< Previous70 HarpersBazaarArabia.com/Culture Autumn 2021 The FEATURE A combination of Crema Uno and Armani grey marble are used for the fl ooring of the entrance, complemented with indirect lighting HBI_050_64-73_FEATURES_XBD_11678731.indd 7030/09/2021 02:01:27 PM71 HarpersBazaarArabia.com/Culture Autumn 2021 “O U R M A I N D E S I G N P H I L OS O P H Y W A S T O C R E A T E T H E AT M O S P H E R E FO R C O M F O R T A N D L U X U R Y AT T H E S A ME T I ME ” Custom pool table and bar, located in the entertainment room of the home xxxxxx Pearl-white grand piano, with a glimpse of the book-matched, Orobico-grey marble centre bar located in the formal living area HBI_050_64-73_FEATURES_XBD_11678731.indd 7127/09/2021 03:08:24 PMOrobico grey marble centre bar with an incredibly detailed Élitis wallpaper, although it is the other corner that captured Ellen’s heart. “If you look at the piano from the front you can see the black-and-white wall wraps around behind it to mimic its keys. The piano was imitated in the ambience with wallpaper and feature lighting. It is one of my favourite elements.” The sprawling villa is astonishing enough by day, but dusk is when it truly comes alive. “At night the villa has a serene look and feel about it. Very open, very calming and there is a very natural fl ow between the spaces,” says Ellen. “Using indirect lighting techniques such as inward lighting for all the joinery features adds to the ambience.” While having a vision is the fi rst step in any successful project, turning that vision into an exquisite 1,350 square-metre reality takes one element that money can’t buy: Trust. In this case, the Shahdadpuri family’s trust in XBD Collective. “They knew what they wanted. Trust is not always easy. They were amazing.” xbdesign.com A tailor-made lighting piece shines at the top of the Crema Uno marble staircase leading to the fi rst fl oor Vibia lighting over a Cattalan centre table, with book-matched Orobico grey and Crema Uno marble fl ooring The FEATURE Cassoni coffee tables add depth to the family living space 72 HarpersBazaarArabia.com/Culture Autumn 2021 HBI_050_64-73_FEATURES_XBD_11678731.indd 7230/09/2021 02:01:37 PMInward lighting techniques are used for the joinery of the master dressing console to add to the luxe, relaxed ambience 73 HarpersBazaarArabia.com/Culture Autumn 2021 HBI_050_64-73_FEATURES_XBD_11678731.indd 7330/09/2021 02:01:51 PM74 HarpersBazaarArabia.com/Culture Autumn 2021 MO U N T A I N Retreat Dotted with ancient rock formations, musician-turned-architect Carl Gerges’ newest project in the serene village of Bhamdoun has merged the inside with its hilly surroundings, fi nds Cynthia Jreige HBI_050_74-79_FEATURES_Carl Gerges_11674002.indd 7427/09/2021 03:12:23 PM75 HarpersBazaarArabia.com/Culture Autumn 2021 The FEATURE Upon entering this seemingly arid stone monolith, sunlight unexpectedly fl ows into a cosy cavern housing a living room and kitchen. Earth-coloured walls border pivoting glass panels, which slide open, instantly merging the indoor with the outdoor HBI_050_74-79_FEATURES_Carl Gerges_11674002.indd 7527/09/2021 03:12:35 PM76 HarpersBazaarArabia.com/Culture Autumn 2021 The FEATURE dreamy sight of a minimalistic villa nestled in an arid landscape was the public’s fi rst introduction to Carl Gerges’ talent. The Lebanese architect, who primarily found success with his band Mashrou’ Leila, unveiled Villa Chams in March 2020 — a project that alone propelled him to the front stage and cleared doubts about his career shift that, in fact, wasn’t really a shift per se. After thirteen years of uninterrupted musical success, Carl decided to embrace another side of his artistry. The Cana Guesthouse in Bhamdoun, a village laying in the mountains above Beirut, is the latest testimony of the architect’s talent. Built as an extension of the surrounding mountains framing its structure, the guesthouse combines the preservation of the site’s heritage and an utterly modern use of material that characterises Carl’s aesthetic imprint. Drawing since he was only six years old with a passion for Lego and small-scaled models, Carl owes a lot of his sharp designer’s eye to Paris, a city where he used to spend most of his summers. “I was fascinated by the industrial era of the mid to late 19th century,” he explains. “The scale of the edifi ces that were built, the precision of the technical drawings and the attention to detail.” It was only years later while attending the American University of Beirut that the architect’s second passion, music, unexpectedly took over his life to slowly turn into a full-time career. While in college, Carl met the other founding members of Mashrou’ Leila (Arabic for ‘one night’s project’) not guessing that they would eventually fi nd international success and be invited to play on major stages across the world. Even after launching the eponymous Carl Gerges The talented musician-turned-architect of Cana Guesthouse, Carl Gerges An exterior front of the Cana Guesthouse designed by Carl Gerges Architects Stunning nature views from the Cana Guesthouse HBI_050_74-79_FEATURES_Carl Gerges_11674002.indd 7627/09/2021 03:12:42 PM The FEATURE 77 HarpersBazaarArabia.com/Culture Autumn 2021 A secluded circular fi re pit sits at the foot of the massive rocky formation. This pleasantly sombre and lunar refuge makes way for spiritually stimulating celebrations under a vast starry sky HBI_050_74-79_FEATURES_Carl Gerges_11674002.indd 7727/09/2021 03:13:05 PM78 HarpersBazaarArabia.com/Culture Autumn 2021 CREDIT HERE Architects studio in 2020, music still remains an integral part of his practice. “Architecture and music have always been connected,” expresses Carl. “Based on rhythm, proportion and harmony, they share a code that many architects and composers studied and experimented with.” The Cana Guesthouse was a love-at-fi rst-sight project for Carl who defi nes the then fertile 80-acres vineyard as a perfect combination of inspiring elements, featuring, “Colossal rock formations that withstood erosion throughout the millennia, ancient Phoenician tombs and enchanting views on the Lamartine valley.” With the use of yellow and grey limestone sourced directly from the site, Carl emphasises on the importance for Lebanon to try and focus on local resources after Beirut’s huge blast and the unprecedented economic collapse, which made it impossible to afford imported goods and construction materials. Effortlessly blending in with its surroundings, the structure’s interior presents earth-toned tadelakt walls, cast-in-place concrete ceilings and reclaimed timber beams, creating a warm and inviting space that proposes, “An unexpected shift in spatial character from the hardness of the exterior shell.” Voluptuous yet raw, Carl imposes his signature, defi ning his aesthetic one project at a time. After winning the Best Young Practices of 2020 by ArchDaily and celebrating many other recognitions, Carl’s studio has plans in New York, Lagos, Riyadh, Paris and Beirut for the near future. A believer in collaborations, the architect is looking to join forces with local and international industry leaders. Well on his way to conquer the architecture world, Carl ultimately wishes, “To impact people’s lives on a sensual, practical and emotional level.” Mission accomplished. carlgerges.com IMAGES COUR TESY OF CARL GERGES ARCHITECTS With a rustic look and a conveniently functional size, the kitchen invites warm and intimate gatherings around the thick slab of eucalyptus wood HBI_050_74-79_FEATURES_Carl Gerges_11674002.indd 7827/09/2021 03:13:18 PM79 HarpersBazaarArabia.com/Culture Autumn 2021 The FEATURE Wandering along, one is greeted with a sunny and generously green space. Pure slabs accented with niches and lush plants are embraced by laurel-green Tadelakt walls, orchestrating a sensual experience of bathing outdoors HBI_050_74-79_FEATURES_Carl Gerges_11674002.indd 7927/09/2021 03:13:32 PMNext >