Articles by Hana Abdel

Ratchaphruek Hospital’s journey began in 1994 as a registered 50-bed facility, earning the trust of the local community for its quality service. As demand grew, the hospital’s executive board embarked on an ambitious project to construct the new Ratchaphruek Hospital, located just one kilometer away from the original site, spanning approximately 4 acres. This expansion led to the new 220-bed hospital that prioritizes creating an environment that calms and heals all its patients and users.

Undone, a name given to this project after its [in]completion, refers to the late-phase decision to stop the work on the building’s facade and finishings. This choice was a reaction to the worsening socio-economic conditions in Iran at that time; beautifying the facade during such challenging circumstances lost its appeal. Consequently, most of the walls are left with rough finishes, a collage of time, revealing layers of renovations carried out by various generations at four distinct points in the building’s history. The resulting aesthetic aligns with an inherent intention deeply embedded within the DNA of this rugged architectural language.

For the second LIGHT-UP COFFEE shop, it was decided to renovate an old auto body shop to serve as a roastery. The first floor serves as a roasting space and cafe, with plenty of space for sitting and enjoying coffee or browsing the beans on display. The second floor of the building is used for packing, shipping, and administration. 

Artyzen Singapore is a culmination of past and present, international and local, low-rise and high-rise – where traditional wisdom in architecture is reinterpreted for a new structure. Inspired by Singapore’s culture, colors, and flavors, Artyzen Singapore is a modern lifestyle hotel for luxury travelers. Conceptualized as an oasis in the city, Artyzen Singapore offers an experience that is deeply ingrained with references to Singapore culture and architecture, its tropical climate, and its lush greenery. It is located along Cuscaden Road in the heart of the city and is just a stone’s throw from the bustling Orchard Road shopping belt, major embassies, and minutes away from Singapore Botanic Gardens, the first UNESCO Heritage Site in the city-state.

“At the touch of love everyone becomes a poet.” Plato 
At the fringes of utopia, time moves at its own languid pace. Butterflies flit through sunbeams, and the air, heavy with the perfume of blossoms, resonates with the gentle hum of life. The chirping of birds harmonizes with the rustling leaves in a natural symphony. Here, a house stands cloaked in vines and vegetation, nestled amidst a tapestry of lush green overgrowth. Sunlight, filtered through the verdant canopy overhead, casts a mesmerizing play of shadows on the façade. As daylight spills through the foliage, it bathes the mansion in a golden glow, revealing its regal allure.

The project is an extension to an existing historic house located in the village of Hamat, at the edge of the historic cape that characterizes the village. The house was built in the early 20th century with local white limestone, surrounded by a fruit orchard and an upper agricultural terrace with unobstructed views to the coastal landscape. Hamat House is about highlighting traditional domestic architecture through a new addition. This traditional architecture took its logic and form from the constraints of building with stone: four cross vaults at the ground level create a big square base with vertical windows and doors that the stone lintels allow. The first floor with load-bearing stone walls and a concrete slab above, again with vertical windows and stone lintels.

Dongbaek Wooden House is located in a residential area developed under the concept of a townhouse in the early days of Korea called Hyangrin Hill in Yongin-si. The land is a condition with a somewhat stepped view and scent open to the south. Since it is a natural green area, despite the area of large land, the floor area of the house that can meet the needs of the owner is not sufficient. The Dongbaek Wooden House tried to fully utilize the structural and material properties of the heavy timber structure.