Location
Batroun Hills, Lebanon
Year
2025
Type
Conceptual Project
Set within the terraced hills overlooking Batroun, The Olive Grove Retreat is conceived as an eco-boutique hotel that blurs the boundary between architecture and landscape. The project is rooted in its Mediterranean context, drawing from the quiet presence of ancient olive groves and the slow rhythm of coastal life. The architectural concept is based on low-impact, landscape-driven design. Rather than imposing a dominant object, the retreat is organized as a collection of modest, single-storey bungalow units arranged around a central courtyard. This shared heart is defined by a shallow reflective pool and a circular wooden island that preserves an existing olive tree, turning nature into the project’s spatial and emotional anchor. The organization follows a courtyard logic, where built volumes frame open space, creating a balance between privacy and collective experience. The bungalow units are positioned to maximize views, natural ventilation, and daylight, while maintaining a close relationship with the surrounding terrain. Curved pedestrian paths weave through the site, reinforcing a slow and immersive approach to movement. Materiality plays a key role in reinforcing the project’s biophilic character. Limestone, natural wood, and water are used as primary elements, allowing the architecture to age gracefully and blend with its environment. Shaded terraces, louvered outdoor spaces, and reflective surfaces enhance thermal comfort while creating subtle transitions between interior and exterior. The retreat is envisioned as a place of quiet luxury, where architecture recedes to allow nature to take precedence. Through its restrained language and careful integration into the olive grove, the project seeks to offer an experience defined not by spectacle, but by stillness, tactility, and a deep connection to the Mediterranean landscape.




