Cubist Blue-Lit "Narrow House"
Written by Jennifer Heyns
So many apt adages come to mind when viewing this house: life imitates art, people in glass houses...
This truly unique dwelling is the first to be designed by up-and-coming Egyptian-born architect Bassam El-Okeily. With space being a premium, El-Okeily had the challenge of turning a narrow home into something comfortable, as well as spectacular.
The view of the home’s exterior, especially at night, tells a great story. To give the homeowners a panoramic view of their surroundings, the house was enclosed by a glass front façade, which proves to be the perfect inspiration for the home’s owners.
Inner balconies are designed to loom over each floor of the house, looking out onto the Belgian neighborhood. Not only is it truly unique to have an indoor balcony that makes you feel like you’re suspended over the street, but the shape of the loggias is definitely not your average box. Both galleries have a level floor and 90-degree surrounding half-walls. Yet from the outside, it appears that they are warped, misshapen and hanging at a dangerous slant.
Singular in one other aspect, each balcony is a creative nook designed specifically for one of the homeowners. The lower balcony contains a reading library and semi-private sitting area where the master of the house can unwind. The upper gallery, however, is an open-view art studio where the mistress can practice her craft.
Unique in both style and function, the home is further intriguing by the night view. A blue light illuminates, shadowing the façade and allowing passersby to almost see into the narrow house. The nontraditional lines made by the floors and balconies in the home set an odd cubist view of the home’s interior. Add to that the silhouette of an artist at work or a figure reading, and the house becomes a work of art itself, resembling a modern-day Picasso.
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