In 2010, and after 15 long years in a rented space, we decided to move our BATIMAT offices to a space of our own. The new location in Achrafieh is accessible from street level, and is spread on multiple levels. Having a longitudinal proportion and natural light only from the narrow ends did not make the decision making process so direct.

All design decisions stemmed from the need to optimize the access to and infiltration of natural light. Whether management spaces or administrative functions, they all integrate connections or surfaces allowing light to filter through.

The main hall is cut off from street level for privacy by a steel door/partition, but is completely flooded with light by a 10sqm upper window. It houses a solid volume with a senior management office on top, while the lower level is occupied by administration. The space terminates with a generous and illuminated double height conference room. This 4.5m high space offers all the privacy needed to each of the functions while allowing natural light to communicate from one end to the other.

A side stairs leads up to a second space where secondary work spaces are located, topped by a service/archiving mezzanine. Natural light is filtered here through three semi transparent partitions, the first of which conceals a managerial office, while the last houses the server room, and in between a long work table seating six.

The most generous open space is allocated to the main working hall, where a central table is home to a dozen stations supported by two additional independent workstations; services (toilets and kitchen) are located in the back. Open to the common building garden, the space is well lit and it benefits from 4m in clear internal height.

The conception of stairs connecting the different levels together, reflects the functions they serve. The steel stairs leading to senior managerial office is suspended from the ceiling. The wood shelving unit becomes stairs leading to the secondary work space, while a cast in situ, well defined, mine-like staircase drops from the arrival level to the main work space.

The details developed for the project serve to clearly define surfaces, which react to natural and carefully located lighting fixtures, be it a horizontal groove/shadow gap between walls and floors, or a special detailing for the walnut wood  elements, they constitute a single entity, crisply visible, clearly defined and simply designed.