Najat from Beirut
Tabbal Building Beirut
Traditional architecture
Back in April, I attended an exhibition by the name ”everyone’s the creator of one’s own faith” and that exhibition took place in the Tabbal building on Sursock’s main street.
When I went I was mesmerized, not only by the art of course, but the architecture of the building is astonishing. It was the first time I had heard of or been inside the building but apparently it has been there for more than 100 years: the owner bought it to build a home with his beloved wife in the 1890s. Each floor of the building has a central haul corresponding to a triple arch on its facade, as well as a gorgeous vaulted ceiling and geometric tiled floors. The whole layout of the rooms on each floor screams traditional Lebanese architecture.
When you enter the building, you can feel how each room holds a story. I even found some writings on one of the bedroom doors and a wall. All these left details made me feel closer to the history of the building.
The Tabbal building was made a heritage site by the general direction of antiquities back in 1999, but sadly it is one of the 800 protected buildings that sustained damage from the blast, as most of Beirut's Ottoman architecture lies close to the port.
If you pass by this building, you should check it out, or if you get the chance to go to an exhibition there, don’t hesitate - it will be worth your while.
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