Khazen

A highly intricate residential tower, dubbed The Cube, was recently completed in Beirut, Lebanon. Commissioned by Lebanese developers Masharii, the Dutch design firm Orange Architects is responsible for the 164 foot building, which bares a striking resemblance to a block-stacking, gravity-challenging, high-stakes game of Jenga. It even sounds like the structural design of the building was inspired by an age-old Jenga axiom: If the core is solid, you’re golden.

Based in the Sin el Fil district of Lebanon’s capital, the architectural design consists of 14 stacked volumes that rotate 90 degrees per level, which allows for each balcony to be sheltered organically by part of the floor of the unit directly above. The core of the building is fixed and houses the elevators and staircases, crossed by concrete girders. This allows for a completely stabilized structure with "no constraints on the layout of the apartments," according to the firm, which is no easy feat in a seismologically active area. Each of the 19 luxury apartments range in size from 1,259 to 2,518 sq. ft. (total floorspace of the building is 60,277 sq. ft.) and feature large terraces with spectacular views of the Mediterranean and Beirut’s skyline.

Check out more impressive photos of the grandiose structure below.

orange-architects-the-cube-tower-01.jpg
Matthijs van Roon
orange-architects-the-cube-tower-03.jpg
Matthijs van Roon
orange-architects-the-cube-tower-04.jpg
Matthijs van Roon
orange-architects-the-cube-tower-05.jpg
Matthijs van Roon
orange-architects-the-cube-tower-06.jpg
Matthijs van Roon
orange-architects-the-cube-tower-08.jpg
Matthijs van Roon
orange-architects-the-cube-tower-07.jpg
Matthijs van Roon

h/t: gizmag