Nestled in the lush green landscapes of Al-Salt, a city known for its natural beauty and distinctive views, this project is located on a 5,000 sqm plot situated between dense forests and overlooking breathtaking green mountains dotted with Roman olive trees, cypress, and oak. One of the most unique features of the site is the horse stable located directly opposite the land. In the early morning, you can hear the gentle neighing of the horses while enjoying your coffee by the pool.
The total built-up area of the project is 800 sqm, and it was designed to fully embrace the view of the surrounding mountains. During our very first meeting with the client, his only request was to feel immersed in nature through the design. He emphasized that every room and space should have direct views of both the pool and the stunning mountainous landscape.
To achieve this vision, we sculpted the project into the terrain itself—so much so that we retained and built upon an existing retaining wall on-site, using it as a base reference for the entire design. Every room was given a panoramic façade, and the outdoor pool was placed at the highest level to reveal the full mountain view, appearing almost suspended from the hill.
Design Concept:
The architectural concept is formed of two main materials:
- Rustic Travertine Stone (Yellowish Tone): Used for the ground floor, inspired by the city’s heritage as Al-Salt is traditionally known for its yellow stone buildings. This material harmonizes beautifully with the green surroundings and adds a sense of rooted authenticity.
- Smooth White Stone: Used to sculpt the first-floor mass, adding a modern touch to the design and emphasizing the cubic form in its purest expression. This approach blends heritage with modernity, creating a bold and well-balanced statement.
Ground Floor Layout:
The ground floor consists of three main zones:
1. The Main Living Area:
- A panoramic living room with a modern mini kitchen, designed to overlook both the pool and the mountains.
- A large dining table that influenced the design of the ceiling and furniture layout.
- Carefully studied lighting design with distinct lighting concepts and fixtures for each zone.
- A bold and unique main entrance in a contrasting color palette.
- A distribution core including an elevator, stairs, small bedrooms, a maid’s room, and a storage space.
- Hidden behind the cladded main wall of the living room is a corridor leading to a WC, laundry, and dirty kitchen.
2. The Youth Activity Room:
- This secondary mass includes a fully panoramic room with seating, a billiards area, video game corner, bedroom, and private WC.
- Despite its small size, the bedroom has a direct view onto a beautiful terrace, framing the breathtaking mountain landscape.
3. The Indoor-Outdoor Pool Area:
- Positioned between the two main masses of the ground floor, the pool has both indoor and outdoor sections, considering the region’s cool and rainy climate.
- The indoor section is enclosed with rustic yellow travertine stone, under the first-floor mass, creating the feeling of swimming inside a natural cave.
- A panoramic façade offers open views of the rest of the pool and the mountains, enhancing the relaxing ambiance.
- Includes a jacuzzi, private pool bathroom, and outdoor shower.
A long structural wall was added along the pool for three primary reasons:
- To ensure privacy from the adjacent mass.
- To act as a windbreaker against strong gusts from that direction.
- To serve as a retaining wall for the upper structure.
This wall also created a semi-covered, shaded space between it and the second mass, ending with a cozy Moroccan seating area centered around a fireplace. For a touch of playfulness true to the designer's spirit, we added a swing in that space.
