Olympea: A Harmonious Blend of Architecture and Nature

Designing a Luxurious Villa Embedded in the Heart of Lebanon's Mountains

Harb's inspiration for Olympea came from his first visit to the site. The breathtaking beauty of the mountainous landscape sparked a desire to create a design that would have minimal impact on the existing environment. This led to the decision to embed the structure into the mountain, preserving the natural surroundings.

The unique properties of Olympea lie in its composition. Two interacting L-shaped structures form the villa, creating an internal green patio that is visible from anywhere in the house. This design eliminates the need for corridors, optimizing space usage. At the heart of the project is a Cedar tree, the emblem of Lebanon, placed in the internal patio.

The villa is realized using natural stone, low emission glass, and black steel for the pergolas and fireplaces. The ground floor has an indoor built area of 600m2 and a terrace of 150m2, while the two basements underneath have a built area of 700m2 and a garden of 300m2. This generous interior space distribution, coupled with luxurious views and high-quality construction materials, offers unparalleled comfort.

Efficient heating and cooling systems, such as heated flooring and low emission glass, allow for heat exchange between the ground and the rest of the space. The project, which started in April 2016, is expected to finish in October 2018. The design team includes architects Yanna Haddad, Josep Alcover, and Ji won jun, all working under the guidance of Joy Alexandre Harb.

The most significant challenge faced during the design process was executing the project with minimal impact on the existing land. The solution was to embed the basement floors into the mountain, merging the building with its surroundings. This design not only preserved the natural landscape but also created a unique architectural feature that sets Olympea apart.

In recognition of its innovative design and harmonious integration with nature, Olympea was awarded the Golden A' Architecture, Building and Structure Design Award in 2018. This prestigious award is granted to outstanding creations that reflect the designer's wisdom, embody extraordinary excellence, and significantly impact the world with their desirable characteristics.