an architecture practice led by Walid Zeidan based in Lebanon, whose work spans several countries & varies from luxury towers, private residences, interiors to object design. Recent success stories include the launch of the Okhtein Flagship store in Cairo Egypt and featured in Forbes Magazine and Vogue Italia. Wz Architects architecture firm has projects in Lebanon, Cairo and Saudi Arabia as well as most the MENA region. At WZ Architects we believe it is the uniqueness of each individual that forms WZ architects, just like each element in our designs has its own identity. We inspire each other and together drive the direction and approach to our work.
The scheme yields to the highly functional aspect of the warehouse by letting the vehicle path and turning radii carve its mass and produce a volume that maximizes size without losing efficiency. The office block acknowledges the importance of uninterrupted flow & sits atop the warehouse cantilevering above the access and creating a grand gate for the ubiquitous delivery truck. It is composed of three blocks stacked to pay homage to the storage function below. The building implies motion and surveillance. The volumes shift indicating a clear direction, the windows edges taper to suggest speed, and the triple height columns propping up the management volume slant in different directions bracing the structure and defining a passageway below that guides and protects pedestrians from the incessant flow of trucks.
The edges of the three stacked cubes of varying height and length are black to clearly show they are sections of a larger whole truncated to allow light, air, and grey matter to funnel through. All apertures in the pristine white skin of the office block are highlighted with a solid black edge conjuring a new form of Panopticism. The building is designed to unambiguously communicate efficiency, control & manifest destiny.
İeva Saudargaitė
Bernard Mallat, Walid Zeidan, Louis El Khoury, Tamer-Georges Musharbesh, Mahmoud Charif, Hammoud Badran