Tag: beirut | ArchDaily

Color Pit / Studio Etienne Bastormagi

Pilar Caballero — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 19:00:00 +0000

Color Pit is a site-specific ground intervention realized within a school playground in Beirut following the 2020 explosion. Developed by Studio Etienne Bastormagi in collaboration with Sandra Richani and Nada Borgi, the project is rooted in the studio's broader Let's Play philosophy, which frames play as a civic and therapeutic act.

Sharjah Architecture Triennial Presents "A Journey into Architecture Archives" Focused on Baghdad, Damascus, and Tunis

Reyyan Dogan — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 06:30:00 +0000

The Sharjah Architecture Triennial (SAT) presents A Journey into Architecture Archives: Baghdad, Damascus, Tunis, curated by George Arbid, on view from May 2 to July 12, 2026, at Al Qasimiyah School. Developed as part of SAT's long-term research program, the project continues the institution's commitment to documenting and safeguarding architectural archives across the Arab world. Bringing together archival materials, physical models, and newly commissioned films, the exhibition examines how architectural histories are constructed, preserved, and revisited over time.

Lina Ghotmeh on Memory, Museums, and the Archaeology of the Future

Christele Harrouk — Thu, 09 Oct 2025 07:30:00 +0000

Known today for her poetic yet rigorous approach to architecture, Lina Ghotmeh has become one of the most compelling voices in contemporary design. Her work spans continents, from the British Museum's Western Range redesign in London to AlUla's Contemporary Art Museum, and includes landmark commissions such as the Serpentine Pavilion in London, Stone Garden in Beirut, the Bahrain Pavilion at the 2025 Expo Osaka, and the Estonian National Museum in Tartu, Estonia which she won the competition to design at just 25. Through a palimpsest of projects, Ghotmeh has established a distinctive architectural language that bridges memory and contemporary life. Wherever she builds, her process captures a constant dialogue between people, place, past and future.

UNESCO Launches New Restoration Projects in Beirut Following the 2020 Explosion

Antonia Piñeiro — Wed, 01 Oct 2025 05:30:00 +0000

A blast destroyed 40% of the city of Beirut on August 4, 2020. Five years after the port explosions, the UNESCO Director-General visited Lebanon to assess the institution's work in the capital city. UNESCO's efforts have been based on the recognition that the explosion destroyed numerous buildings and historic neighborhoods that were home to a community of cultural professionals, leaving a void in the city's cultural landscape and economy. The organization mobilized international efforts to restore, reactivate, and safeguard Beirut's heritage buildings, schools, museums, and cultural institutions, seeking to provide a comprehensive response to protect the city's cultural fabric. During the visit in September, new restoration and reconstruction programs were announced, including the rehabilitation of the Mar Mikhael train station and Beirut's Grand Theatre, as well as support for cultural industries in Tyre and Baalbek.

Obeid Retail Complex / nunc Architecture and Design

Miwa Negoro — Mon, 11 Aug 2025 02:00:00 +0000

Obeid Retail Complex is a contemporary commercial hub in Lebanon's mountainous region that houses a major local supermarket chain and contributes to elevating its public presence and reach. The project introduces an unconventional architectural approach that redefines local retail experiences and has since attracted established brands, positioning the center as a new commercial destination.

Beirut to Madrid: Global Education Programs from Zaha Hadid, Norman Foster, and SOM Foundations

Reyyan Dogan — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 06:30:00 +0000

Foundations established by architects have increasingly become involved in architectural education through scholarships, fellowships, and interdisciplinary academic programs. These initiatives often aim to support students, promote research, and facilitate broader engagement with architecture and the built environment. Some architect-initiated foundations, such as the Zaha Hadid Foundation, which recently launched the Zaha Hadid Scholars Program at the American University of Beirut, along with the Norman Foster Foundation and the SOM Foundation, have introduced educational programs connected to their missions. While these programs differ in structure and focus, they commonly seek to extend the legacies of their founders by addressing contemporary challenges in design education. Their activities range from localized scholarship offerings to global research collaborations, reflecting a diverse approach to nurturing emerging talent and advancing architectural discourse.

Fayssal Residence / Studio Paul Kaloustian

Pilar Caballero — Tue, 08 Jul 2025 02:00:00 +0000

Elegant Duplex Overlooking the Beirut Hippodrome – Nestled in the tranquil neighborhood of Badaro, this sophisticated duplex apartment offers a harmonious blend of modern design and natural vistas. Strategically positioned along the perimeter of the structure, it enjoys uninterrupted views in all four directions, including the lush greenery of the Hippodrome.

2024 Year in Review: Celebrating Architectural Classics

Nour Fakharany — Wed, 04 Dec 2024 04:00:00 +0000

Architectural Classics featured on ArchDaily serve as a record of significant works that have influenced the evolution of architecture and design. These projects represent a range of styles, purposes, and contexts, offering insight into how architecture responds to cultural, social, and environmental factors. By revisiting these influential works, one can better understand the principles and ideas that have shaped the built environment globally over time. These classics highlight moments of design innovation while also providing a broader perspective on architecture's role in reflecting and shaping the world around us.

AD Classics: Interdesign Building / Khalil Khouri

Maria-Cristina Florian — Thu, 05 Sep 2024 07:30:00 +0000

In Beirut, a city marked by transformation, the Interdesign Building echoes the vision of an architect steadfast in his conviction. Designed by Lebanese architect Khalil Khouri in 1973 during a period of economic growth, the building took 23 years to build, a process halted by the onset of the Lebanese Civil War. By the time it was completed in 1996, the urban landscape that surrounded it had changed. The structure has stood largely unused since, as a relic of hopeful modernity. While its design is singular in its narrative and expression, this structure illustrates the tension between aspiration and struggle throughout its complex history.

Khalil Khouri, Modernism, and the Arab World: In Conversation with Bernard Khoury

Maria-Cristina Florian — Thu, 29 Aug 2024 07:30:00 +0000

In Beirut, the Interdesign Building stands as a striking yet enigmatic structure. Never used since its conception in 1973, the building was designed by Lebanese architect Khalil Khouri and, in some ways, it represents a physical testament to the region’s hopes and struggles. During the inaugural edition of We Design Beirut, the exhibition “All Things Must(n't) Pass: A Subjective Recount Of Khalil Khouri’s Life And Career As A Designer” opened the building to the public, aiming to tell the story of its architect, Khalil Khouri, through the lens of his son and grandson, Bernard and Teymour Khoury. On this occasion, ArchDaily’s Editor in Chief, Christele Harrouk sat down with Bernard Khoury at his DW5 office to discuss the life of his father and a little-known chapter of Lebanese architectural history.

Empowering Children Through Public Spaces in Lebanon: In Conversation with CatalyticAction

Christele Harrouk — Thu, 15 Aug 2024 08:00:00 +0000

Public spaces are not always shaped by planning but by the practices they host. Their existence stems from our inherent need for connection with others. As spaces of encounter, these urban, open, and accessible areas reflect how we interact with our surroundings and each other while offering places for exercise, play, socializing, and recreation.

A New Museum in Cyprus and A Private Residence in Greece: 8 Unbuilt Projects Championing Stone and Submitted by the ArchDaily Community

Nour Fakharany — Wed, 14 Aug 2024 04:00:00 +0000

Throughout history, stone has been a vital building material because of its strength, beauty, and inherent appeal. Stone has been used to build long-lasting constructions for ages, from historic monuments to contemporary residences. Because of its resilience, it is suitable for both interior and exterior design projects, providing a diverse array of appearances. There are numerous varieties of stone, each with a distinct texture and color, including marble, granite, and limestone. Because of this diversity, stone may be creatively used by architects and builders to create accents or entire buildings. This curated selection of Unbuilt Architecture, submitted by the ArchDaily community, showcases how stone is still a dependable and adaptable building material that can combine old-world craftsmanship with contemporary style.

Celebrating Creativity: We Design Beirut Announces Program Featuring Activations and Exhibitions Across the City

Nour Fakharany — Thu, 02 May 2024 05:30:00 +0000

We Design Beirut, Lebanon’s four-day design experience will take place from May 23-26, 2024. This multidisciplinary event aims to showcase and celebrate design and creativity through a varied program, including showcases, installations, talks, and workshops. Founded by Mariana Wehbe in collaboration with industrial designer Samer Alameen, the event seeks to foster a global conversation on design and sustainability through programs in the fields of interior design, architecture, furniture, product design, functional art, ceramics, and home accessories.

Beyt el Sayde / AK. Architecture Studio

Hana Abdel — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 20:00:00 +0000

’Beyt el Sayde’’, (House of the Lady) is located in the Sayde neighborhood of Beirut, Lebanon, atop the Ashrafieh hill. This penthouse serves as a replacement for an old rooftop that suffered damage during the war.

BDD 1227 & St. George Church / PARALX

Hana Abdel — Thu, 26 Oct 2023 20:00:00 +0000

Beirut, Lebanon — The Middle East and US-based architecture firm PARALX has completed two major contributions to the Beirut Digital District (BDD), a recently developed commercial area of Beirut dedicated to the burgeoning digital and creative economy of Lebanon.

Residence of the Brazilian Ambassador in Lebanon Combines Tropical Modernism with Elements of Middle Eastern Culture

Romullo Baratto — Tue, 13 Jun 2023 04:00:00 +0000

More than ten thousand kilometers away from the capital Brasilia, a jewel of Brazilian modern architecture overlooks the Mediterranean Sea. Located in another Brasilia, a district in Beirut named after the Brazilian capital, the Residence of the Ambassador of Brazil in Lebanon, designed by Olavo Redig de Campos, combines tropical modernism with elements of Middle Eastern culture.

The Complex Culture of Nightrise in Jabal ‘Amil, Lebanon

Thomas Schielke — Tue, 07 Mar 2023 03:30:00 +0000

As farmers water crops by moonlight, undocumented children head to school and villagers scan the sky for surveillance airplanes—these are glimpses of a complex culture that emerges in south Lebanon after dark. In collecting some of these nightly practices, Mohamad Nahleh—lecturer in architecture and urbanism at MIT—journeyed across the landscapes of Jabal ‘Amil hoping to build a new alliance between architecture and the night. His "Path of Nightrise" research has turned into a construction to revive a forgotten river path and was published by Places Journal. The interview with Nahleh argues for a new nocturnal imagination in design and reveals, not only how the night has changed in Lebanon over time, but also how he has changed alongside it.

What Makes an Outstanding City? 10 Cities in Focus in 2022

Ankitha Gattupalli — Mon, 19 Dec 2022 07:30:00 +0000

Cities evolve over countless years, each moment of change building up to larger societal and architectural shifts. Metropolises across the world are constantly subject to social, political, economic, or environmental forces that alter their fundamental identity - a character that is meant to be dynamic. As cities develop in size and impact, advancements in the understanding of cities and urbanism grow more complex.