An Approach to an "Authentic Lebanese Architecture (2025)

Architectural Identity in the Middle East: Hidden Assumptions and Philosophical Perspectives, Ashraf M. Salama, 2005

Shores of the Mediterranean: Architecture as Language of Peace, 2005

Salama, A. M. (2005). Architectural Identity in the Middle East: Hidden Assumptions and Philosophical Perspectives. In D. Mazzoleni et al (eds.), Shores of the Mediterranean: Architecture as Language of Peace. Intra Moenia, Napoli, Italy. PP. 77-85. ISBN# 88-7421-054X. The built environment conveys and transmits non-verbal messages that reflect inner life, activities, and social conceptions of those who live and use that environment in association with the actions and values of society. Societies however tend to re-evaluate the meaning and desirability of built environments rather rapidly. What was visually acceptable some years ago becomes now unacceptable and what was considered eyesore while ago has become valued and acquired meaning overtime. Identity goes beyond the visual appearance of the built environment and involves meanings of those built environments to the people who created them and to the people who occupied them. The search for an architectural identity seems to be a preoccupation with countries that have cultural richness and multi-layers of history. Intellectuals, architects, and designers in those countries find themselves dealing with a paradox needing to project a certain image of themselves through their built environment. In the Middle East, identity has been an issue in debate for over three decades, more so because of this region’s cultural uniqueness and plurality. However, it is this cultural uniqueness that has made it a tough quest and has – in many cases – culminated into sacred symbolism that is painful to behold or comprehend. The questions I am raising here are philosophical in nature, and have been raised by many before with no clear answer. However, such questions are rephrased in a manner derived from recent practices of architecture in the last decade. Is it necessary to refer or resort to cultural or religious symbolism in architecture to reflect a Middle Eastern or Arabian identity? Or should architecture embody the collective aspirations of Middle Easterners or Arabs? On the other hand, there are many who have questioned the need to define an architectural identity at all, claiming that it merely displays a lack of “self-confidence” as a region or as a group of nations? Reviewing the recent practices and searching the recent identity debates reveal that we still seem to be at odds with the issue after several decades of independence. In response to this confusion, I believe it is critical to examine the subject in philosophical terms and elucidate some hidden concepts. The discussion of the issue of identity in general and in the Middle East in particular would be irrelevant if concepts such as imageability, legibility, critical regionalism, and environmental meaning are not debated and somehow theorized. This paper aims at raising questions of some hidden assumptions and philosophical perspectives relating to these concepts. Critical issues that pertain to identity crises in the Middle East are debated. A classification procedure of architectural trends in Egypt is conducted to establish the link between philosophical perspectives and actual practices.

Lebanese Heritage: Preserving Values to Build Identity

Proceedings of International Structural Engineering and Construction

The urbanization of the populated Lebanese centers, along with the urgent requirement to provide homes and services for local people, immigrants and war refugees, altered the appearance of the historic center of many cities, damaging the historic public buildings and gravely threatening their survival. Affecting the direction of the rapid urbanization is a permanent conflict, between the creation of a new, post-modern cultural identity and the promotion of traditional architecture as a tentative way to establish new connections with the Lebanese historical heritage. Traditional culture and ancient architectural constructions are the results of historical processes and the products of the Lebanese society that need to be preserved and transmitted to future generations. Understanding the past is an indispensable tool for the comprehension of the Lebanese society. How can we preserve the values of the Lebanese heritage and transfer them to the future in building up the new country iden...

The Politics of Traditional Contemporary Buildings

2002

This paper surveys contemporary Buildings in Lebanon that incorporate traditional Elements, as a way to deconstruct possible meanings of this dominant practice in contemporary Lebanese Architecture. I will start by dscussing what is meant by "tra&tionalnin relationship to building activity in Lebanon and what issues do these builhngs engage. Then I will move to discuss the production of the Traditional in architectural practice. I will conclude by looking at "tra&tional" Contemporary buildings as thlngs around which social relations are problematized.

What Went Wrong? Reflections on the Condition of Architecture and Urbanism in Lebanon

Enquiry: A Journal for Architectural Research, 2007

In a short article presented at a conference in New York City two years ago, Joan Ockman lucidly diagnosed the contemporary dilemma faced by architecture, i.e. how to insert itself between a pessimistic discourse that warns of the end of time, and an uncritical surrender to globalization. This dilemma is now universal(i). It applies to New York City, where in the same context Kenneth Frampton commented on the dystopia of an “oddly paranoid, rather ruthless, instrumental and resentful landscape”(ii), as well as to other cities around the world, especially in the Third World, where more difficult conditions permeate architectural practice, resulting in even more devastated landscapes. This article will discuss issues that relate to architectural practice and pedagogy, drawing on specific examples in the context of Beirut, Lebanon, and reflecting on the impact of‘architectural education’ and the transformations within the architectural profession in this context. One can no longer deny...

Islamic Architectural Character (Between Legitimacy and Disparity)

Journal of Islamic Architecture, 2014

Despite the cultural background similarity of Arab Islamic architects’ seniors and pioneers, and the existence of<br />constants representing legitimacy, the final architectural product varies depending on the individual creativity<br />in relating the architectural elements, either elements that pertain to the identity representation of the<br />inherited architecture or elements pertain to the identity representation of the Arab Islamic contemporary<br />architecture product. That created a specific style for each architect according to the degree of their<br />conclusions, investigation’s strategy of traditional roots in their products and works, which are often<br />associated with certain values and the ambit of their interest to represent the identity of contemporary Arab<br />Islamic architecture. In addition to the existence of two main strong motives, the need for affiliation and the<br />need for distinguishing oneself and di...

The Dialectic Dimensions of Architectural Identity in Heritage Conservation, The Case of Amman city

Proceedings of The International Conference on Advanced Research in Social Sciences, 2019

In conventional areas of architectural design, heritage conservation, history and literature, architectural identity is often conceived and represented as a timeless and historically stable entity. This is reflected in particular practices of building design and heritage conservation that view and portray architectural identity in terms of aesthetics or built form, these representations and ideas of architecture portray identity as an immutable and historically continuous subject of knowledge. This paper first offers theoretical framework to maintain the identification of identity, architectural identity, and national identity. It also raises the issue of identity in general and in architecture as a multidisciplinary concept. This paper deals with the impact of local culture on shaping the architectural identity. Furthermore, investigate the transformative nature of architecture and the identity, drawing on cultural, historical concepts of meaning as a theoretical framework which discussed by theorists such as Bourdieu, Foucault and Barthesto. And also shed light on the architectural identity in the city of Amman reading and analyzing previous studies about Amman's identity to deduct the main features of architectural styles in Amman and the reason of difficult finding a unified architectural identity.

The Influance of Modrenity on Kurdish Architectural Identity

Abstract: Problem statement: This study discussed the concept of identity and the role of modernity in shifting towards globalization. The literature study covered definitions of the key words which are modernity, identity and architecture. The definition included description and issues related to the key words, which became a crucial study in identifying factors which influence the concept of change and continuity in architectural identity. Approach: This study adapted a procedure of two measuring scale Syntax analysis and Semantic analysis. The study identified checklist factors which will be used as a measurable factor for the syntax analysis and prepared a proper standardized questionnaire for (Semantic analysis). The aim was to do qualitative analysis to the influence of modernity to the architectural identity throughout the history of architecture. It illustrated the level of modern influence by western and international style that bore with its unprecedented modern concepts in comparison to the accustomed norm of the traditional architecture of the region. Results: This analysis was to evaluate negative impacts on the modern architecture in relation to the local culture, religion and environment. The case study was selected areas influenced by the development of modern buildings in Erbil city, one of the ancient cities in Iraq. Conclusion: The research contribution was to measure the level of modern influence that has damaged the traditional building identity in Erbil City.

Abdulaziz Almansour Architecture Criticism in Syria20200601 44380 1umheak

BAHCESEHIR UNIVERSITY, 2017

Architecture Criticism in Syria: Architectural Syrian Identity Criticism Before and After the Crisis. The paper discussed the criticism literature in Syrian architecture which focused on a set of points that sought to form a special architectural identity, which was as follow: • Following the architectural heritage, which gave local architecture rich properties imposed on the urban space and focus on the aesthetic points. • Develop some design determinants to fit the environment and climate within a common scale, relying on technology within a local framework. • Rational use of available local resources to produce local economic architecture. • Diversify the theoretical and practical training of local architects by defining the vocabulary of this architecture and helping them to apply the rules, symbols, and patterns that have been borrowed from previous models. The responsibility of the contemporary architects in Syria necessitates him to live the past, present, and future in his designs, innovations, and creativity because the past is still among us with his architectural heritage radiating civilization and culture and imposing itself in the vacuum. Venturi emphasizes the importance of the interdependence and correspondence between different and divergent intellectual doctrines and the importance of its reflection on architecture. "Good architecture will bring several levels of meaning and multiple foci of visual focus as it can read its space and its elements in various ways at the same time," Robert Venturi,16

History of the elements of architecture in Lebanon during the Mamluk and Ottoman periods -- (2023)

2023

In 2021, Walid Joumblatt asked Zaher Ghossaini, his restoration architect, to write a book on the religious buildings of Moukhtara, Joumblatt's native village. Ghossaini asked me to partake in the writing of this book. Of these buildings, the oldest are: 1) The majlis of the Hosn al Din family dating to the end of the 15 th century, 2) The church of the Catholic Greeks dating to the 18 th century, 3) The majlis of sheikh Beshir Joumblatt dating to 1808. 4) The church of the Maronites dating to 1820, During research, it was necessary to establish the history of the elements of architecture as there are no reliable modern works on this subject. After K. A. C. Creswell, most works became specialized in the detailed description of buildings and no one has done a precise history of the elements of architecture, especially of Lebanon during the Mamluk and Ottoman periods. In this lies the originality of the work I am presenting here. However, I must warn that the work presented here is yet unfinished. Ghossaini was annoyed with the conclusions of this research as it contradicted his own preconceptions. Ghossaini has no historical and archaeological credentials and the historical and archaeological substance in the book "Shouf Built Heritage Conservation Project", printed in 2015, is based on my researches. Yet, he wanted to hinder and interfere with the course of research, which forced me to interrupt my work.

INFLUENCE OF MODERNITY VERSUS CONTINUITY OF ARCHITECTURAL IDENTITY ON HOUSE FACADE IN ERBIL CITY, IRAQ