Alam Street Apartment
A contextual and timely tribute to the architectural integrity of Joseph Philippe Karam’s vision for mid-century Beirut: the apartment on Alam Street revitalizes and recontextualizes a design classic in the city.
The apartment is set with within the vibrant neighborhood of Badaro, which despite its location in central Beirut is colloquially referred to as the city’s ‘village’ owing to its abundance of green spaces.
The apartment sits within a building originally designed by Karam, a pioneering Lebanese modernist architect, in 196, and thoughtful renovation reaffirms his commitment to openness and clarity. Space emerges as not just as a home but as a memoir of design - a story elegantly unfolding through each room.
Unsuitable additions made in the years since the original construction were removed and the original layout restored, resuming a sense of clarity and purpose.
The restored full height sliding windows flood internal spaces with natural light while the previously obscured tiled wooden and marble floors have been reinstated with a polished finish. The rough stucco is also reintroduced, highlighting structural elements through relief and texture.
Some of the condemned sliding panels were reinstated, returning the inherent spatial flexibility envisioned by Karam. Made of solid wood and partially clad with black leather, these panels can be configured to create privacy when required.
Central to the living area, the fireplace has been restored: its metal awning meticulously repaired by the same master artisans that originally crafted these interiors decades ago.
The furniture selection elegantly combines original pieces by design icons like Le Corbusier, George Nelson, and William Katavalos with contemporary accents from Shigeru Ban, Erwan Bouroullec, and Patricia Urquiola. Each piece resonates with the spirit of modernism to exacting effect.
- Program
- Residential Restoration
- Build-Up Area
- 250sqm
- Location
- Beirut, Lebanon
- Status
- Built
- Year
- 2019