Beihouse by Dagher Hanna & Partners: A Landmark of Architectural Restoration in Beirut

Reviving Beirut's Gemmayzeh Heritage Through Adaptive Reuse

In the heart of Beirut’s historic Gemmayzeh district, Beihouse by Dagher Hanna & Partners stands as a transformative project in architectural restoration in Beirut. Once devastated by the August 4, 2020 port explosion, three 19th-century Lebanese houses and their central courtyard have now been reborn as a dynamic social club, merging historical reverence with contemporary design innovation.

This landmark adaptive reuse project reimagines the site as a gathering place for both locals and international visitors, preserving Beirut’s architectural identity while envisioning a resilient urban future. The restoration, completed in collaboration with Linda Boronkay Design Studio, ensures the protection of these heritage buildings while introducing modern architectural language.

Harmonizing Traditional Craftsmanship and Modern Design

Beihouse exemplifies a sensitive architectural dialogue between old and new. Traditional Lebanese materials such as stone and wood meet industrial corten steel, reflecting the port city’s industrial character and historical roots. High-performance glass and steel structural reinforcements support the additions and alterations, allowing the buildings to evolve without compromising their integrity.

In a nod to Lebanon’s artisanal heritage, local craftspeople reconstructed many original elements using time-honored techniques. These careful interventions ensure that the past is not erased but embedded into the narrative of the new architecture.

A Courtyard That Connects Past and Present

The journey into Beihouse begins through a narrow Beirut alley, leading visitors to a tranquil central courtyard anchored by a century-old olive tree. This garden space, surrounded by lush greenery and rustic terracotta pots, evokes the intimacy of historic Lebanese homes while functioning as the heart of the revitalized compound.

The new bar opens onto this space with retractable glass walls, enabling a seamless indoor-outdoor transition. The lounge and ceramic workshop, located in the adjacent structures, continue this layering of memory and function by blending traditional features with new spatial experiences.

Multi-Functional Spatial Adaptation

The three restored buildings now serve a range of hospitality functions. The first includes a lounge and ceramics studio, while the second features a restaurant and a private meeting space. The third houses back-of-house service areas and connects to office spaces above, which are linked by a sculptural steel bridge. This integration of programs is executed with architectural precision, ensuring clarity of circulation and continuity of experience.

Contemporary interventions like corten steel staircases and triple-glazed windows offer practical benefits—noise reduction, solar shading, and improved accessibility—while articulating a modern aesthetic language. Panoramic elevators and steel balconies enrich the spatial narrative, blending practicality with poetic architectural gestures.

Architectural Restoration as Urban Resilience

Beihouse is more than a renovation project; it’s a cultural statement about resilience through architectural restoration in Beirut. By preserving the memory of the buildings and weaving in contemporary functionality, Dagher Hanna & Partners have created an architectural landmark that honors Beirut’s layered history.

As Lead Architect Nadine Harake notes, “We wanted to carry the buildings forward, not just as a space, but as a testament to Beirut’s ongoing story—a city that continually reinvents itself.” This project embraces that spirit of reinvention, showcasing how architectural restoration can shape a city’s cultural and social future.

All Photographs are works of Marco Pinarelli