Hai Dimashek Mixed-Use Building

A study in proportion and composition.

Inspired by the geometric compositions of Piet Mondrian, the building translates the relationship between vertical lines, horizontal divisions, and rectangular planes into architectural form.

Rather than reproducing the painter’s primary colors, the design uses a restrained palette of white surfaces, dark recesses, and glazing. Projecting façade panels, narrow vertical openings, and carefully positioned solid volumes create depth and rhythm across the elevations.

The result is a contemporary commercial building whose character comes from proportion, contrast, and the arrangement of simple geometric elements rather than applied ornament.

Process

The project occupies a prominent position on the main street in Hai Dimashek, near the Rixos roundabout in Tripoli.

Its six levels combine an underground floor with five floors above ground. Retail occupies the street-facing ground level, establishing a direct relationship with pedestrians and passing traffic, while the upper levels accommodate offices.

The façade was developed as a composition of overlapping rectangular planes. White vertical elements establish the building’s proportions, while dark recessed glazing separates the volumes and gives the elevations depth.

Rounded corners soften the transitions between selected façade planes, preventing the composition from becoming rigid. The ground floor is more transparent to support its commercial use, while the office levels maintain a more controlled balance of solid surfaces and windows.

The architectural expression is deliberately limited to a few materials and geometric operations, allowing the building to establish a distinct identity without excessive formal complexity.