The exterior shot of the house showcases the unique seamless box-like structure with a white paint finish, highlighting the distinctive architectural design.

Architect: Studio Toggle
Location: Al Salaam, Kuwait
Year of completion: 2014
Typology: Private Villa
Team: Hend Almatrouk, Gijo Paul George
Photography credit: Gijo Paul George 

The shot of the front facade of the house captures the warm and inviting ambiance created by the yellow lights, adding a cozy and welcoming touch to the elegant design.
The shot of the front facade of the house captures the warm and inviting ambiance created by the yellow lights, adding a cozy and welcoming touch to the elegant design.
The exterior shot of the Lantern House showcases the beautiful date trees in front of the fence.
The exterior shot of the Lantern House showcases the beautiful date trees in front of the fence.
The detailed shot of the Lantern House exterior highlights the blue-tiled in-ground pool, adding a serene and inviting element to the stunning design.
The detailed shot of the Lantern House exterior highlights the blue-tiled in-ground pool, adding a serene and inviting element to the stunning design.
The close-up shot of the staircase showcases the elegant stair lighting guide, which adds both style and safety to the sleek and modern design.
The close-up shot of the staircase showcases the elegant stair lighting guide, which adds both style and safety to the sleek and modern design.
The interior shot shows a rustic wooden kitchen island with dichromatic brown and white colors in the kitchen section.
The interior shot shows a rustic wooden kitchen island with dichromatic brown and white colors in the kitchen section.
The interior shot shows a narrow white area downstairs with a blurred human image.
The interior shot shows a narrow white area downstairs with a blurred human image.
The lantern house's front facade at night, with light rail effects, is stunning.
The lantern house’s front facade at night, with light rail effects, is stunning.
Pool shade Illustration
Pool shade Illustration
Ground floor plan of Lantern House
Ground floor plan of Lantern House

 

 

Studio Toggle Architects were commissioned to create a total redesign for an about-to-be-constructed private residence, for which planning permissions were already obtained. Rather than starting from scratch, which meant huge delays and cost overruns, we proposed a series of measured modifications, through which we achieved the goals of a completely new design, at the same time staying within the limits of the already obtained planning permits.

The house occupies a corner plot in Al Salaam, which is more or less a newly developed residential area in Kuwait. Need for a balance between privacy and openness informed the design and so did climatic and environmental concerns. The swimming pool takes the center stage and the house wraps around and opens up into it.

The large glazed walls of the ground floor create a seamless effect between the ground floor spaces and the pool. The upper floor is slightly cantilevered to form overhangs above the glazed walls, minimizing the heat gain. This arrangement is reminiscent of the traditional courtyard houses which utilized a water feature to cool the passive air through evaporation. 

The simple white massing of the house is strategically ordered for optimum shading as well as reflection of the harsh desert sun. The two cantilevered square windows offer wrap around views as well acting as a cozy alcove floating above the pool. 

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