In conjunction with the master planner and landscape architect SWA, OverUnder designed the key architectural components for a large development in the seaside town of el Gouna, which included more than 800 housing units and a 100-room hotel. The two firms worked closely to ensure that the buildings responded to the goals of the master plan: visual access to the water (sea or pools), clarity of circulation, and a variety of housing options within a modestly-scaled, medium-density site.
Housing unit diversity was achieved via the subtle shifting of unit sizes within set structural modules, thereby maximizing construction efficiency without sacrificing individuality and variation. Each unit proffered access to a garden, a courtyard, a balcony, or a rooftop, and all units captured views with floor-to-ceiling glazing in the living spaces.
After detailed studies, OverUnder established an architectural language that complemented the existing architecture in the adjacent neighborhoods of el Gouna. The new development’s language offered a fresh take on many of the same preoccupations: deep recesses, small projections from the main surface, shading structures, and a blurring of the distinction between inside and outside.
Role: As the lead designer, I was responsible for the design direction and prototyping of all architectural units.
Selected Works
Hemisfair Art Master PlanSan Antonio, Texas
Gampel PavilionStorrs, Connecticut
Museo Maya de AméricaGuatemala City, Guatemala
Eroded Museum ProposalGuatemala City, Guatemala
Zigzag HouseFalmouth, Maine
AM ApartmentSarasota, Florida
Sudbury Addition & RenovationSudbury, Massachusetts
Chelsea Soldiers' HomeChelsea, Massachusetts
Alewife District PlanCambridge, Massachusetts
PLAN: MattapanBoston, Massachusetts
Littleton Common RevitalizationLittleton, Massachusetts
Acushnet Riverfront Facilities ReuseNew Bedford, Massachusetts
Aqaba NorthAqaba, Jordan
Sports TownMassachusetts
Itz’ana ResortPlacencia, Belize
Springfield PlacemakingSpringfield, Massachusetts
Purchase StreetNew Bedford, Massachusetts
Union StreetNew Bedford, Massachusetts
El Gouna Residencesel Gouna, Egypt
Sports District StudyUnited Arab Emirates
South Harbor SpectacleHelsinki, Finland
Solar Park South CompetitionReggio Calabria, Italy
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