MONOLITH

MONOLITH THE HOME COMPETITION

Project by Karim Khayati The Home Competition 2022 Location - United Arab Emirates & Oman Duration - 2 months Softwares - Rhino 3D, Maya, Photoshop, Illustrator, CAD Mountain Architecture

CONCEPT

Monolith is a proposal that combines traditional middle-eastern courtyard architecture with Peter Zumthor’s idea of mountain living in Vals. The concept is an exploration that suggests a new approach to mountain living in a dry and hot climate; a design that promotes natural light, ventilation, and access to the outside and nature. The house is an architectural monolith, a single artefact inserted in a natural setting. Courtyards are compositionally voided out of the massing; creating a sense of familiarity and belonging between the mountain, the architecture, and the users. The proposed project is a vertical courtyard home buried inside Al Hajar mountains located on the border between Oman and the United Arab Emirates.

The main façade proposes an interplay of square, rectangular, and arch openings which suggest programmatic and sustainable strategies. Small

window clusters minimize the infiltration of direct sunlight, therefore reducing the heat gain within interior spaces. The windows also give a glimpse of the exterior environment, allowing the users to see the outside through multiple frames.

In addition to its conceptual and technical aspects, the house offers spaces such as:

Indoor and outdoor living rooms (1), a semi-outdoor swimming pool (2), a hammam (3), a small cinema (4), a workspace (5), a kitchen (6), four master bedrooms (7), two guest bedrooms (8), and outdoor terraces (9).

The Monolith is a machine, a home curated for post-pandemic living.

3D DRAWINGS & DIAGRAMS