People believe that the traditional Lebanese house – the one with the 3 arches on the facade – was introduced in Lebanon by Fakhreddine when he came back from Tuscany in 1618, but the truth is that it started appearing in the country in the 1850s. Its design is typically a 2-story cube made of stones standing under a red tiles roof. Inside, there is one central hall surrounded by different rooms, which opens on a marble balcony showcasing delicate ironwork.

The whole architecture is based on hygienist ideas of the 19th century favoring natural ventilation and lighting. It was a real revolution compared to the houses of that time, which were designed to be enlarged to cater to the needs of growing families. The traditional house could only cater to one family, and this made it very popular among the bourgeoisie which wanted to differentiate itself from the rural way of life.

These houses might disappear if nothing is done to protect them.

Source : ‘’La maison Beyrouthine à trois arcs, une architecture bourgeoise du Levant’’ Michael M. Davie. ALBA /CNR

Text by Fanny Khoury