area 120 | Beirut

architect: SOMA

location: Beirut, Lebanon

year: 2010

Koukjian is a jewelry store in central Beirut. The existing site was long and narrow, so taking advantage of these conditions, we created on elongated central linear space. Reflecting the use of the space, a jewelry store, we wanted to create an interior space reminiscent of a jewelry box. The walls are wrapped in vertical Corian strips designed using parametric software to create a jagged surface along the walls – like a jewel. Lights are placed between the strips to enhance their verticality, while the actual display cases are housed in rotating panels which can be completely hidden.