Baskinta Lebanese Mountain House reconstruction

Standing on the edge of the Valley of Baskinta (Lebanon) this house is one of the oldest one standing in this unique landscape. The existing ruin was already built from recycled stones from previous houses. Lacking foundation, the house had to be completely dismantled and its stones numbered. The main composition as well as the exact placement of the house were kept as they were, but the need for a contemporary living with a very wide opening at ground floor to enjoy the garden has brought an extra floor clearly identified as a sharp Corten steel box protruding from the original volume. Corten has been chosen because of the Valley's geology: the grounds are very rich in iron and have rusty tones in which the house blends with grace.
The initial vocation of the house to be the one of agriculture centered family has been kept and the side walls as well as the roof are planted, mainly with fruits plants. The vegetable garden is all around the house and in the kitchen is even directly at counter top level. Materials are simple and massive, wood, corten steel, concrete and recycled local stones.
If the traditions are respected in many aspects (such as the half stairs to the roof), the whole house as now a very contemporary architecture edge.