Turning heritage into profit

A short walk in practically any area in Beirut — be it Hamra, Gemmayze, Zuqaq Al Blat or Ashrafieh — leaves one in awe at the neck-breaking speed at which Beirut’s urban structure is changing. High rises cast shadows on what is left of buildings dating back to the French and Ottoman mandate, and even most of those are being demolished to make way for more towers. Yet the situation has created a backlash in the market where many young and affluent urbanites long for the simplicity and authenticity of architecture from the olden days — a sentiment that commercial establishments are making use of while preserving heritage at the same time. Today, some of Lebanon’s most beautiful and popular restaurants — such as The Gathering, Enab or Sud — have breathed new life into traditional homes by incorporating the architecture into their venue, a trend that is on the