THE STORY
Neo-vernacular design as a response to socio-environmental challenges
From the traditional window to the intelligent skin façade, this project reinterprets the Moucharabieh as both a cultural heritage element and a contemporary environmental device.
Constrained by urban regulations, the residential building is defined by only two façades — front and back. The Moucharabieh-inspired front façade becomes the architectural signature, offering privacy within Beirut’s dense, face-to-face neighborhoods while establishing a poetic continuity with local tradition.
Beyond its aesthetic and symbolic role, the façade actively contributes to sustainable living. In summer, it mitigates direct solar exposure when temperatures exceed 40°C, while at night, its porous structure absorbs moisture carried by the wind. When warmed by daylight, this absorbed humidity is gradually released, naturally cooling and humidifying the interior air.
The result is an architecture that unites memory and innovation, where vernacular heritage evolves into a contemporary, climate-responsive skin — preserving intimacy, honoring tradition, and enhancing environmental comfort.
