‘Ladies and gentlemen,

When Michel Asmar called me to discuss the topic of tonight’s conference, he told me he was determined to organize a series entitled ‘Letters and Arts’ in his program this year. At that time, I suggested that architecture be introduced into this series, for architecture is an important element of fine arts, not to say a central pillar.

Undoubtedly, the construction boom in Lebanon is one of the most thriving aspects of the economic activity that has been happening since the end of the last World War. This boom has transformed the face of the capital Beirut at a speed that the world has rarely seen before and in a manner that is, to say the least, unenviable. This boom has not been limited to the capital; it has also progressed towards other major cities as well as summer resorts and mountain villages. 

The reasons that led to the building boom are beyond the scope of my lecture this evening.  However, I will try to describe the circumstances and architectural conditions that accompanied this movement and shaped it into its current form and which are still largely affecting the frame work that will serve as a base in the future. Architecture has a direct influence on the life of each one of us, even if we professionally are disassociated from it.

Speaking about architecture does not only mean speaking about an artistic technique. It is beyond doubt that architecture is part and parcel of fine arts, much like sculpture and photography, and is closely linked to them. However, this link does not deny architecture its scientific character. Art and sciences complement each other and are the sole guarantee for finding sound architectural foundations, the foundations which were claimed by Vitruvius:  firmitas, utilitas, venustas – that is, architecture must be solid, useful and beautiful.

The first thing that stands out in Lebanon’s modern architecture is its different form and varied techniques. It is lost between a blind implementation of different modern techniques from around the globe and an adoption of the traditional Lebanese architecture. 

So far, we have not succeeded in finding a modern Lebanese school that has the components and abilities of classic schools in terms of its prevalence and how suitable it is in expressing our needs. In some cases, we have neglected hundreds of years of results and experience and opted instead for building methods practiced in countries that have only a similar climate to us in and occasionally even countries which have no similarities whatsoever with Lebanon. On the one hand, there are some who believe that the presence of mountains in Lebanon enables us to adopt the building models used in Switzerland and Tyrol; on the other, there is a group holding the view that since we drive cars and have air conditioning, we should live by California’s standards. 

The traditional Lebanese architectural style was clear in the past. We developed a concept for houses whose adoption became an obligation. We used the hard building stone in construction until we mastered it and gave it an identity and a personality. We borrowed from what had been introduced to us through our trade and relations with western countries and blended it with the Arab art we inherited, thus creating a genuine Lebanese style that was largely used by all social classes. We established a Lebanese School of architecture known for its agility, abundance, and the balance and correlation of its elements. 

Today though, architectural methods have been adjusted according to the change in construction methods and materials. Concrete has become the cornerstone for modern architecture and new material has been introduced. This has yielded a new school that is radically different from the traditional Lebanese School and its outcome, in my opinion, is a sheer calamity upon this beautiful country.  

This begs the question: What are the factors that have driven architecture to where it is today and what are their features? 

Unfortunately, this singular renaissance which was ready to accept guidance and had proved an ability to understand the needs and demands of the national architecture failed to find someone who could steer it in the right direction. It lacked comprehensive planning and close supervision. Above all, it lacked broad thinking, which included a general master plan that would preserve the picturesque and natural face of the capital and guide it on a meticulous and well-established artistic path to be followed by future generations. 

I have no doubt that Beirut, that beautiful spot overlooking the Mediterranean which was well-recognized to all of us only ten years ago, has lost its distinct features; its crowded contiguous buildings and filthy neighborhoods are similar to those that arose in Europe and the US following the Industrial Revolution. What happened to Ras Beirut area is the greatest architectural crime ever to occur in Lebanon and a stark violation of the evident principles of design of modern cities. Several factors have caused this architectural calamity, foremost of which is the Construction code. The drafters of this code had not thought even once that this beautiful country could expand and thus failed to lay correct and solid foundations for orderly expansion. For instance, the law has not distinguished between residential and commercial areas and dictated the same conditions for construction for both areas within the Municipality of Beirut. The second factor is the lack of a master plan for the city. While the municipality completed part of the projects intended to facilitate entry to and exit from the capital, it has discarded a larger part, which lead to delays in improving entryways to the city. The lack of municipal planning, public transport and public facilities has also taken its toll on the urban identity of the capital. 

A final word to those who care about preserving the real face of Lebanon: the beauty and grace of the Lebanese traditional house are rare to find. Unfortunately, urbanism has progressed in such a manner that it has started to wash away our architectural legacy, and the day will come when Lebanon will lose whatever little is left of this legacy.’