Holcom HQ

A new landmark in Beirut: a powerful identity based on open interaction between cultures and between modernity and tradition.

Holcom HQ is a wonderful success story of brilliant, youthful Italian enterprise abroad. A tale of Italian design of the utmost excellence hinging around a major project in a particularly interesting location. The building is a pulsating architectural system bringing together people, processes, a mission, values and dreams in a highly distinctive and representative place, all meticulously designed in every detail, functional and beautiful to live in. The Holcom offices project has once again made Lombardini22 one of the finalists in the MIPIM awards scheduled to take place in Cannes from 15th-18th March 2016. First created in 1991, the MIPIM Awards are a prestigious competition held at the internationally renowned MIPIM real estate exhibition.
The project successfully brings together two brands belonging to the Lombardini22 Group: L22, in charge of the architectural design and art direction, and DEGW, a leading firm in strategic consultancy about work methods and the interaction between physical space and corporate performance, that handled the space planning and interior design.

A latest generation office building in a special setting. Located in a privileged position offering views across downtown Beirut on one side and the highlands around the city on the other, Holcom HQ projects a solid image of a major company, which has decided to group together its various enterprises in one single distinctive location.
The building joins together companies, people and cultures: it is an authentic linchpin of intercultural values, bringing together the cutting-edge sustainable Western approach to office building design, the clever use of local materials, Italian design values and Mediterranean culture, in one exemplary mix.

The building, constructed on a quadrangular base with an oblique side that fits neatly into the sloping ground, extends over seven levels above ground with 35,000 m² of surface area and houses numerous companies and sub-holdings belonging to Holcom. The main building structure is composed of two large separate blocks connected together by a carefully setback central structure based around an interplay of intricate structures allowing a diversified layout of functions and spaces. The ground floor entrance on the north-east side leads to a large hall providing access to a semi-open area with pools of water surrounding a coffee bar. Up above a first level of parking facilities, the building is divided into three parts on the third floor: a central area set back in a connecting wing to create two spacious tree-lined terraces, while at each end two office blocks with interior patios allow natural light and air to flow in. Finally, the top floor of the main structures accommodates two penthouses serving executive and training purposes for the organisation, which interact through a spacious terrace covered by a steel structure supporting photovoltaic panels.

On the west side there is a reinforced concrete outside staircase with overhanging steps cuts diagonally across the façade that is clad with sheet metal and stone. The parapet made of solid aluminium sheets is the same as those on the upper terrace and fire escape creating one single line winding down from the top floor to the ground floor.

Client: Holcom sal
Project leader: Marco Amosso
Architect on site: Domenico Ghirotto
Timing: 2011 - 2015
Place: 460 Corniche Al Nahr Street, Beirut, Lebanon
Area: 35.000 mq
Typology: Offices
Lead Design Architect: Lombardini22 & DEGW Italia
Local Architect: Atelier des Architectes Associés – AAA SARL
Structural: eng. Nabil Hennaoui
Mechanical: eng. Fouad Hanna
Electrical: eng. Gilbert Tambourgi
Partners: Alias, Alessi, Bolon, Braun&Wuerfele, Cappellini, Cassina, EMU, Fantoni, Gemino International, Glass Line, Haworth, iGuzzini, Lualdi, Marazzi, Soema, Unifor, Vitra, Wicona
Photographer: Ieva Saudargaite