Renowned Italian architect Giancarlo Di Carlo may have passed away on June 4 of this year, but his influence will forever be felt in Beirut, where the real estate project Beirut Village was the last chef d’oevre of his life.
Set around the 2,500 m2 Alliance Garden in Wadi Abu Jamil in the heart of downtown, offering over 27,000 m2 of apartment space, the Beirut Village is the brainchild of Beirut Trade, a combined Emirati Lebanese real estate company. The development consists of two clusters of 6-floor apartment blocks. Di Carlo himself said to be inspired by the traditional architecture of areas such as Gemayzeh and Kantari in introducing the seven red-roofed, low rise buildings, characterized by balconies, large windows and earthy colors. Each of the 92 apartments has its own individual look and the top floors will house 10 luxury penthouses, each with a large terrace and private pool.
It is also further proof of the attraction of Beirut as a location for investment in high-end real estate. Demand for luxury apartments is still strong despite Lebanon’s turbulent year. “We aim for ‘class A clients,’ the top of Lebanese society and Arab investors,” said a Beirut Trade Spokesman.
Sales started on October 1 and construction will begin at the end of this year to be completed by mid 2008. “Solidere is currently asking some $1,300 per square meter of BUA and often offers some discount,” said Raja Makarem of Ramco Real Estate Advisers, “so I think a price of $1,200 is likely. As far as sales are concerned, I don’t think anything in Wadi Abu Jamil is sold for less than $3,500 m/2.”
Last June, an honorary exhibition in Rome on Di Carlo’s life and work already included the Beirut Village as one of masterpieces of the 86-year-old architect, who in 1993 was the winner of the Gold Medal of the Royal Institute of British Architects.
