Chester Miller Fellow
Awarded in recognition of my M.Arch thesis work. This fellowship supports graduate research in architecture and honors the legacy of Chester Miller, a distinguished early 20th-century Bay Area architect.
Acrylic and Ink on canvas
Sectional axonometric by hand
3.5' x 4.5'ft
This project builds upon the findings of my travels in "Architecture of Coexistence" under the guidance of both my thesis advisors Mark Anderson and Morgane Copp.
This thesis examines the relationship between adaptation and preservation, in the context of Lebanon’s urban fabric, where there is an equal need for densification and cultural conservation.
My first hand experience with the subject property-a family owned building on Bliss street-provides an advantage, offering access to its internal spatial qualities and the complex socio-economic factors affecting its preservation.
This direct engagement with the site facilitates my understanding of how these buildings function internally and informs my proposal to share these qualities through interventions and additional housing units that could be rented by the public.
This project aims to shine light on alternative preservation approaches and the possibilities that arise when we rethink preservation beyond facade retention. Rather than limiting conservation to external imagery, the proposal preserves the interiority of Lebanese central hall houses-specifically their sectional qualities such as double heights, circulation patterns, and natural ventilation systems-elements that embody the building’s cultural significance but remain inaccessible to the public.
The current landscape of Beirut suffers from a critical lack of open green spaces and public areas, which amplifies social segregation and limits pedestrian movement throughout the city. The scarcity of public spaces creates a stark reality: when you have no money in Beirut, you literally have nowhere to go. The project addresses this urban challenge while respecting architectural heritage.
The project is located on Bliss Street in West Beirut-this is not a fictional site but an actual building that stands today despite facing numerous demolition pressures including exorbitant purchase offers, family inheritance disputes, and structural decay from lack of maintenance.
The house follows the traditional Liwan typology with a central hall and the distinctive triple-arched facade. This form, which opens to both the street and the rear of the building, evolved in response to Beirut’s favorable coastal Mediterranean climate.
From an external point of view, one notices how this particular building has also expanded upward overtime-creating a visual mismatch where lower levels feature ornate historical details while upper floors display newer, often less refined architectural elements. This establishes a precedent where architectural additions are already integrated into Lebanon’s urban fabric, reflecting a cultural pattern of building expansion to accommodate growing families who traditionally live in close proximity.
This particular house consists of five residential units that have belonged to multiple tenants, including illegal squatters following the Lebanese civil war in the 1980s. It has transformed both internally and externally to meet the changing needs of its residents.
The building’s construction spans different eras: the ground and first floor (shown in the physical model) date to the 1890s, the second floor features Art Deco elements from the 1930s with rectangular arches, while the 4th floor (which lost its triple arches) and the 5th floor (with a different typology) were added just before the 1950s.
Rather than continuing this vertical growth, the project aims to add new connections between existing structures and densify horizontally, preserving the building’s internal spatial qualities rather than just its exterior appearance.
The design proposes 3 primary modifications to the existing house:
First, the central hall was modified by reorganizing circulation around an enhanced lightwell. The courtyard now serves as a pivotal space around which various programs evolve and connect.
Second, the ground floor was opened to improve cross ventilation between the front and the back of the house. More importantly, this intervention invites pedestrians inside, giving them access to cultural heritage that belongs to the community rather than just the building owners. This creates a rare public green space in the heart of Beirut. Finally, two external bridges were added, connecting the Rayes building to the one behind it (currently abandoned and in a state of decay).
The first bridge at the fourth level connects the private residential units of both buildings, with access enabled through repurposed back balconies that now serve as circulation corridors. The second bridge, located on the fifth floor and featuring a greater height, serves a public function by connecting the Rayes building to a new public library and a co-working space with access to a rooftop garden.
These interventions demonstrate an approach to historical preservation that works with the existing facade while introducing contemporary elements that enhance functionality and community access.
GF with an open air courtyard and access to a back garden (for both the public and residents)
3rd Floor prototype containing 2 units instead of 1 (blue & yellow)
Last floor also containing 2 units instead of 1 (blue & yellow)
Ultimately, this project challenges conventional approaches to historic preservation that prioritize facades and external appearances. Instead, it revitalizes an entire block and creates spaces for both private and public use, reconceptualizing how architects can intervene thoughtfully in existing urban conditions.
This is an optimistic proposal that finds beauty in decaying spaces and aims to protect them through respectful transformation that honors cultural heritage. In a city where public spaces are increasingly privatized, this approach represents a form of resistance adaptation that preserves not just buildings, but the social fabric and spatial experiences that define Beirut’s architectural identity.
3D printed site plan of Bliss St and Mansour Jurak St
Scale 1'=1/128"
Zoom in of the site with emphasis on a horizontal densification rather than building upwards
Scale 1'=1/128"
Floor Plan of the 2nd Floor of a Liwan House (in its current state)
Scale 1'=1/4"
Physical model of the proposal to the site showing the modified 2nd Floor with interlocking units around a central void
Scale 1'=1/4"
Facade of the building after intervention (GF+1st floor only)
Interior view of the central hall that is converted into an open air courtyard (GF)
Interior of the 2nd floor of the Rayes Building (in its current state)
Other photos I have taken over the years as my interest on traditional Lebanese houses grew with my fascination for decaying spaces
