Afraa House is the renovation of an existing two-storey residence on a steep site in Lavasan. The considerable level difference between the street and the original building made access to the house long and difficult, turning circulation into the starting point of the design. The project transformed two independent floors into a duplex residence and completely redefined the arrival sequence, allowing the site’s topography to become part of the new spatial organization rather than remain a limitation.

An elevator was positioned close to the entrance of the property and connected to the house through a lightweight bridge, shifting the main entrance to the upper floor. This decision inverted the conventional organization of a duplex house: public spaces—including the living room, reception area, and kitchen—were placed on the upper level to benefit from greater daylight, height, and views, while private rooms were located below, closer to the garden and within a quieter setting. The new entrance sequence therefore became directly responsible for redefining the internal hierarchy of the house.

The sloping site also made it possible to introduce an independent volume beside the existing structure, accommodating complementary functions for weekend living, including a caretaker’s suite, workspace, and facilities related to the pool. The bridge, existing trees, and natural level changes further shaped circulation routes and two courtyards with different degrees of privacy. Afra House ultimately moves beyond the renovation of an existing building, using topography, movement, and level changes to establish a new relationship between access, domestic life, and the garden.