Beirut’s diversity ranges because of its 5,000+ year history with the Phoenicians, Romans, Greeks, and Ottomans, who left their architectural imprints all over Lebanon and are seen today. A well-known fact about the city was that it was destroyed and rebuilt eight times. However, its growth was hindered by the 15-year civil war, which took place from 1975 until 1990. Afterward, Beirut was significantly reconstructed, but traces of the war remain. Thirty years later, in 2020, Beirut experienced one of the biggest non-nuclear blasts in history that shook the city to its core and destroyed the economy, which was already deteriorating.
Despite its many times falling down, whether during the 15-year civil war in the ’90s, the 2006 Israeli war against the South of Lebanon, which significantly affected Beirut Airport, or the August 4th blast that took place in 2020, Beirut today stands as a testament to being a resilient city that withstood a lot yet remains full of life and energy, with beautiful architectural contrasts throughout the city. Alongside its contradicting yet unique architecture is its impeccable cuisine and nightlife, which make Lebanon a tourist destination throughout the year.
What’s beautiful about Beirut’s architecture is how the old buildings remain, housing contemporary offices and high-end brands like Hermes, seen in the central district of Beirut.
The landmarks, preserved buildings, and ruins alongside contemporary buildings by renowned local and international architects, will be explored in this article.
Calypso
Architects: SOMA
Construction Year: 2016
Majestically situated at the edge of the Mediterranean Sea, in Jounieh, North of Beirut. Its design takes the shape of the existing surrounding rocks, making the building blend in with the natural site around it. The project combines architecture, interior design, and landscape architecture all in a single crystal-like structure.
Calypso is composed of three glass strips, each angled differently to provide maximum views of the sea, and each strip is designed to fit the needs of specific functions. Unlike any other house, one enters Calypso from the top floors and goes downstairs to the main living room. The ceiling inside is made of teak wood slats that are sloped upwards, which directs one’s view to the sea without interruption. The sloped ceiling also makes the space look and feel larger than it actually is.
The house is made entirely of glass facades supported by structural steel to withstand harsh storms that reach up to five meters high during winter. A deck is created just out of the bedrooms that acts as a wave breaker and a barrier. Calypso is an iconic architectural masterpiece that symbolizes a crystal among rocks.
Zaitunay Bay
Architects: Steven Holl Architects, Nabil Gholam Architects
Construction Year: 2012
Designed by Steven Holl Architects, Zaitunay Bay is a public outdoor space in the heart of Beirut that contains apartments, restaurants, outdoor public spaces, a yacht club, art installations, concept stores, and public facilities. What’s special about this project is its concept, which is inspired by the layers and waves of the ancient beach that once existed on the same site.
Referred to as “the waterfront jewel”, Zaitunay Bay’s architecture is a mixture of tradition and modernity. Upon entrance to Zaitunay Bay, from the road, a modern landscape is designed for people to enjoy the Beirut Marina from a distance. After that, one can find staircases, elevators, and underground parking that take you to the waterfront, where there are different types of cafes, restaurants, retail stores, and other buildings. Another feature is the yacht club, which was completed in 2014 and contains a clubhouse, nine club suites with their amenities, and upper levels which have 44 furnished residences.
Zaitunay Bay is a horizontally designed project to shape the harbor area and create a family-oriented environment that promotes connecting with other people whilst enjoying Beirut’s natural beauty.
Beirut Souks
Architects: Rafael Moneo, Samir Khairallah
Construction Year: 2009
Designed by Spanish Architect Rafael Moneo, who won the Pritzker Prize in 1996, Beirut Souks, which is also referred to as Downtown Beirut, reflected Moneo’s concept of seeing buildings as “lasting entities” where they leave an impact on cities and their people. After the city’s historic outdoor market (souq/downtown) was destroyed during the Lebanese Civil War, the area started being rebuilt in 1991. Moneo designed a shopping district that respects the ancient street layout and retains the original street names.
Instead of building a single structure, Rafael Moneo wanted to follow the layout of the old souks, Souq al Jamil and Souq al Tawileh, which made him design the new souks as an integral part of the city that includes a large parking lot and a central commercial space. Visitors can walk through the souks similarly to how they would in the old downtown. Greenery and sleek building facades are a major feature in this project that allows people to enjoy the outdoor environment and walk to different shops and restaurants all under an arcaded roof that connects yet disconnects everything.
Beirut Souks is a contemporary outdoor “Mall” that is seamlessly blended with Downtown Beirut and its old buildings, emphasizing the idea that designing for the future with the past in mind is how we acknowledge and respect the context of cities.
Charles Hostler Center
Architects: VJAA (Vincent James Associates Architects)
Construction Year: 2008
A student center 0f 204,000 square feet located in Beirut’s oldest and most prestigious university, American University of Beirut (AUB). The center’s aim is to promote health, fitness, and athletics in an inclusive environment that includes courtyards, inclusive circulation paths, and spectator areas.
The architecture of the center reflects this intention as it is segregated into different buildings with outdoor gardens placed on different levels, and placed in a way that blocks the southern sun and allows students to connect with each other both indoors and outdoors. The design of the Charles Hostler Center can be considered biophilic due to its noticeable integration with nature and greenery, and the fact that it is self-sufficient because of the city’s constant blackouts, especially during the hot summer months.
The goal of the project is to create spaces that use minimal energy and find ways to repurpose spaces for different functions. Charles Hostler Center was built in response to traditions of Mediterranean cities where their spaces are designed to suit the natural environment using natural ventilation to create comfortable microclimates throughout all seasons.
Beirut Terraces
Architects: Herzog & de Meuron
Construction Year: 2017
The design of Beirut Terraces is inspired by Beirut’s diverse layers of history and culture. This building is known for its many terraces across the floors. It showcases the importance of awareness and respect towards the city’s past and its promising future, despite the ongoing challenges. The main elements of the building’s architecture are layers and terraces, both inside and outside, as well as vegetation, views, privacy, light, and identity. The several layered terraces make the building seem open while still maintaining privacy. Beirut Terraces is also considered biophilic due to its sustainable use of quality materials and greenery along the terraces.
The building is 119 meters tall, with each layer projected to the front or backwards, creating overhanging roofs and maximum shade. For this reason, every apartment in this building is unique due to its different layout design that creates a dynamic and interesting community. The building is naturally ventilated and protected from solar gain because of the overhung terraces that define its identity. The floor plates of Beirut terraces work in controlling temperatures by storing the cold during the evenings and releasing it during the day. Beirut Terraces’ innovative strategies categorize it as a sustainable and biophilic project that minimizes the use of energy and, in return, protects the environment.
BAU Rooftop Bar
Architects: Rabih Geha Architects
Construction Year: 2016
Rabih Geha Architects, based in Lebanon, completed the BAU rooftop bar in 2019. Given its name, the bar is inspired by the Goddess of Healing, BAU. Also drawing inspiration from Asian temple designs, the bar incorporates high walls and repetitive elements that create rhythm and symmetry.
It was important for us to create an open, light and airy space to emphasize a connection to the outdoors, which is often seen in Asian templates. These temples have small passages wrapping around the central space which we brought in to the design.
Rabih Geha, founder and architect, Rabih Geha Architects
The unique design approach also features various textures and vibrant colors that create a striking presence in the cityscape. It is no coincidence that each color used in this project carried meaning. The striking red expresses good fortune, green symbolizes health and prosperity, and yellow is associated with neutrality and good fortune.
Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs
Architects: Zaha Hadid Architects
Construction Year: 2014
The American University of Beirut is always working towards advancing its facilities and ensuring the availability of high-standard education. Designed by one of the most renowned Arab architects, Zaha Hadid, the IFI is a place where people with different perspectives on global issues in the world can gather and discuss problems, solutions, and conduct research for the betterment of society. Common but serious issues in our world include climate change, refugee crisis, food security, water scarcity, urbanism, social justice, and development.
An iconic design feature of the building is the fact that it is situated above the entrance courtyard of the university, which maintains the original layout that was designed in 2002. It also creates a new public area on campus and connects the university’s Central Oval to the Middle Campus and the Mediterranean Sea to the North. The institute is composed of 3,000 square meters of connections and pathways that promote the exchange of ideas between students.
A special design aspect in the building is the ramp that extends through the trees and in between the natural landscape of the university. It provides a direct and convenient pathway from the campus to the research lounges on the second floor, allowing students, researchers, and professors to move easily and connect with each other.
Stone Garden Apartment Building
Architects: Lina Ghotmeh – Architecture
Construction Year: 2020
Designed to represent life and death, resilience and faith during the war in Lebanon, the building is situated among other buildings that still have residues of war and conflicts on them. As you roam around Beirut, you see facades with remains of pain, like the August 4th, 2020 blast that left behind so much damage, to people and buildings that are still seen today. Stone Garden reflects the act of resilience and growing up in times of war in Lebanon.
The building’s facade is composed of different-sized windows across the floors that serve as views and small planted balconies. Its random-like placement of windows is a representation of the old buildings in Beirut affected by war that are still functional now.
Stone Garden Housing’s facade represents the Pigeon Rocks (Al Raouche) and is made of hand-crafted materials by local artisans and designers using earth, cement, and fiber. This showcased how architecture can bring people together to create something beautiful that is strong enough to withstand destruction like the August 4th Beirut Blast.
Plot #1282
Architects: Bernard Khoury/DW5
Construction Year: 2013
An industrial residential building made of 25,800 square meters, designed by Lebanese-based architecture firm, Bernard Khoury Architects, in North Beirut. The project’s industrial feel fits well with its context as it is surrounded by military barracks, an old railway station, and other random fields.
What makes this building iconic is its black color that makes it feel like a mechanical structure supported by steel columns and beams with visible concrete slabs that jut out like sharp daggers. 1282 has factory-style windows and visible mechanical systems. 1282 has nine cores supporting the slabs, with two apartments per floor. The apartments are designed with 5.3 meter ceilings which are considered relatively high with few segregations.
The building’s character is exactly like a rebellious teenager who has a lot of tattoos and wears ripped jeans, yet is very attractive and beautiful.It captures your attention, even if it seems a bit intimidating.
Marina Towers
Architects: Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates
Construction Year: 2006
Situated in Beirut’s Central district, and a renowned tourist destination, Zaitunay Bay, Marina Towers are mixed-use high rise buildings that rise 120 meters above ground composing 53,200 square meters. The towers’ living areas have 5.5 high ceilings while the bedrooms are smaller and compose a height of 3.4 meters. An additional privacy feature of the towers is that each apartment has its own lift lobby for more security.
The tower is made of a double-glazed aluminum glass facade that extends to the top and its concave shape is taken from the harbor itself offering maximum views. The wavy design seen at the top of the tower looks like the wind’s natural movement creating a dynamic view when being looked at. Following Beirut’s tradition of lush gardens, the towers incorporate greenery and enclose a private raised garden courtyard with trees and cooling fountains.
Mohammed Al-Amine Mosque
Architects: Azmi Fakhuri
Construction Year: In the 19th century, a zawiya (prayer corner) was built on this site. After decades of acquiring adjacent land, the new mosque was inaugurated in 2008.
A significant architectural and Islamic landmark in the heart of Beirut, where Rafik Hariri is buried. Architect Azmi Fakhuri used marble and ashlar along with geometric patterns and Arabic calligraphy on the mosque’s façade. In addition to its architectural grace, the Mohammed Al Amine Mosque symbolizes inclusivity because it is open to non-Muslims visiting and exploring the building. It is also situated right beside Saint George Maronite Cathedral, all of which make up Beirut’s skyline.
The mosque’s design took its inspiration from Sultan Ahmet Mosque, which is also known as the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey, from which it gets its Ottoman style. Mohammed Al Amine Mosque’s architectural features include large elevated interior spaces, a high central dome with windows supported by two semi-domes, and large multi-story arches. The mosque’s facade is made of a material shipped from Riyadh called “Beiruti Sandstone,” whereas the central dome is covered in blue tiles. Mohammed Al-Amine Mosque is a renowned landmark of Beirut’s traditional architecture.
Lebanon has always been an example for many. Its people are always vibrant, and its cities are always alive despite the damage and the pain. Beirut’s architecture goes far beyond mere structures and buildings. Each design carries the pain of the past and the promise of a stable future that every Lebanese person dreams of. The diversity in its architectural languages showcases the diversity in the people and their inclusive nature. Traditional elements, along with contemporary visions, show the importance of cherishing one’s past and looking forward to new beginnings.
