FK HOUSE

FK HOUSE IS A RESTORED STONE RESIDENCE DATING FROM THE TURN OF THE 20TH CENTURY, SITUATED ON A TERRACED PLOT IN EBEL EL SAQI. THE ORIGINAL STRUCTURE IS PRESERVED IN ITS SIMPLE RECTANGULAR FORM, WITH A CENTRAL GREAT HALL AND A MEZZANINE ABOVE THE KITCHEN. A NEW STAIRWAY, CARVED INTO THE FLOOR OF THE EXISTING HOUSE, LEADS TO A MODERN CONCRETE VOLUME THAT HOUSES THE PRIVATE FUNCTIONS, SUCH AS BEDROOMS AND SUPPORT SPACES.

THE DESIGN STRIKES A HARMONIOUS BALANCE BETWEEN THE OLD AND THE NEW. THE ORIGINAL STONE HOUSE IS CELEBRATED WITH A CENTRAL RECEPTION AREA, AN OPEN KITCHEN, AND A DOUBLE-HEIGHT CEILING TOPPED WITH CLERESTORY LIGHTING. A NEW CONCRETE VOLUME, SUBTLY INTEGRATED INTO THE LANDSCAPE, OFFERS PRIVATE, INTIMATE SPACES WITHOUT OVERSHADOWING THE ORIGINAL STRUCTURE. A WOODEN TERRACE ABOVE THE CONCRETE VOLUME EXTENDS THE MAIN LIVING AREA OUTDOORS, WITH A VINE-COVERED SITTING AREA OVERLOOKING THE POOL.

THIS INTERVENTION MAINTAINS THE INTEGRITY OF THE ORIGINAL HOUSE WHILE DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN THE HISTORIC AND MODERN ELEMENTS. THE CLERESTORY ALLOWS LIGHT TO FLOOD THE SPACE BY DAY AND CREATES A WELCOMING GLOW AT NIGHT, BLENDING BOTH THE OLD CHARACTER AND THE NEW ADDITIONS SEAMLESSLY INTO THE LANDSCAPE.