Architects: Sahel AlHiyari Architects
Area: 1,800 m²
Year: 2019
Photography: Pino Musi, Sosthen Hennekam
Lead Architect: Sahel Alhiyari
Project Team: Yazeed Obeid, Ban Kayyali, Nagham Al Bitawi, Mohammad Rasoul, Motaz Alsidawi, Hiba Shahzada, Mais Al Azab, Laith El Essi
Interior Design & Decorative: David/Nicolas
Lighting Design: Corte Gherardi SNC
Landscape Architect: Lara Zureikat
Structural Engineer: Asas Engineering Bureau
MEP Engineer: Scope-MEP Design Studio
Contractor: United Construction Group
Construction Supervisor: Raed Qamhiyeh
City: Amman
Country: Jordan
K. Barghouti House, a residential project designed by Sahel AlHiyari Architects in Amman, Jordan, completed in 2019, integrates with the sloping terrain. The house’s two-part design, connected by a roof, frames views of the hills and separates guest quarters from the main residence. Constructed from thick concrete slabs, the house combines monolithic architecture with a softer finish, created by hand-sanded concrete surfaces.
The Barghouti House is situated in Dabouq, a residential district west of Amman, known for its native oak trees. Over recent decades, the area has seen rapid development, leading to significant environmental harm to one of the few forested regions in Amman.
The site occupies a rectangular plot with a diagonal slope. The building’s footprint is skewed to align with the slope, maximizing the open area free of trees.
The house is divided into two sections, linked by a roof, framing a view of the hills from the entry. This separation fulfills a requirement to divide guest quarters from the main living spaces.
The house spans three floors, each connecting directly to the land or garden. This is achieved by embedding the first two floors into the terrain, adapting to its topography and reducing the perceived scale of the structure.
The entry point is at the highest part of the site, shaped by the L-plan of the upper level. This section is entirely closed, except for the garage and the main entrance, which is carved into the landscape and accessed via stairs. The entry leads to a roof connection open to the sky and offers a framed view of the surrounding landscape.
The house’s massing consists of parallel concrete slabs hovering over a recessed space, which contains windows, planter beds, and circulation paths. This design emphasizes the materiality, creating a monolithic form that contrast with the landscape.
Despite the structure’s severe angularity, the hand-sanded concrete surface introduces a softer, more sculptural quality.
The texture surfaces reference the surrounding landscape and ground, while also aligning with local construction methods reliant on low-tech, skilled craftsmanship.
Project Gallery
Project Location
Address: Dabouq, Amman, Jordan
Location is for general reference and may represent a city or country, not necessarily a precise address.
