This three-storey residence has been built around and above the ruins of a 150-year-old house. Rather than pouring concrete onto the surviving stone walls, which would inhibit their breathability, the architect has put in four steel columns to support the upper floors, which are, by contrast, boldly contemporary. A tall rear wall acts as a buffer with the street, its imposing form moderated by irregularly placed oculi. The entrance is a contemporary interpretation of a mashrabiyya screen, its aluminium panels perforated to allow in light while protecting privacy. The interior is designed as a cascade of spaces that move from past to present.

Source:

The Aga Khan Trust for Culture, 2011.