Project Name: Pied-à-terre
Year of Completion: June 2023
Build Area in sqm: 45 sqm space/ 25 sqm Terrace
Project Photographer: Walid Rashid @walidrsd
Design & Execution: StudioBo
Pied-à-terre is a six-by-six-meter studio, located in the center of Beirut, made to be as pure as possible. In our busy world, filled with noise, distractions, and endless stimulation, there's a constant need for quiet, for a place to find peace. Translating to "feet on the ground," Pied-à-terre was built atop a building, providing the client a space to relax. A space to find silence.
In programming the space, we mimicked the idea of silence versus clutter. On the inside, clear lines and surfaces were achieved by embedding major functions and applying a monochromatic texture. On the outside, the entrance is made of hidden cabinetry that holds the necessary appliances in a person’s life, which usually create disorder.
The small house’s architecture follows the sun's path. The sleeping area, sunken and terrace adjacent, enables the client to rest in indirect sunlight while waking up to a panoramic view of the city. Moreover, the slanted roofline’s directionality was intentionally designed to allow efficient use of solar panels, powering this off-grid unit.
As the space gently slopes from the terrace to the entrance, it forms a unified sleeping and seating area with filtered edges and a concrete finish, contrasted with natural walnut pieces such as the Pigeonnière table and the Port-vin wine bar, both made by StudioBo.
Materials: The kitchenette combines natural fluted walnut wood with a grey terrazzo countertop. The kitchenette provides essential amenities such as a cooktop, sink, bin area, fridge, and a convenient slide-out cutting area. The concrete finish of the studio space continues to the bathroom, which has a rain shower and a sliding glass door.
Furniture Pieces:
Pellucid Mirror: StudioBO (Beirut)
Pigeonnière Walnut Table: StudioBo (Beirut)
Port-vin, Wine Bar: StudioBo (Beirut)
Wall Light: Studio Bazazo (Beirut)
Carpet: Iwan Maktabi (Beirut)
Bedside lamp: Ingo Maurer