The Value of the Existing is an architectural exercise focusing on Bourj Hammoud, a densely populated, relatively lower-income neighborhood located in the eastern suburbs of Beirut, just beyond the Beirut River.
By recognizing the value in the existing before intervening, the study explores how minimal yet intentional design strategies can enhance spatial and living quality, as well as climate comfort, within the economic constraints of a neighborhood where space is a luxury and public areas are nearly absent.
These refugees first lived in camps on the shores of Beirut, in makeshift quarantine cities, before being relocated about a kilometer inland to what is now Bourj Hammoud.
Architecturally, the neighborhood might seem overwhelming at first glance. Unregulated construction, years of neglect, and the scars of wars and crises are evident. Yet beneath this apparent “chaos” lies an intricate ecosystem—a product of decades of shared effort, struggle, culture, and knowledge, countless values not only worth preserving but also amplifying.
With limited space for new construction in its tightly packed streets, the neighborhood rarely builds from scratch. Instead, it morphs like a living organism, continually adapting to the needs of newcomers through constant, incremental mutations. This fluidity, made possible by blurred ownership boundaries, minimal government intervention, and the ingenuity of its residents, allows those who might never afford ownership to actively participate in shaping their environment.
However, this patchwork of unorganized and unsupervised interventions is far from perfect. While there is much to learn from these adaptations, more could be done—and done better.
Bourj Hammoud is where I grew up, where I first understood what space and its design truly
mean—how inseparable and valuable they are, and how their manipulation, big or small, affects
the lives of inhabitants and their societies, for better or worse.
This architectural study emerged from this understanding—not from a commission, but from personal curiosity and care. It began with the aim of discovering a local, economical, and sustainable architectural strategy to improve the lives of Bourj Hammoud’s residents. Officially launched at the end of 2022, this research project has, at its core, been a lifetime in the making.
This architectural study emerged from this understanding—not from a commission, but from personal curiosity and care. It began with the aim of discovering a local, economical, and sustainable architectural strategy to improve the lives of Bourj Hammoud’s residents. Officially launched at the end of 2022, this research project has, at its core, been a lifetime in the making.
Room for Improvement
Bourj Hammoud’s density leaves little open space, yet a closer survey of the neighborhood revealed a surprising abundance of overlooked spatial opportunities—underutilized or abandoned buildings left vacant due to economic hardship, ownership disputes, or neglect . Ultimately, the study narrowed these down to three specific sites for intervention, selected not only for their potential to serve the community but also for their architectural qualities, accessibility, cultural significance, and feasibility of intervention given their ownership and spatial conditions.