GUESTHOUSE IN AMRAKITS

Located in Amrakits, within the Gyulagarak community of Lori Province, Armenia, this project proposes the reconstruction of an existing two-storey private residence and its transformation into a guesthouse. The project is developed in response to the site’s natural setting and the climatic character of the region, known for its moderate, humid climate, snowy winters, forests, and rich natural building resources.

The existing building has a load-bearing masonry structure, measuring approximately 13.6 × 15.6 metres, with a total height of 9.3 metres. The existing pitched roof is replaced with a flat, integrated roof system, creating a more contemporary architectural expression while maintaining the building’s overall scale. The façades are finished with exterior plaster and weather-resistant paint, complemented by a finely cut basalt stone plinth that references the local material character. Cantilevered open balconies are introduced along the southern façade of the second floor, providing additional outdoor spaces and views toward the surrounding landscape.

A single-storey café is added to the northern side of the property. Its structure is conceived as a lightweight metal frame, with a dedicated service entrance from the west, allowing for efficient operational access and servicing of the café and kitchen areas without interfering with the main guesthouse circulation.

The site is organized around three access points and is naturally defined by an existing stream to the east, roads to the north and south, and an adjacent property to the west. The landscape strategy introduces a combination of leisure and recreational spaces, including three outdoor pavilions, landscaped areas with fruit and ornamental trees, shrubs and flower beds, a small prefabricated swimming pool, and a decorative pond. An open-air parking area for twelve vehicles is also incorporated into the site layout.

The overall intervention aims to transform the existing residence into a contemporary hospitality environment while responding to the character of Lori’s landscape, climate, and local material context.