
- Project: Tahan Villa
- Architect: BLANKPAGE Architects
- Location: Lebanon, Kfour
- Year: 2022
- Area: 865 m2
- Photography: Ieva Saudargaité
Tahan Villa by Blankpage Architects redefines the relationship between architecture and landscape in Kfour, Lebanon. This 9,310-square-foot contemporary residence commands breathtaking views of the Bay of Jounieh, with every design move crafted to frame and enhance this exceptional panorama.
Architecture Rooted in the Landscape
Blankpage Architects conceived the villa as a visual extension of its mountainous context. Drawing inspiration from the rugged Lebanese terrain, the home takes the form of a floating prismatic stone volume set atop a transparent base. The structure appears to rise organically from the slope, echoing the geological layers of the site and offering uninterrupted sightlines toward the sea.
A Dialogue Between Solidity and Lightness
The villa’s defining feature is a horizontal volume clad in sliding stone panels. These textured surfaces recall the rocky landscape while also acting as dynamic shading devices, filtering sunlight into the private areas. The mass rests on a transparent glass box formed by terraced platforms that adapt fluidly to the site’s topography.
This lower level transitions from a stepped pathway at street level into a reception area, merging landscape with architecture. The result is an interplay between weight and levity, opacity and transparency, anchored in contextual sensitivity.
A Modern Reinterpretation of Lebanese Vernacular
At the rooftop, a light steel pergola topped with terra-cotta louvers shelters a painting studio, surrounded by a spacious roof terrace. This element pays subtle homage to the region’s architectural vernacular, particularly the red-tiled roofs of traditional Lebanese homes.
The final form—a massive stone box over glass, capped by a red latticework roof—offers a bold reinterpretation of the Lebanese village house. While maintaining essential cultural elements, the design radically opens the structure to its surroundings, celebrating light, air, and landscape.
A Visual and Experiential Masterpiece
With photography by Ieva Saudargaité, Tahan Villa is more than a home—it is a sculptural object in the landscape, an experiential retreat that harmonizes mass and void, tradition and modernity. Through thoughtful material choices and an architectural language rooted in place, Blankpage Architects have created a residence that is both bold and serene, innovative and grounded.
