Located in the heart of the prestigious palace district in Bramiyeh, the project is at 5 min from Saida and 40 min from BCD. In a green environment, the site has a diversity of fauna, flora and abundant water sources.

Masterplanning strategy:
Inspired by old Saida Fabric, architectonic masses are articulated in a way to generate several green pocket gardens connected to each other by pedestrian alleys.  The inner roads are paved and edged by trees, serving each building and creating a loop trail for outdoor activities. The red tile roofs are replaced by green planted terraces, reclaiming the lost green area due to construction. The buildings are composed of 3 floors only, with stepping to create landscaped terraces.


Sustainable strategy:

Within the Oasis of Bramieh, the project adapts a Lebanese vernacular design approach. Gardens integrate with the living spaces, where courtyards and patios create a biophilic living approach in addition to the micro climate around it.
The outdoor spaces and sky opened terraces are incorporated with green shading systems that provides shade in spring and summer shades through its blooming leaf, and in winter, when it’s in dormancy, lets the warm winter sun in. 


Agricultural terracing is adopted to the landscaping to make use and plant the garden spaces with the local fruits and vegetables. Outdoor areas like roads, parking spaces, pedestrian walkways and passages are designed to have green tiling material where tiles leave space for grass to grow in a controlled manner with it, thus lowering the ground heat absorption and integrating the gardens with the nearby spaces.


A public garden is designed on the east corner of the plot to provide a natural retreat for all residents. The garden has water features, outdoor activities and it  provides a pedestrian path.


The massing strategy of the neighborhood adapts an east-west orientation that self-shades itself in the hot annual period. Urban water features aid in creating evaporative cooling sense between the gardens and the passage ways. Each apartment in the project is provided with a private garden, on ground level, first floor level and the roof level. 


The roof spaces are exploited as a multifunctional living space. Water features and pools are designed beside a planted and a sitting area on the roof. Solar collectors mounted on roof pergolas aid in shading the roof space beneath and collect solar energy to heat the domestic water in use. Rain water is collected from the roofs to be stored and utilized to irrigation. 


Thick wall design aids in having a good thermal mass that preserves the mild temperatures. Façade openings are studied to maximize views in same time to protect privacy and protect from excessive heat gain but in same time providing adequate daylighting levels, visual comfort inside and natural cross ventilation.

architecture: nabil gholam architects
3D images: nabil gholam architects