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DIANE SAWAYA AND KARINE FAKHRY are playing at being kids Far Architects
Age Diane, 43/Karine, 41 Describe your work Our work revolves around the user and his/ her spatial experience within our projects. We explore the forces of the site, the flow of elements, air, natural light, and the use of natural materials. We try to create intrinsic and intricate relationships between the environment and the user making it an experiential promenade throughout, while keeping a sense of the familiar Career highs so far? Our very early successes (we were barely 33) – a software company in the Cedars, a children’s academy in Dbaye, and a house in the woods in Ain El Kharroube. Buying and creating Far Architects studio: in 2010, we bought a building in Mar Mikhael that is now our workspace and it also houses other inter-connected programs. It took two years to renovate. Another high was representing Lebanon at the 2016 Milan XXI Triennale International Exhibition with our speculative project Stay at Home. Our pavilion was installed at Le Cavallerizze in the Museo Nazionale Leonardo da Vinci and the exhibition ran for five months. It was Lebanon’s first time participating in this event What are you working on now? A loft space in New York City, a summerhouse in Damour and a villa in Downtown Beirut. We
have just completed a food and event platform called Inked in Al Serkal Avenue, the industrial district of Dubai, Baron restaurant in Mar Mikhael and a new coffee brewery in Saifi Village called The Backburner. We are also looking to participate in another international architectural competition following our submission for a new Guggenheim museum in the city of Helsinki Clothing? D. All the outfits of Daenerys in Game of Thrones K. Structured, linear, asymmetrical. Gaultier, Margiela, Comme des Garçons Fragrance? D. Mitsouko de Guerlain K. Juliette Has a Gun Last thing you take off at night? D. I just take off K. My brain First thing you put on in the morning? D. My earrings K. My shoes Where are you happiest naked? D. In my bedroom K. In my house Who would you most like to undress? D. My banker K. Sheikha Moza Favourite piece of architecture? D. Sou Fujimoto’s next project K. I have a new one everyday What is your fantasy? D. Stretching time K. Being a warrior Beirut is… D. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs K. Inspiring