Spain and Kuwait-based AGi Architects have designed three seafront houses in Kuwait for three siblings and their families (photos by Nelson Garrido).
The S Cube Chalet comprises three small houses connected by walkways and a central staircase, each with private terraces overlooking the sea.
Two of the houses are mirror images of each other and are separated by the staircase, which leads up to the third house on the upper level.
The buildings have been situated to limit their exposure to the sun on the south facade and increase shaded space on the north side which looks out to sea.
The floors, stairs and a dividing wall between two of the houses are clad with Indian sandstone.
Photographs are by Nelson Garrido.
Here's some more information from the architects:
S Cube family chalet is made up of three intertwined beach houses. The owners - two brothers and their sister each with their own families - want to continue enjoying the same exceptional environment in which they grew up, but with complete independency and privacy from each other.
For these reasons, the design of these three small houses calls for a duplicated programme that maintains privacy while benefiting from outdoor areas and sea views by the use of several terraces.
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Architectural solutions proposed by AGi
In order to create private and independent houses for each family - comprising three young couples with two small children each - AGi architects have divided the plot into two units composed of two houses that are mirror images of each other, named S2 and S3. These units are separated by a staircase leading towards the third house, located at the higher level. The third house is positioned on top and across from the two residences, enjoying a large roof terrace with direct views towards the sea. Each of the three houses enjoys an individual outdoor area that is open to the sky, privacy from its neighbor, and extended sea views.
The highly dense programme in the intertwined houses is manipulated to create outdoor spaces which harvest the prevailing winds and enhance their circulation within the courtyards, allowing people to comfortably reside in them. The building is carefully situated to protect its exposure to the sun on the southern façade, whilst increasing shaded space on the northern side to frame views out to the sea as well as create a pleasant outdoor environment.
The outdoor spaces on the ground floor and the roof terrace of the third house on the upper level are the main distinguishing elements and spaces of this project; from which the three houses are organized around them. They are beach houses designed to optimize and enhance the outdoor experience.
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Programme
S Cube chalet is developed into three levels:
S2 and S3 houses comprise mirrored programmes, occupying two levels:
Ground floor: Main bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, living room and a large courtyard open to the sea.
First floor: Two bedrooms, bathroom and a terrace with side views to the sea, designed as a playing area for children.
The terraces of both houses are visually separated by a grid.
S1 house is developed in two separate levels:
First floor: Main bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, living room, and a terrace connected to the S3 terrace.
Second floor: Two bedrooms, bathroom and a large terrace facing the sea.
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Materials
The flooring, stairs and dividing wall between S1 and S2 are all are clad using Indian sandstone. Interior walls and ceilings are finished using plaster and paint, while handrails are cladded with wood.
The interiors have been designed by AGi architects. All materials used in the S Cube project are locally manufactured. The loose furniture produced by Spanish brands, supplied by Gunni & Trentino.
Design Team: Joaquin Pérez-Goicoechea, Nasser B. Abulhasan, Salvador Cejudo
Architectural team: Robert A. Varghese, Abdul Hafiz, Mohammed Mónica Marqués, José Á ngel del Campo
Project Name: S Cube Chalet
Type: Residential 750 m2
Location: Kuwait
Date: 2007-2011