Beirut City Hall, also known as the Municipality of Beirut, is a landmark building built in downtown

Beirut Beirut ( ; ) is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Lebanon. , Greater Beirut has a population of 2.5 million, just under half of Lebanon's population, which makes it the List of largest cities in the Levant region by populatio ...

Lebanon Lebanon, officially the Republic of Lebanon, is a country in the Levant region of West Asia. Situated at the crossroads of the Mediterranean Basin and the Arabian Peninsula, it is bordered by Syria to the north and east, Israel to the south ...

in 1924,A Global History of Architecture By Francis D. K. Ching, Mark M. Jarzombek, Vikramaditya Prakas page 712 and has become an architectural landmark in the downtown area of

Beirut Central District The Beirut Central District is the historical and geographical central business district, core of Beirut, the capital of Lebanon. Also called downtown Beirut, it has been described as the “vibrant financial, commercial, and administrative ...

. It features a yellow limestone facade and combines various architectural styles. The building is located on the intersection of Foch Street and

Rue Weygand Rue Weygand is a street in Beirut's Beirut Central District, Central Business District. Originally, the street was named Rue Nouvelle as it was a new thoroughfare constructed as part of a modernization plan in 1915. Upon its completion, the s ...

in the city center. The building is in the

Venetian Venetian often means from or related to: * Venice, a city in Italy * Veneto, a region of Italy * Republic of Venice (697–1797), a historical nation in that area Venetians might refer to: * Masters of Venetian painting in 15th-16th centuries * ...

and

Arabesque The arabesque is a form of artistic decoration consisting of "surface decorations based on rhythmic linear patterns of scrolling and interlacing foliage, tendrils" or plain lines, often combined with other elements. Another definition is "Foliate ...

architectural styles, a mix that expresses the regional identity of the area. The building was restored after the

Lebanese Civil War The Lebanese Civil War ( ) was a multifaceted armed conflict that took place from 1975 to 1990. It resulted in an estimated 150,000 fatalities and led to the exodus of almost one million people from Lebanon. The religious diversity of the ...

and it currently houses the office of the Governor of Beirut and the municipal council. It is open to the public and for official registration of documents.

Youssef Aftimus Youssef Aftimus (; 25 November 1866 – 10 September 1952) was a Lebanese people, Lebanese civil engineer and architect who specialized in Moorish Revival architecture. Aftimus was the leading Lebanese architect and urban planner during the first ...

won the design competition for

Beirut's City Hall Beirut City Hall, also known as the Municipality of Beirut, is a landmark building built in downtown Beirut, Lebanon in 1924,A Global History of Architecture By Francis D. K. Ching, Mark M. Jarzombek, Vikramaditya Prakas page 712 and has becom ...

in 1923. He later served as the minister of public works in the 1926-1927 government led by

Auguste Basha Adib Auguste Adib Pacha (; 2 August 1859 – 9 July 1936) was the first Prime Minister of Lebanon, which at the time was a part of the Mandate for Syria and the Lebanon. He served in that capacity twice between 1926 and 1932. Life Auguste Charles ...

Overview

The Municipality was built in 1924-25 by the Lebanese architect

Youssef Aftimos Youssef Aftimus (; 25 November 1866 – 10 September 1952) was a Lebanese civil engineer and architect who specialized in Moorish Revival architecture. Aftimus was the leading Lebanese architect and urban planner during the first half of the twe ...

. Damaged and abandoned during the

, it was restored by the year 2000.

Construction

Previously located in the

Petit Serail The Petit Serail ( / ALA-LC: ''as-sarāy as- ṣaghir''; literally "Little Saray (building), Saray") was a historic administrative Ottoman Empire, Ottoman building in Beirut that housed the seat of the List of rulers of Damascus#Ottoman walis, ...

Martyrs’ Square Martyrs' Square ( ), historically known as "Al Burj" or "Place des Cannons", is the historical central public square of Beirut, Lebanon. Like the Martyr's Square in Damascus, it is named after the 6 May 1916 executions ordered by Djemal Pasha d ...

, Beirut's Municipality building, constructed in 1925 on

Weygand Street Weygand is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Conrad Weygand (1890–1945), German chemist * Maxime Weygand (1867–1965), French military commander * Robert Weygand (born 1948), American politician * Zina Weygand Zina Weygand ...

was the masterpiece of Youssef Aftimos. The building is characterized by oriental-style façades. Conforming to the Neo-Moorish revivalist school – Youssef Aftimos being its main protagonist in Lebanon – its architecture expressed a reaction against the westernization of the country as well as the need to establish a more local or regional identity. A text inscribed on the building's entrance reflects this feeling: “These are the traces that identify us: seek out henceforth our traces.” Damaged and abandoned during the Civil War (1975-1990), the Municipality was restored by the year 2000.

History

Beirut's Municipality building, constructed in 1925, was the masterpiece of Youssef Aftimos. He began to work on it after his return to Lebanon from Chicago. Prior to the construction of the new building, the Municipality was located in the Petit Serail on

Martyrs' Square Martyrs' Square may refer to: * Martyrs' Square, Beirut, Lebanon * Martyrs' Square, Brussels, Belgium * Martyrs' Square, Damascus, a.k.a. Marjeh Square, Syria * Martyrs' Square, on Quwatli Street in Homs, Syria * Martyrs' Square, Tripoli, Libya, k ...

. The project to build a new headquarters for the Municipality of Beirut, together with a small garden, a fountain and a clock tower dates back to 1880. At first, the building was planned on the northwest corner of Martyrs’ Square. An alternative location in today's

Riad Al-Solh Square Riad or Riyad may refer to: * Riyadh, the capital city of Saudi Arabia * Riyad, Mauritania * Riad (name), a given name and surname (including a list of people with the name, also Riyad or Riyadh) * Riad (architecture), a traditional Moroccan house ...

was also investigated, but the Weygand Street site was finally selected. The Municipality building is characterized by oriental-style façades. Conforming to the Neo-Moorish revivalist school – Youssef Aftimos being its main protagonist in Lebanon – its architecture expressed a reaction against the westernization of the country since the late 19th century, as well as the need to establish a more local or regional identity. A text inscribed on the building's entrance reflects this feeling: “These are the traces that identify us: seek out henceforth our traces.” Damaged and abandoned during the Civil War (1975-1990), the Municipality was restored by the year 2000.

Timeline

1880s: Project to build a new headquarters for the Municipality of Beirut together with a small garden, a fountain and a clock tower dates to these years. 1925: Constructed of Beirut's Municipality building by Youssef Aftimos. 1975-1990: Municipality building was damaged and abandoned during the Civil War. 2000: Restoration of the Municipality building.

References

* Davie, May (1997) The History and Evolution of Public Spaces in Beirut Central District,

Solidere Solidere s.a.l. is a Lebanese joint-stock company in charge of planning and redeveloping Beirut Central District following the conclusion, in 1990, of the Lebanese Civil War. By agreement with the government, Solidere has special powers of emi ...

, Beirut. * Saliba, Robert (2004) Beirut City Center Recovery: The Foch-Allenby and Etoile Conservation Area, Steidel, Göttingen.

References

Buildings and structures in Beirut Tourist attractions in Beirut {{Lebanon-struct-stub

Overview

Construction

History

Timeline

See also

References

References