Discover Lebanon - Domestic Architecture

The mountains of Lebanon rising between the Mediterranean Sea and the sun-drenched plains of Syria, a beautiful land of softy summits and valleys, have developed a distinctive architecture as the fruit of interaction between general Near Eastern concepts and the specific character of Lebanon, where people have responded directly to a different environment. Evidence at Byblos indicates that Stone Age villagers lived in round huts, which had hard-packed, crushed limestone floors. Then came the Phoenicians with their multistory, small square windows and balustrades supported by miniature palm columns. They are credited with developing a new type of design for public buildings and temples. Then followed by Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, and Ottoman & French who all have left a unique mixture of cultures, which have influenced the Lebanese architecture. Few houses exist that were built before the 18^th century, due to many destructive earthquakes, and the most charming are those who have been built during the 18^th, 19^{th and} early 20^th centuries, incorporate traditional Arab, Lebanese, Ottoman and Western architecture. The best examples of typical simple Lebanese architecture are the red-roofed simple houses spread-over the coastal and inland villages, while the Palace of Beiteddine is a great example of early 19^th century’s luxurious architecture. Arabs in general, have left beautiful examples mainly in Tripoli and Sidon, such as old mosques, khans, inns, stables, baths (hammams) and caravansaries.

However, the most impressive are those that have been built during the transitional phase between tradition and modernity, from late nineteenth century to the end of World War II, and Beirut’s central district is a best example that witnessed said period, where hundreds of structures have been restored, including mosques, churches, commercial and residential buildings as well as street markets.