BLC Bank Landmark Competition - Click image to enlarge
Project Details:
Y.TOHME/ARCHITECTS & associates
www.yousseftohme.com
BLC BANK-LANDMARK COMPETITION
Design Development Phase, 2010
Location: Lebanon, Mathaf
Project Total Area: 17.000sqm
Type: BLC BANK HEADQUARTERS, Institutional
Architects in Charge: Y.TOHME/ARCHITECTS &associates
Architect: Youssef Tohme
Project Architect: Anastasia Elrouss
Collaborate Architects: Anthony Abou Rejaily, Muhammad Mahdi, and Vart Bisanz.
Consultant Architects: Christophe Hurgon
“WHAT IS THE DEFINITION OF A BANK IN LEBANON? WHAT SHOULD IT REPRESENT? WHAT IS ITS URBAN IMPACT? THIS PROJECT IS SITUATED IN A SUBURBAN ZONE WITHIN A SERIES OF VEHICULAR ARTERIES SIDED WITH BUILT STRUCTURES ON DIFFERENT SCALES.THIS ZONE CAN BECOME A MAIN ARTERY ACQUIRING DIFFERENT INSTITUTIONS, BANKS IN PARTICULAR.WE WANTED TO DEMARCATE THIS TERRITORY BY A TOWER EMBRACING A DUNGEON FORM,RESISTANT AND LUMINOUS.THE TOWER WEARS A DRESS REMINDING US OF THE SKELETAL STRUCTURE OF MEDIEVAL WARRIORS,SOLID AND SHINING.THIS TOWER IS COMPOSED OF MOSAIC GLAZED SKIN REFLECTING THE LIFE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD AROUND IT AND THE PUBLIC SPACES ANIMATED WITHIN THE BUILDING SHOWING THE INTERNAL EXCHANGE IN THE BANK.”
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“A MONUMENTAL GARDEN INTRODUCES US TO THE TOWER ENTRANCE AND EXTENDS TOWARDS THE INTERIOR OF THE VOID WHICH IS ORGANIZING AND REINFORCING THE BANK’S SOCIAL LIFE.THIS GARDEN DEVELOPS ON SEVERAL FLOORS VENTILATING THE SPACES AROUND IT AND OFFERING RELAXATION INSTANCES FOR THE EMPLOYEES.MULTIPLE PUBLIC PLACES AND OFFICES OVERLOOK ON SCATTERED GARDENS.”
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“THE ORGANIZATION AROUND THE VOID OFFERS ALL THE OFFICES A DOUBLE FAÇADE.THIS FAVORS A NATURAL VENTILATION FOR ALL THE SPACES SITUATED ON THE SOUTHERN FAÇADE.FINALLY THE PUBLIC FUNCTIONS SUCH AS THE CAFETERIA,THE RESTAURANTS,THE LOUNGES,THE GYM,THE DAYCARE AND THE LIBRARY ARE LOCATED IN A BUFFER ZONE IN MIDDLE OF THE TOWER UNIFYING ALL THE BANK’S HIERARCHIES .WE FAVOR A TOWER OFFERING AN EXTERNAL FLAMBOYANT IMAGE ALONG WITH A WARM AND SIMPLE INTERNAL SPATIAL ORGANIZATION HIGHLIGHTING THE IMPORTANCE OF THE VOID WHICH BECOMES THE HEART OF THE BANK.”
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What a big piece of junk… yes monumental it is, but where is the substance??
It’s just so bulky!!! and the old building is just standing there as if it does not even exist!!!
Hapsitus project is better and what i call ARCHITECTURE!
I’d go for the Hapsitus one without a second thought!