Interdesign
1975-1997
Khalil and Georges Khoury
The Interdesign furniture showroom in Wardieh, Hamra, is a brutalist building that gives the impression of a vertical spaceship with an odd sharply pointed roof. What seems to be an aggressive urban gesture in fair-faced concrete, is tempered by the serenity of the white walls inside. The layout is a play of levels cascading around the circulation core, with voids between the platforms at full height. The efficient spatial device allows to appreciate vistas from various angles, namely side views onto the armchairs, tables and other furniture. Natural light is controlled by a curtain-wall facing north, while on the east side beveled walls filter light in. Construction had started in 1975 and was interrupted many times due to the war until it was completed in 1997.
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