engineers and Architects in Zahlé, and includes the newly built administrative offices.
The strategy adopted in the design of the project is mainly focused on the following site properties:
- The absence of a real opportunity to benefit from interesting vistas; however, this is worthily outweighed by the captivating panoramas to the surrounding mountains.
- The possible future developments on the adjacent sites.
This resulted in a “see and be seen” concept consisting of the following:
- Introverting the design with sunken swimming pool and terrace and surrounding them by terraces 1.5 m higher, implying limited visibility in and out and inducing improved privacy at short ranges.
- Orienting the long-range vision angles towards the beautiful panoramas of the mountains,
- Strategically locating green hedges along the north-west border to prevent indiscretions and obstruct undesired views,
- Tying the new facility with the existing building through the belt inserted in between the void of the existing offices and offsetting the indoor sports building to the north, thus completing the loop wrapping around the outdoor space,
- Locating the swimming pool in the prolongation of the multi-purpose room and terrace offering the flexibility of opening the spaces together in case of big events / receptions.
- Introducing roof gardens to recuperate vegetable land occupied by the new building,
- Integrating bleachers overlooking the outdoor sport fields in the green cover of the new building,
- Locating the sports fields along the northern boundary of the plot to absorb the high grills.
The circulation offers a maximum level of safety through separating the vehicular pattern from the pedestrian pattern, while optimizing their movements in and out of the project.
Sustainability is a key element in the proposed design that includes the following features:
- An outdoor integrated walking trail wrapping around the project,
- Rain water collection on the terrace covering the parking,
- Geothermal network to improve the air conditioning of the indoor pool all year long,
- Roof gardens, and pyrex solar tubes acting as pergolas integrated over circulation areas,
- The use of high efficiency low consumption equipment,
- The partial preservation of the existing garden, etc...
In summary, the project offers ultimate flexibility in combining the spaces, while preserving its unique character of a semi-troglodytic building.