2 New Architectural Projects In Beirut You Probably Missed!

2 Newest Architectural Projects in Beirut You Probably Didn't Hear About!

Beirut is once again starring in the world of successful architectural projects especially in the high-tech style thanks to various kinds of projects taking place at its center mainly; After the international chains of hotels that clearly modified our skyline, here come the housing and residential developments to take the charge with two exceptional and unique projects.

In this blog post, I'm going explore those pair of new architectural projects risen recently in Beirut, and concerning the specific modern housing development industry. We will not neglect the attraction of real estate agents as well in such projects.

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Introduction

Residential architectural projects continue to constitute a reputation in the development and urban in many parts of the world; New housing prototypes are being developed to increase residential density and multiple uses. Housing is close to public services and workplaces to reduce the use of cars.

These are the common objectives of designing residential projects around the world today, but each region has its economic, social, environmental, and cultural characteristics that can make up the difference between residential projects from one region to another.

Following are the reviews of the 2 projects at a glance:

Housing, 3Beirut- by Nigel Young / Foster + Partners

The first Foster+Partners in Beirut, located in the heart of the tourist area, featuring among international hotel chains

Taking into consideration the big significance of Beirut as a Mediterranean city known for its entertainment, commerce, and tourism attractions, "Foster + Partners" just completed its new high-rise project "3Beirut" to achieve this goal.

A breathtaking view featuring the wall cladding covering the whole facades- Photo Source: arch2o.com

"3Beirut" is the first housing project of the Foster office in Beirut, a design that tries to take into account both the characteristics of the site and the culture of the city and is the design of a sustainable residential and commercial project in the city center.

The managed courtyard with its greeny environment and waterfalls, Photo Source: arch2o.com

As we said earlier, the project highlights the role of Beirut as a tourist, commercial, and entertainment center while adding green spaces to the city on the ground level. The project consists of three non-identical towers on stories covered with limestone cladding all over its facade and includes shops and cafeterias at the ground level.

The towers compromise also many amenities such as a nursery, a gym center, and an exposition hall. It is located in the central area of Beirut within the sector known as Solidere, an area known for its luxury buildings.

On the ground level, the design takes into consideration pedestrian traffic through the corridors connecting the historic center with the port on the south side, and the upper tower rises to the inside to provide a green courtyard. (As shown in the photo above) The plot location of the project due to its closeness to the seafront of the city has been provided with a relevant landscape study regarding managing and creating new walkways and public green areas. Thus, combining the lot with the sea dock is not a choice.

The project’s central foyer has been moved backward to leave space for a landscaped courtyard with plenty of plantations and waterfalls.

Luke Fox, a senior office assistant at Foster + Partners, said they are delighted to accomplish the construction of 3Beirut, which is the result of close cooperation between the client and Foster + Partners.

The north side of ‘3Beirut’ benefits from large glass windows, allowing the residents to enjoy the incredible views of the pier and the sea, whereas the southern side includes green roofs and balconies. The difference in levels of the towers provides a significant amount of privacy for the residents.

Almost all the residential units have been sold and many facilities have been opened for the residents like the gym, the pool, and the automobile exhibition room.

Residential, Plot #1282- by Architect Bernard Khoury

The Project "Plot No. 1282" is a residential development located in the northern suburbs of Beirut (precisely An-Nahr District) next to an abandoned railway station, military buildings, uninhabited agricultural land, and a 30 m wide highway.

The aim of the project was to obtain large housing at a low cost, a successful residential development that can be used in modern residential projects. The area of the units ranges from 100 to 650 m2 with a total building area of 25,800 m2.

Plot #1282 Constraints Tackled

"Plot #1282" by Architect Bernard Khoury stands as an architectural marvel in Lebanon, redefining residential spaces with its innovative concept and design. Khoury's vision for this project elegantly merges the contemporary with the urban landscape, navigating the site's constraints with masterful ingenuity. The site, nestled within a densely populated area, posed challenges of limited space and strict zoning regulations, prompting Khoury to craft a structure that harmonizes with its surroundings while maximizing functionality.

The project's intriguing aspect lies in its seamless integration of the indoors and outdoors, employing clever use of space and materiality to blur the boundaries between private and public realms. Its minimalist yet striking facade showcases Khoury's signature style, emphasizing clean lines and geometric precision, offering a stark contrast to the bustling urban backdrop.

Plot #1282 stands not just as a residence but as a testament to Khoury's ability to transform constraints into opportunities, creating a space that transcends architectural norms.

Some critics portrayed the project as being too odd or weird somehow as a residential building. I partially agree with those opinions but anyway, I always encourage the new vision in architecture, especially in countries (like mine) where the real feeling of creation is still tied up by some old traditional thoughts that limit the progression of such revolutionary concepts and designs.

However, I picked up some statements that express the opinion being spread and populated within the communities of Reddit, the widespread social media platform. So, let us see what is going on there, and read the comments related to the special post I published not long ago:

Another fact I would like to spot on here is that the project was recently to star in a music video for the Lebanese singer Maya Diab; The video shows its luxury and futurist design as it works great as an exemplar of the future era that serves better the concept of the clip. (Director: Jad Shweiry)

No doubt it has that look of an enormous spaceship coming out straight from an outer alien planet (...)

I hope that I did enlighten some of your curiosity about new residential and architectural projects taking place in my city; More projects are to come in other parts of the world, so stay tuned!