This Beirut Home Was Renovated Into an Archive of Lebanese Design

In Beirut’s Raouche district, a 1990s apartment was imbued with a renewed purpose. Lebanese architect Etienne Bastormagi, in collaboration with architect Nada Borgi, was commissioned to reimagine the interior to reflect Lebanon’s evolving design culture.

Inherited from the owner’s grandmother, the 350-square-metre apartment held architectural traces of its past - decorative coving mouldings in the reception rooms served as markings of a traditional Lebanese layout. These were retained as integral elements in a composition that places memory alongside new work. The liwan remains the threshold, leading into the salon at the heart of the home, with the dining and living spaces radiating outward.

The restructuring allowed for a more open plan and encouraged social interaction, complemented by a curated selection of works from across Lebanon’s design and craft disciplines. Furniture, lighting fixtures and various objects were commissioned locally, such as several custom-made pieces by Studio Etienne Bastormagi, some in collaboration with Borgi. These included a long, linear white sofa in the salon and wood-and-marble shelving that threads through the rooms.

Material choices were attuned to both craft and atmosphere. In the salon, warm-toned marble coffee tables are set against the textured depth of a large wall fresco. Ceramic planters punctuate the minimal lines with natural forms. In the dining room, a richly hued wool triptych,  made from ochre-hued sheep’s wool, introduces a tactile counterpoint to the clean geometry of the lighting and seating.

The renovation, still ongoing with two guest rooms yet to be completed, already functions as a living archive of Lebanese design. With a focus on local materials and artisanship, the apartment captures a cross-section of Lebanon’s present-day creative identity while maintaining a dialogue with its architectural heritage.