Linea Horizon

Located high above the colorful Beirut cityscape at raised altitudes, this stunning penthouse designed by Dori Hitti Architects is a masterful translation of minimalist modernity and high luxury. Sonia Purcell takes an exclusive tour.

Balancing the borders of art, architecture, and way of life, this house is an architectural gem with each turn of perfect proportion and meticulously designed. From the pristine interior design to seamless extension onto outdoor verandas, the house takes living in contemporary style to great lengths.

Behind the philosophy of the design is a spirit of minimalism, used, not as blankness, but as an attitude of reveling in the virtues of simplicity, precision, and purpose. Space flow is unrestricted, light, and devoid of excessive embellishment. Surfaces are lean, where an achromatic spectrum of grays, white, and nature-textured surfaces accentuate the beauty qualities of the material itself. This streamlined background is the stage for timeless furniture choices from Interni, Italy, each one chosen not only for its form and functionality, but for its sculptural quality and durability.

Art is the star of this penthouse, with carefully selected pieces serving as focal points and subtle additions throughout the residence. Sculptural heads, dramatic abstract paintings, and unexpected installations are placed with a curator's sensibility, giving the space a gallery-like sophistication. These pieces do more than simply adorn; they tell, challenge, and inspire, transforming the home into not only a dwelling, but a site of expression and cultural contemplation.

Most dramatic, perhaps, is the continuity from indoor to outdoor space. Whether it's the indoor lounge that flows seamlessly onto a panorama terrace or the continuation of texture and material from interior floor to exterior deck, the transition is effortless and natural. The rooftop entertainment area; with cinema wall, custom lighting, and stylish bar installation, is a bold extrapolation of the home's underlying design DNA, marrying comfort to dramatic visual impact.

The refined but restrained materials, stone, brushed metals, luxurious fabrics, and polished concrete, are used with deliberate restraint, highlighting the penthouse's sensual sophistication. Lighting plays its part as well, with built-ins that project clean lines and highlight textures without overwhelming the space. Every beam and glimmer is felt to be deliberate, contributing to the home's subtle luxury.

At the heart of Dori Hitti Architects' philosophy is that luxury need not be excessive but experiential, and that it is in the experience, the quality, and authenticity. That's precisely what that penthouse conveys. From the vertical linear accent of the suspended staircase to the zenith infinity-edge water feature with its vista over the port of Beirut, every detail is a lesson in balance, between simplicity and complication, openness and seclusion, function and beauty.

Essentially, this penthouse is not just a house, it's a refined refuge in the city of Beirut. It's proof of the mission of an architecture company that regards building design as a mental and emotional exercise. By the convergence of globally procured furniture, meticulously chosen artwork, understated design language, and fluid indoor-outdoor links, Dori Hitti Architects has created a house that's visually stimulating and strongly lived in, a true architectural gem in Lebanon's capital cityscape.

www.dorihitti.com