{"id":93261,"date":"2025-08-26T05:32:08","date_gmt":"2025-08-26T05:32:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/93261\/"},"modified":"2025-08-26T05:32:08","modified_gmt":"2025-08-26T05:32:08","slug":"11-lebanese-architects-you-should-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/93261\/","title":{"rendered":"11 Lebanese Architects You Should Know"},"content":{"rendered":"

Lebanese architects have long shaped Beirut\u2019s layered skyline while expanding their influence far beyond the country\u2019s borders. Beirut\u2019s cityscape is a constant contradiction; timeworn heritage buildings boasting ornate triple arches and iron wrought balconies are piled next to glittering skyscrapers and brutalist concrete facades. Lebanon\u2019s built environment has been shaped by visionaries across eras, from modernist trailblazers like Joseph Philippe Karam<\/a> to contemporary practitioners like Lina Ghotmeh<\/a>. Many of these architects have also expanded their practice abroad, establishing themselves as international names.<\/p>\n

Here are some of the most renowned Lebanese architects everyone should know:<\/p>\n

Khalil Khoury (1929\u20132008)<\/p>\n

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Khalil Khoury was a modernist<\/a> pioneer and one of Lebanon\u2019s foremost brutalist architects. Educated at the American University of Beirut, he co-founded an industrial design and architecture studio with his brother Georges, producing works that became landmarks of regional modernism. Projects include the Mont-La-Salle College, Jounieh Stadium, and the iconic Interdesign showroom, an internationally recognised brutalist building. A professor at AUB and a member of the Order of Engineers, Khoury was central to shaping Lebanon\u2019s architectural discourse and urban policy. @khalilkhoury<\/a><\/p>\n

Bernard Khoury<\/p>\n

Khalil Khoury\u2019s son, Bernard Khoury, studied architecture at the Rhode Island School of Design and Harvard University. He founded DW5 after graduating, establishing a reputation for provocative interventions in post-war Beirut. Known for B018 nightclub, Centrale restaurant, and the Boiler Room, Khoury\u2019s projects engage with memory, politics, and urban transformation. In 2008, he co-founded the Arab Center for Architecture, underlining his role as both a practitioner and a cultural thinker. @bernardkhourydw5<\/a><\/p>\n

Youssef Haidar<\/p>\n

G\u00e9raldine Bruneel<\/p>\n

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Born in Baalbek in 1965, Youssef Haidar studied at the \u00c9cole Nationale Sup\u00e9rieure d\u2019Architecture de Paris-La Villette before returning to Beirut in 1994 to found his practice. He has overseen major restoration and cultural projects, including the Soap Museum in Saida, the Omari Grand Mosque, and Beit Beirut, a memorial museum housed in a war-damaged landmark. A three-time finalist for the Aga Khan Award, Haidar is recognised for his dedication to heritage preservation and his ability to integrate memory into architecture. @youssefhaidararchitectestudio<\/a><\/p>\n

Fouad Samara<\/p>\n

Fouad Samara graduated with distinction from the University of Bath, where he was awarded the Sir Basil Spence Prize. After professional experience in Montreal and London, he founded Fouad Samara Architects in Beirut in 1997. His practice is rooted in contextual modernism, producing buildings that respond to Lebanon\u2019s cultural and physical fabric. Notable works include Modulofts in Beirut and the Sheikh Nahyan Centre for Arabic Studies and Intercultural Dialogue at the University of Balamand, which won the Grand Prize at the Arab Architects Awards. @fouadsamara<\/a> @fouadsamaraarch<\/a><\/p>\n

Annabel Karim Kassar<\/p>\n

Moreno Maggi<\/p>\n

Moreno Maggi<\/p>\n

French-Lebanese architect Annabel Karim Kassar graduated from the \u00c9cole des Beaux-Arts in Paris and established AKK Architects in 1994. From her offices in Beirut, Milan, and Dubai, she has created projects across the hospitality and commercial sectors. Her practice combines modernist architecture with local craftsmanship, developing spaces that bridge tradition and innovation. Notable works include The Al Zorah Golf Club in Ajman, the Ella Funt bistro in New York, and \u201cThe Lebanese House\u201d installation at the Victoria and Albert Museum. @akk_architects<\/a><\/p>\n

Ra\u00ebd Abillama<\/p>\n

Educated at the Rhode Island School of Design and Columbia University, Ra\u00ebd Abillama began his career with Rafael Vi\u00f1oly Architects in New York before founding his own practice in Beirut in 1997. His portfolio includes the award-winning IXSIR Winery in Batroun and a whole host of commercial projects across Lebanon. Known for his precise detailing and sensitivity to context, Abillama also co-founded Abillama Chaya Industrial Design, a company producing bespoke furniture. @raedabillamaarchitects<\/a><\/p>\n

Lina Ghotmeh<\/p>\n

Iwan Baan Photography<\/p>\n

David Levene<\/p>\n

Beirut-born Lina Ghotmeh<\/a> established her Paris-based practice, Lina Ghotmeh – Architecture, after co-designing the Estonian National Museum in Tartu. Educated at the American University of Beirut, her philosophy of \u201cArchaeology of the Future\u201d integrates history, ecology, and craftsmanship. She is known for the Stone Garden tower in Beirut, the 22nd Serpentine Pavilion in London, and Ateliers Herm\u00e8s in Normandy. Ghotmeh\u2019s designs emphasise sustainability and cultural continuity, positioning her as one of the most innovative architects of her generation. @linaghotmeh_architecture<\/a> @linaghotmeh<\/a><\/p>\n

Elie Abs<\/p>\n

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