Beirut district

Gemmayzeh

Nada Debs

Nada Debs is a Lebanese designer living and working in Beirut. Her work spans scale and discipline: from product and furniture design to one-off commissions across craft, art, fashion and interiors. What ties her work together is her ability to distil culture and craftsmanship to create pieces of emotional resonance. Nada grew up in Japan, studied design at the Rhode Island School of Design in the United States and has spent significant periods of time living and travelling the world, finding connections between different cultures. There is something of each of her experiences in all of her work. In essence, she captures the power of the human hand to tell stories that touch the heart. She calls her approach handmade and heartmade. She describes her belief in craft as a feeling that goes beyond geography, language and culture. Geometry is an important tool for Nada, representing complex philosophies with intricate, simple beauty. She uses materials to tell tactile stories, sometimes in pure and surprising forms, and sometimes with intriguing combinations and juxtapositions. Nada leads a team of 20 designers in Gemmayze.-

Achrafieh

Georges Amatoury Studio

Over the last ten years, Georges Amatoury has made himself known by his reﬁned and high-quality work. He has managed to combine aesthetic enjoyment with functionalism in his designs.His creation process is a continuous coming-and-going between these contrasted notions: hollow and solid, movement and stability, contemporary techniques and traditional craftsmanship, rough and polished ﬁnishes, mineral and vegetal materials, until a perfect balance is reached.Georges Amatoury believes that a successful design is far from fashion and trends but is more about timelessness, identity and harmonious composition of lines and volumes. His signature studio line features elegant strokes sublimated by a careful selection of noble materials, hand-ﬁnished with passion by skilled craftsmen.All creations are signed, numbered and dated on a brass plate, and will be complemented with a certiﬁcate of authenticity.-

Henry Dakak

Henry Dakak Jr. is a Lebanese designer based in Beirut. His brand HHD offers a wide range of designs including bespoke furniture, different products, and fine jewelry. Henry’s creations merge traditional and contemporary styles while conserving the art of master craftsmanship, its handiwork and knowledge. Each new HHD collection is born from an avant-garde laboratory that mixes the present and the past in innovative ways. Henry Dakak Jr. is a designer with a singular vision. His beautifully made creations, whether furniture, functional objects or jewellery, exemplify a judicious mix of modernity and antiquity, and bely a delicate attention to detail.-

George Geara

George Geara is a Lebanese designer based in Beirut. After pursuing his masters in architecture and industrial design in Beirut and Madrid, he returned to Beirut to implement his unique design philosophy. His work spans scale and discipline: from product and furniture design to fashion and art pieces. “Even in the past, architecture used to be the basis for designers,” he says. On his booth stood an extra-length drinks trolley and a modular table in marble, American walnut and copper. A leather-and-wood handbag was also displayed, while a colleague wore earrings conceived by Geara, proving his ability to design across disciplines.-

Zena Baroudi

Style, soul, and history, all in a single piece of adornment. Zena Baroudi designs unique urban ethnic and tribal jewelry using contemporary, antique, and ancient beads and artifacts. The impetus and inspiration for her creations is fed by the fascinating history and stories behind the gemstones, beads, amulets, pendants, and other relics from various ages, cultures, and religions. Her handcrafted necklaces are all one-of-a-kind treasures which individuals around the world purchase both for adornment and as collector pieces.-

Matn district

Mansourieh

Studio Sayar & Garibeh

Stephanie Sayar and Charbel Garibeh are Lebanese-based designers that work together to complete projects where each has individual opinions and personal touches, combined together to create nostalgic and dreamy pieces. After having met over 12 years ago in college, they later went on to complete Master’s degrees in Interior Architecture from the Lebanese University. It was only three years after graduation that they realized the necessity of designing together to produce the best work.Their approach to design encompasses the combined vision of experimental designs with a dash of humour using new materials and forms. They recently opened their studio Sayar &amp; Garibeh in Beirut, after developing their product design skills and exhibiting their work at a number of international fairs such as Milan, Paris, Beirut, and Dubai. Their work has been selected in 2015 and 2016 as Best of Milan Design Week and highlighted as Best of Maison et Objet Paris in 2015.&nbsp;-

Sin el Fil

Inout_

Inout_ proposes a whole new concept of living through its unique offerings. They represent some of the best brands in interior design and modern furniture. Inout_ proposes a new approach of decoration and new ways to lift up home spaces.-

Verdun

Saccal Design House

Saccal Design House aims to evoke emotion and instill a sense of wonder and ambiguity that is explored at different scales. Through product design, Saccal Design House explores design in different mediums/materials to invite emotion, and even a positive sense of confusion. Designed elements are not solely thought of as static objects; instead, they are tools for engendering actions, reactions and sensibilities. They launched their first product collection in June 2015 in Beirut and have been on a journey to showcase their designs around the world. Their philosophy is simple: whether it is a high rise or a piece of furniture, good design can generate emotion and make life a little more optimistic.-

Maha Nasrallah

After graduating in Architecture in 1983 from AUB, Maha Nasrallah had an experience in large scale projects in office practice; she started her own office in 2002 with a focus on design. The aim was to be able to develop an architectural language that responds to the local needs and regional characteristics while using a contemporary vocabulary. The commissions included private projects, institutional projects and rural development projects for NGOs and local Municipalities.
In 2005, Nasrallah started doing some Interior Design work including a collaboration with Polypod for the Interior Renovation of AUB Classrooms and other Learning Spaces.
In 2008 she started another collaboration with Prime Design on Climate Responsive Design Projects, including the Ibrahim El Hibri Social Complex for Dar al Aytam in Dohat el Hoss, Lebanon (operational since 2012).
Maha Nasrallah also teaches design courses part time at AUB since 2004.
In June 2017, Maha Nasrallah won the first prize for her work Cinderella’s Slipper, Qobqab at the Age of Ceramics competition at MACAM (Modern and Contemporary Art Museum, Lebanon)

Baabda district

Hazmieh

Alef Studios

Aman and Abir are architects designers and inventors who founded Alef Studio as their earnest contribution to the world for uniqueness and duality. To them, design is an eternal way of expressing and appreciating the exceptional splendor of this world and the magnificence of its creation. In 2017, they launched their first product design collection as a response to a calling for signature items that tell stories of today’s pretentious way of living.-

Fadi Sarieddine Studio

Founded in 2013 by the Dubai-based Lebanese architect Fadi Sarieddine, the multidisciplinary atelier is dedicated to innovation in design across a wide spectrum of scale, media and context. Continually challenging traditional design and examining it through new materials, applications and technologies, Sarieddine’s experimental approach to design is the springboard from which the studio explores the intersections of art, architecture, interiors and product design. Be it a singular object that investigates the evolution of Middle Eastern design ideologies or large-scale residential, retail, hospitality and corporate projects that champion creative excellence in the region, the atelier treats each project as an opportunity for creative discovery and cultural storytelling. Fadi Sarieddine Design Studio is located at Dubai Design District, Building Eigh.-

Mkalles

ID plus

At ID Project, they try to provide outstanding service and excellence in all aspects of woodworking, metalworking and interior civil work. As a manufacturer of high-end custom-made work, they offer countless possibilities in interior decoration, furniture and organizational units for hotels, restaurants, banks, offices, stores, bars, entertainment centres, restaurants, residential buildings and homes. They also offer a wide selection of technical standards such as fire-rated door and services such as shop drawing, interior civil work, mechanical and electrical work. At ID Project, custom made colors and designs for all manner of interior decor are also well within their domain. They guarantee quality craftsmanship, integrity and complete customer satisfaction by consistently delivering high quality work on time, every time. PIERRE BOUTROS Owner &amp;&nbsp;General Manager With more than 30 years of experience in construction, contracting and architecture, Pierre spent around 10 years in France where he was able to successfully create and sell three different contracting companies. Pierre then created and managed Tecman in Beirut for 5 years, completely revolutionizing the company&nbsp;before launching ID Project in 2005.&nbsp;ID Project sal Third Floor ICF Building, Industriale Zone, Main Road, Mkalles, Beirut, Lebanon-

Mar Mikhael

Atelier Khaled El Mays

Atelier Khaled El Mays is a multi-disciplinary design studio that focuses on furniture design, interior architecture and graphics in space.Khaled El Mays was born in Lebanon and has earned a degree in architecture from the American University of Beirut and an MFA in digital arts from Pratt institute in New York. His work tackles multiplicity and repetition, it is always a process-based mutations, and the outcome is always an instance of purity and balance extracted from pools of visual data.In 2013, Khaled launched his debut collection, RHIZOMES, which in botany means a specific types of plants roots, it is full of colours, repetition and a nostalgia to nature and the multiplicity of its rhythms and textures. As for the philosophical aspect of the term, the colour palette defines the uncontrollable aspect of the colour combinations possible for this collection.-

Souraya Ceramics

Souraya Haddad studied architecture at ALBA (Académie libanaise de beaux-arts) and landscape architecture in Montréal, Canada, where she also studied ceramics. She has lived and worked between Montréal and Istanbul. She moved with her husband to Damas, Syria, but six months later, the war broke out. They have been living in Lebanon since 2011. Haddad currently imports her material from the US because there are no materials from Lebanon that can be heated to the high temperature necessary to make ceramics.-

Nathalie Khayat

Nathalie Khayat studied ceramics in Montréal. In 1999, she opened her studio in Beirut where she currently works and teaches. Since 1995, she has been exhibiting in Montreal, Beirut, South Korea, London and Paris. Her work, whether functional or sculptural, is always based on a vessel form, celebrating daily rituals.-

Spockdesign

Spock was a dog—an Australian shepherd who did things in his very own particular way—and spockdesign, a Beirut-based design studio started in 2001, proudly carries his name. The purpose of spockdesign encompasses experimentation, tinkering, and perhaps coming up with a few worthy ideas along the way. Focusing on process and research, as well as utilizing the talents of craftspeople, in order to create all kinds of stuff—spockdesign has evolved into a small, dedicated design studio with a wealth of connections and partners in design, sourcing and fabrication. In creating an array of projects and objects, which include special commissions and exhibitions near and far, we value solution, execution and detailing along with humor, whimsy and the unexpected. We believe in spontaneous, unforced and inspired design, whether we're working on a luxury commission or a public installation. Our projects are described as honest, fun and sensible, but above all—surprising.&nbsp;&nbsp;After graduating in Industrial Design from the Rhode Island School of Design, Beirut born Karim Chaya co-founded Abillama Chaya Industrial Design in 1997. ACID, which specializes in design, manufacturing and installation of architectural detailing, currently employs 170 craftsmen, architects, and administrators, and handles projects across the globe. In 2001, Chaya started Spockdesign, a company devoted to furniture, product and as we like to call it, stuff design. He also actively contributes to Blatt Chaya, a family owned, traditional, colored-cement tile producer that was originally founded in the 19th Century. In addition, Chaya teaches fifth year industrial design at the Academie Libanaise des Beaux Arts. He has been invited to showcase in many exhibitions such as: 100% Design (London) and Maison et Objet (Paris) where his furniture as well as art installations have been presented. His work has been published in the local and international press including Le Figaro, Officiel Design, Monocle, Interior Design, and Interni.

Aakkar district

Qobbayat

DAMJ Design

DAMJ is a unique design/build company founded by architect Ahmad Khouja and based in the Mar Mkhayel area of Beirut. The inspiration and concept for DAMJ comes from the integration of several trades, fabrication techniques, and design sensibilities. Being a design/build company, the integration of fabrication realities is present in the design process from the very beginning, and this process influences the quality and detail present in their work. DAMJ is not only known for the original design pieces of Ahmad Khouja, but also for the diverse scope of work including: residential, commercial, interiors, lighting, bespoke items, art-installations, exhibitions, technical consulting, digital consulting/modeling tools, and project management.&nbsp;Ahmad Khouja Having studied and worked in the US and UK before moving to Beirut, Ahmad has experience as an architect, furniture designer, installation artist, and fabricator. He has worked at a number of architecture firms on projects ranging in scale from low and high-rise residential, commercial, interior detailing, as well as furniture design. He is a graduate of Columbia and Berkeley Universities, and was employed by the faculty of architecture at LAU and AUB where he taught design studios and seminars with a focus on parametric design.-

Hamra

Roula Salamoun

Roula Salamoun, Architecture + Design Studio is a multi-disciplinary practice that develops projects across different scales. Their projects engage in material experimentations and experiential designs from products to architecture. Their work has been exhibited in the House of Today Biennale in Beirut, the Venice Architecture Biennale, and Studio X in New York, and has been published in prominent magazines such as Domus, Wallpaper and Architectural Digest.-

Celia Abou Arbid

Silia Abou Arbid is an architect and pluridisciplinary educator and practicing designer who has shaped her professional activities in design around the critical inquiry of morphology - syntax and matter. Abou Arbid teaches empirical two- and three- dimensional design studios in architecture and graphic design, with a focus on teaching Foundation Studies. She regularly participates in international design competitions and has three winning entries and five commendations. Her current research activities involve extensive explorations of e-Polymers to create mediated geological material formations for use in building and objects.

Dbayeh

Raëd Abillama

Raëd Abillama Architects is an Architectural firm founded in 1997 which provides comprehensive services in building design, interior design and industrial design. It has successfully completed many projects in a wide spectrum of programs and scale. The firm’s diversified work includes banks, offices, commercial, and residential commissions. Projects range in scale from complete buildings to interiors for private apartments, corporate offices, retail stores, restaurant and architectural detailing. Several projects involving the rehabilitation, restoration and addition to historical structures have been completed by the firm. The team of approximately sixteen professionals (architects, interior architects and structural engineers) has the size, structure and experience to take on complex projects from schematic design to execution phase.-

200grs

Rana Haddad and Pascal Hachem are fascinated with the city as an object, an urban-scale installation, and as an industrial design project. This led them to co-found "200Grs" in 2013. The studio's bespoke pieces bring into play the craftsmanship and artisanal skill on offer in Lebanon that are at risk of disappearing. Their vision involves challenging constraints and adapting exisiting know-how as a way to positively fuel, propel and keep our city, Beirut, alive. They grew up in a city that taught them to live one day at a time and to appreciate its value. Their products are made in the same manner: to allow each person to bond with every piece and simply make it part of their everyday life. 200Grs. deals with notions of scale and genuineness in order to produce unique pieces serving a multitude of miscellaneous functions. These notions, along with a calculated balance of handwork and machinery, produce objects with an inherent sense of authenticity that is fully explored once the pieces reach their end users. Fitting into a larger discourse of thought that has been present in both of the creators work, 200Grs. showcases functional, candid and sober architectural items all the while dealing with concepts of materiality, elasticity, tensions and balance. Accordingly, 200Grs. embodies a discourse of dialogue between its creators and its end users, allowing each object to create unique ergonomic and emotional relationships with its future owner. What distinguishes 200Grs. is the way they appropriate a ready-made, in the same manner, as they tend to give a different life to a very commonly used object.-

Atelier s/z

Atelier s/z, a design store, is the brainchild of Sibylle Tamer Abillama, an artist who has always been inspired by her frustrations and emotions, which then become the engine of her creativity.-

Galerie XXe Siècle

Founded in 2002 by design enthusiasts Souheil and Hala Hanna, XXe Siècle Gallery specializes in mid-century decorative arts. Today XXe Siècle organizes exhibitions in its premises and sells rare designs in auction houses around the world. Their pieces now prevail in prestigious collectors’ homes worldwide.&nbsp;-

Yook

Ramzi Abou Fadel came up with his genuine, authentic and traditionally Lebanese concept named: Bayt-lb that is settled for a "common design".-

Mazraat Yachouh

Schizzo Gallery

Limited edition items designed and executed by Léda Keuchguérian and Raffi Tokatlian.-

MH I D

Maria Halios is a product and furniture designer. She also creates high-end, exclusive bespoke work and provides creative consultancy for customized spaces and interiors throughout Europe and the Middle East.-

Karina Sukar Gallery

Karina Sukar Gallery produces objects in various materials such as metal, wood, marble, glass. The products are raw and feel very organic and natural. “I believe in creating objects with sense-appeal. An object must speak to us.”“I like the visual and somatic synergy of finishes and material. Metal is strength, wood is warm. Together they exude powerful warmth. Marble is cold, glass is transparent. That is cold transparency. With wood, it would be warm transparency. The same goes for finishes. Raw is natural. Smooth is man’s take on natural. It may not seem obvious at first, but take a good look, and feel the material. Sense it. When you consider a single object, visualize it in its destined environment. By itself first, then with the other elements, interacting and oozing vibes. That is the sort of space you want to be in, or rather, part of.” - KS-

Tessa & Tara Sakhi

Based in Beirut and Venice, Lebanese-Polish sisters Tessa and Tara Sakhi co-founded in 2016, T SAKHI, a multidisciplinary architecture and design studio.
​
In an increasingly fast paced world, the sisters place human interaction at the core of their practice, and question our contemporary understandings of identity and living. They design both permanent and ephemeral spaces & objects, drawing from the emotional and physical experiences by incorporating senses and memory.
​
From conservational heritage residences, to modernized traditional restaurants, portable nightclubs, readapted urban designs, or satiric dining installations, their synergetic projects are diverse, playful and interactive. They range from small-scale architecture, public and urban installations, commercial and residential design, collectible objects, scenography and film. In the latter, a variety of creatives are invited to explore their designs, creating narratives for spaces, cinematography, fashion and music, blurring reality and fiction.
 
Despite their versatile talents and contrasting affinities, the sisters combine their duality to create a hybrid occidental-oriental inspiration, and collaborate with creatives and artists from diverse cultures, provoking an exchange and dialogue to reach craftsmanship and innovation.
​
Their work has been exhibited in Beirut, Venice, Paris, Milan, London and Dubai. They donated works in Beirut, London and Paris to support several NGO's in scholarships for architecture students, fund reliefs for Beirut's reconstruction, reforestation and sexual health awareness. They have given lectures and workshops with universities in Dubai, Sharjah, Sydney and London, and participated in talks and conferences with institutions in Beirut, China and Miami. Their projects have been nominated for awards in China, Milan and Berlin, and have been highly published worldwide in magazines and online platforms.

Starch Foundation

STARCH foundation is an incubator that helps launch emerging Lebanese designers, an annual program with a rotation of debut collections.

Bits to Atoms

Bits to Atoms is an international architecture office led by Guillaume Crédoz. Its practice is based on a unique creative agility, backed by 20 years of experience, to provide adequate strategies for beautifully built solutions. They explore the new potential and emergent objects that the digital fabrication revolution is opening. They intensively use 3D Printers and 7-axis CNC to produce, at an affordable price, unique and explorative designs.-

Maison Tarazi

Since 1862, Maison Tarazi has been the maker of fine oriental crafts. The family runs a company which is keeping the tradition alive today, producing everything from furniture to lighting for an array of private clients, restaurants and hotels. The team of architects, designers and craftsmen are specialized in woodwork, copper, mother of pearl and glass following the tradition of Syrian, Lebanese, Ottoman, Moroccan and even Indian art and crafts.-

Hala Moghabghab

Designer of gift and home accessories.-

Lina Shamma

For Lina Shamma pottery is a passion: a hobby that consumes her emotional and artistic pursuits, a creative process that fulfills her Wabi-sabi imperfect aesthetic.

An Architect with a MBA degree in finance and accounting from Columbia University. Lina has run and created several businesses, her latest Madame Reve; a vintage costume Jewelry Brand. Always pursuing her imperfect creative goals.

Rasha Nawam

Dawra

Macaron Sandra

Sandra Macaron is a multidisciplinary artist whose work has been featured in notable publications and has been awarded several prizes. Story-telling is how you would define her creations. Behind every collection is a tale, either to revive social awareness or to convey nostalgic sentiments. Drawn to the vintage world, each design constantly re-invents traditions with a fresh new contemporary technique, the result is a mélange of contrasts. Her work engages the full process; from the conception, to the creation and production of her own furniture and home accessories line. In addition to that, she is the conceptual designer and interior architect behind a host of venues including boutiques, residents and restaurants. Sandra enjoys exploring and experimenting with new materials, her eclectic nature gave way to a mix of various functional collections from Democratic designs hence SMAC, to limited-edition pieces, arousing and stimulating different sensations and feelings. She is in constant search of the perfect balance between ornamental and functional geometry.-SMAC showroom Cebaco Center, Bloc CDora Highway

Stagers+

Architecture, interior design and execution, furniture design and staging, product design.&nbsp;Leya Bouchedid Dib and Pia Aoun have been professionally growing together, working on different scales of architecture, and interior design and Renovation projects. Whether through staging or regular architectural work, they make sure each project tells a story. They also aim to balance between practicality and aesthetics while taking into consideration each client's taste. By navigating through their work, you will encounter several types of projects and all the services they provide.-

Nayef Francis Design Studio

Nayef Francis Design Studio is a design boutique that specializes in product design that include furniture and home accessories. Nayef Francis Design Studio's products combine a hint Middle Eastern aesthetic with minimal and functional design. All products are handmade in Lebanon, in collaboration with Lebanese suppliers using local materials whenever possible, in order to promote and support Lebanese trade and economy, and for quality control.The team draws inspiration from anything that catches their eye to create designs that blend functionality and aesthetics. Through the use of distinctive materials and customary manufacturing techniques, the pieces stand out in any home or office.Building on the bases that started the project, the Nayef Francis Design Studio is rooted in the art of simplicity. The main aim is to develop a design response that makes the most complicated design process end in the simplest outcome. These outcomes, products or space treatments, provide ample ground for an intuitive user relationship. When the complications of the design process become invisible, the product’s use becomes natural, easy and supportive.Through this balance of simplicity and design complexity, they aim to share designs that are ergonomic, practical and accessible, by intelligently reaching to new frontiers of fabrication to furthermore harmonize the modern day industrial object.-

Salim Al-Kadi

Salim Al Kadi is an architect from Lebanon. He graduated from the American University of Beirut and completed his graduate studies at Columbia University. In 2009 he co-founded APractice Studio, and later Beirut Architecture Office, where he completed multiple projects including the celebrated MINA 1394 office building in central Beirut. Since 2011, he has been a part-time senior lecturer at the American University of Beirut’s Department of Architecture and Graphic Design.&nbsp;In 2014 Salim co-founded an art collective called Sigil in which they completed projects including ‘Excavating the Sky’ exhibited at the 2014 Venice Architecture Biennale, ‘Current Power in Syria’ exhibited at the 2016 Marrakech Art Biennale, ‘#therevolutionisamirror’ at the 2016 Oslo Architecture Triennale, and 'Birdsong' for Broken Nature at the XXII Triennale di Milano in 2019. In 2016 Salim produced ‘K29 Keffiyeh’, which he exhibited in New York’s Museum of Modern Art as part of the ‘Items: Is Fashion Modern?’ exhibit. In October 2018, K29 Keffiyeh 002 was acquired by MoMA for its permanent collection.&nbsp;Salim currently lives in Beirut. In January 2020, Salim offered publicly and open-source for free download ‘Beirut 001’, as the first digital 3D model of Beirut - “a preliminary tool to collectively re-imagine our city”. Since the Beirut Port Explosion on August 4th, it has been utilized by first aid responders, students and professionals alike, including ARUP, Forensic Architecture, and Rice University’s Spatial Lab.&nbsp;-

Bourj Hammoud

Karen Chekerdijan

Karen Chekerdjian’s trajectory into designing was unsystematic, comprised of a combination of practical experience in various creative fields and endeavours. Her practical beginnings were in advertising, working in both film and graphic design at Leo Burnett Beirut (1991), and as a co-founder of one of the first branding companies in the Middle East. Karen moved to Milan in 1997 to pursue a master’s degree in industrial design at DOMUS academy, under the guidance of Massimo Morozzi, a founder of Archizoom. She continued to work with Morozzi at EDRA, where he was Art Director, in what effectively became a seminal and formative four-year mentorship (1997-2000). Mobil, a suspended hangar system and her first actualised work, was produced and distributed by the furniture company (1999).&nbsp;Less interested in making products, Chekerdjian used her time in Italy to experiment and explore the extensions and limitations of her art. She began to question what have become somewhat rigid assumptions regarding function, form, and meaning. Unknown to her then, Karen began developing potentials for dialogue and narrative – a language of designing – rather than focusing on creating a particular style. The ambiguity of her pieces, their ability to take on new functions in varied context and through different interpretations, in retrospect, became a continuous thread in her work. In 2001, Chekerdjian moved back to Beirut, the contradictory and transient city where she was born and to which she constantly returns. That same year she founded Karen Chekerdjian Studio, a space for her to continue to actively reflect and redefine her metier and methods. At the time, design was still in its nascency in Lebanon and the region at large. Rather than succumb to the challenges imposed by a lack of industry and technology, Karen harnessed an existing history to begin carving a foundation for design in Lebanon. Interested in culturally specific traditions and skills, she began working with local artisans, transforming the process of handcraft into distinct product design. The dynamic dialogue between designer and craftsman still cultivates her work and, she insists, is necessary to its actualisation and re-visitation.-

Noir Clair

<h3>NOIR CLAIR</h3>Studio Noir Clair is a multidisciplinary studio that is constantly evolving into all types of design forms. The studio is based in Beirut and consists of a talented team which navigates interior architecture projects, product design, oversees scenographic projects, curates and produces art exhibitions, and spearheads creative strategies into business concept and experiences. Their office culture is a healthy and equal space for sharing ideas; the team is in charge of brainstorming, designing, producing 3D visuals, and executing the projects.&nbsp;Their office has delivered high-end projects in Lebanon and abroad. They have also taken part in an art installation for Beirut Art Fair 2018, exhibited product designs at Beirut Design Fair 2019, and curated and exhibited several art projects around Beirut.<h3>DONNA MARIA FEGHALI</h3>With over 10 years of experience in multidisciplinary design and interior architecture, Donna Maria Feghali has been a constant in the Lebanese art and design scene for years. After obtaining a degree in fine arts and interior architecture, she indulged in an impressive career that took on many roles.Her passion for design and arts led her to establish her own multidisciplinary studio in 2012, studio Noir Clair, and Retrieving Beirut in 2016. Retrieving Beirut is a cultural platform for established and emerging artists and designers in the MENA region. As the founding director of Noir Clair and Retrieving Beirut, Feghali is heavily involved in selecting artists for exhibitions and installations, seeing through collaborations, and execution of projects.In 2017, Feghali added to her life education and gained branding experience in the high-end fashion industry. She was mentored by Najla Maatouk, a highly influential person in the fashion industry with more than 45 years of experience. Maatouk has thoroughly taught her valuable experiences in branding consultancy, identity development, and marketing for the Gulf region and Europe. Since then, she has collaborated with big names such as Etro, Stella McCartney, and Chloe on several projects.-

Anastasia Nysten

Born in Ottawa to a Lebanese mother and a Finnish father, Anastasia Nysten grew up in Finland, France and Lebanon. She obtained her master's degree in industrial design from ALBA (Lebanese Academy of Fine Arts) in Beirut, during which she worked jointly at the design studio Karen Chekerdjian, and which opened the doors to the team of lighting designer Michael Anastassiades. From 2015, Nysten experimented in her workshop with objects and interiors that combine the stories of different cultures. She has exhibited in Beirut, Paris, Milan and KSA. Some of her exhibitions include the biennial House of Today Jungle Protocol, Spazio Rossana Orlandi in Milan, and Athr Gallery in Jeddah. She won the Talent Award at the Beirut Design Fair in 2017 and the Talent Award at Maison &amp; Objet in September 2018 edition.-

Raëda Barbir

Raëda Barbir Kreitem is a Lebanese designer. Her talent, creative spirit and passion for designing handmade items grew with her since her early age. She established her brand “Raëda” in 1999. Over the years, she has designed and produced a large selection of handmade items including ladies’ accessories, along with unique and personalized home accessories and gift items.&nbsp;Raëda has always approached her profession with a main goal in mind: to create something stylish, beautiful and practical for women, and in doing so, to give artisan women, who would otherwise have no source of income, the opportunity to participate in producing her designs. Her inspiration stems from a blend of an Arabesque touch and contemporary designs. It honours our heritage in a modern spirit. For many years, Raëda has actively participated in major Lebanese exhibitions dedicated to artisanal and handmade items. Her presence in similar fairs in London, Amman, Riyadh and Cairo added to her popularity among a growing Lebanese, Arab and International clientele from wide-ranging age groups.-

Saifi

Bokja

Bokja design has consistently been a pioneer in reviving regional textile practices, redefining them in a contemporary voice. Bokja’s existing body of work is entirely produced in the company’s atelier with meticulous attention to detail by exceptionally talented craftsmen and women from the region. Combining artisans, carpenters and designers, behind every Bokja design is a team of 35 people from 10 different countries such as Iraq, Syria, Kurdistan, Egypt and Lebanon. Bokja’s textile laboratory is a representation of a diverse cluster of textile practices. With a solid network of specialized artisans, Bokja serves as a curator of textile techniques and a gatherer of personal stories.-

Adrian Muller

After graduating from the American University of Beirut in 2014 with a bachelor degree in architecture and a minor in art history, Adrian Müller moved to London as a design consultant in the tech-startup space. In 2017 the Lebanese-born designer returned to establish his practice in Beirut; a city unique in its intimate access to industry, manufacturing and skilled handicraft. From architecture to jewellery, lighting to furniture and objects of desire, Müller’s work is precise in its construction and assembly, using functional geometry across a range of scales. Adrian Müller pieces are governed by proportion, materiality, gestalt principles, intuition, and innovation.&nbsp;-

Etienne bastormagi

Nada Borgi and Etienne Bastormagi share many interests and a matching professional journey. Trained as architects and urban planners, they both worked in large practices before establishing their own individual architecture studios.
BORGI BASTORMAGI was founded in 2016 when Nada and Etienne were invited to participate in Milan’s Fuori Salone with their [me]rror project, an installation designed to reflect fragmented body parts. Both Nada and Etienne live and work in Beirut, drawing inspiration from their surroundings and daily lives.
Fusing tradition with modernity, their designs are influenced by everyone’s attempt to find moments of balance and harmony amidst the chaos of the city. In their free time, they used to spend long hours in cafes drawing in their sketchbooks. Drawing nights eventually became more focused on product design. Etienne’s artistic background and Nada’s interest in designing through narratives drafted the vision of BORGI BASTORMAGI
Their creations hold an urban dimension, while putting the user at the centre of the design – they aim to question the relationship between body and space, suggesting different behavioural patterns and offering playful experiences that defeat gravity and equilibrium. The choice of materials is based on BORGI BASTORMAGI’s inclination for minimalistic forms and techniques. Recent projects include a three piece furniture collection named Hyphens which was showcased during Maison & Objet at the Lebanese Embassy Residence in September 2019 and a range of objects designed for the Sursock Museum Store in Beirut. At IMM Cologne 2020, Nada and Etienne presented Beirutitude: Design & Architecture in Revolutionary Times, a talk exploring design processes in Beirut’s current tumultuous political landscape.

Studio Bazazo

“Studio A” by Ahmad Bazazo is a newly established multidisciplinary design practice which specializes in the creation of unique spaces and pieces. The Studio challenges the notions of traditional design by pushing the boundaries of material experimentation and precision in order to create objects of the highest possible quality. It is not driven by a given style, but rather by a principal of producing bespoke made-to-measure objects that bring light and focus into the spaces that they encompass.&nbsp; Born and raised in Beirut, a city infamous for its turbulent history, Ahmad Bazazo was part of the post-war generation who witnessed their city boom. Construction was on the rise, and with quarters of the city deemed almost unrecognizable due to bullet holes and mortar shelling, everything was always in a mode of constant change. This greatly influenced Ahmad. He was able to watch dilapidated buildings get turned into parking lots, then to hangars which hosted temporary activities, then to construction sites filled with cranes, and finally to modern-day malls and towers.&nbsp; With such great changes occurring so frequently, one cannot help but question the directions that various projects were taking. Being fortunate enough to constantly travel and compare the happenings of his city to others, Ahmad developed a love for architecture and design and the ways in which it is translated by different peoples and cultures.-

Najwa Nahas

After graduating from the Lebanese Academy of Arts (ALBA) in Beirut with high honours (Dede Hourani Prize), Najwa Nahas pursued her studies in Ceramic Design at Ecole Supérieure d’Arts Appliqués « Duperré » in Paris where she extended her knowledge of pottery and terracottas.-

Tamara Barrage

Tamara Barrage is a Lebanese artist and designer based in Beirut. After earning a masters degree in Product Design from ALBA (Académie Libanaise des Beaux-Arts) in 2011, Tamara pursued a second master’s degree from Design Academy Eindhoven in the Netherlands, specializing in contextual design. Upon her return to her hometown, Tamara engaged in exploring the tactile and sensorial characteristics of various materials. Using an array of experimental techniques, Tamara aspires to better articulate how forms and textures provoke senses, manipulate emotions and articulate memories. Her interest in materiality takes the form of multiple explorations into shapes that become materials, or materials that turn into shapes. Often threatening while revealing an overwhelming sense of fragility, her creations are creatures of another realm, somehow unfamiliar, somehow, if one looks closely enough, all too familiar.-

Dot to Dots

Dot to Dots is a design studio that creats objects and furniture reusing materials and pieces. They cater for sense-making and consuming more wisely. All their work is locally produced in limited editions, reducing waste and impact. Sense-making and efficiency comes from the process of reconnecting and sharing ideas. They find their inspiration in people and believe in designs that are beautiful and playful as well as fully responsible. They produce in Italy, Lebanon and Portugal.-

Tarek Elkassouf 

Tarek Elkassouf is an award-winning object designer and sculptor based between Beirut and Sydney who works on sculptures, collectible design objects and art installations. Elkassouf’s cross-disciplinary approach to design ranges from designing the macro, including cities and buildings, to the micro, including interiors and collectible design objects and furniture.&nbsp;Multiple winner of prestigious A’ Design Award for his collectible furniture pieces, Elkassouf regularly gives lectures and conducts workshops on the intersection of art and design. His studio specialises in precise craftsmanship and innovative design across a full spectrum of objects and work. On one end of the range, advanced engineering is fused with the work of artisans who are masters of their craft to create high-end, collectible design furniture. On the other end, the object collections introduces the complexity of handmade work to simple products, celebrating the beauty of the everyday.&nbsp;2018’s selected resident artist at the Swatch Art Gallery in Shanghai, Tarek Elkassouf has been featured in more than 20 international exhibitions and is represented in galleries and museums in New York, Paris, Riyadh, Kuwait, Dubai and Beirut.-

Opus Magnum Gallery

Opus Magnum Gallery by baalcreations is an invitation to artful living, and a brand that creates highly praised contemporary sculpture furniture, large scale works and custom-crafted surfaces for exclusive interior finishes.Imagination, passion for innovation and love of beauty, shaped by a passionate alchemist and an audacious designer, work together with pioneering technology to transform materials such as copper, brass, bronze, marble and wood into “jewels for the home” or “divine inspiration,” as described by design magazines. Opus Magnum Gallery is also “art made to measure”, since the team can work individually with architects, designers and private clients to meet their specific requests for customised solutions. Opus Magnum Gallery is a pioneer in showcasing how art and design can collide to produce timeless, original pieces that tell a story, as all are handmade by skilled craftsman to reveal the genuine properties of the original matter.<h4>The Artists</h4>Guided by their passion for innovation and aesthetic spirits, Gilbert Debs and Claudia Chahine founded baalcreations in 2005. The former develops and perfects methods, while the latter implements them into exclusive and unique pieces of furniture. Both work on imagining new surfaces to create artworks and panels.Claudia Chahine A French-Lebanese interior designer, Claudia was born in an artistic environment. Influenced by her parents who were both passionate painters and sculptors, she absorbed the entire basis that would serve her through her artistic career. With a variety of interests and talents, she opened the gateway between art, design, and architecture. Her diverse background ranges from designing residential interiors, organizing events and exhibitions, to painting, and lately, creating her own line of jewelry.&nbsp;Guided by her vivid imagination, she combines her work with the soul and poetry of the Orient, and the rigour and elegance of the Occident. Her designs are based on her daily sensibility, love for nature, history, culture, and what she calls unconscious inspiration. Her encounter with Gilbert Debs pushed her to discover new combinations of materials. This improved the richness of her design pallet which she expresses through Opus Magnum Gallery Creations. Today, Claudia introduces a new artistic and contemporary vision towards furniture design, where she unmistakably puts craftsmanship at the heart of insightful contemporary furniture pieces and art pieces with poise and euphoria. Gilbert Debs Gilbert, like most of his work, is a blend between art, alchemy, and philosophy. Predestined since the 80s to follow the family business where he worked for 20 years in research and development, he began experimenting with materials. Jumping from one discovery to another, he came up with a new way to combine materials with different properties, thus challenging their ordinary way to react. With this ultimate innovation, he created new textures, expanding his horizons where imagination reaches no limits.Since founding Opus Magnum Gallery by baalcreations, Gilbert is devoting his time to creating artistic panels and artworks, innovating unseen blends of materials from metals, stone, marble to wood, glass, sand and many others. His creative surfaces are becoming an added value to contemporary furniture and to prestigious interiors projects. His success is not only based on his talent, but also on his passionate character. From artistic surfaces to abstract artworks and panels, Gilbert is able to envision and execute uncommon pieces of art.-

Geitawi

Christian Zahr Studio

Christian Zahr is an independent architect, landscape designer, object designer, and artist. Moving between these scales allows him to blur the boundaries between these different realms with the obsession to create a new language.-

Stephanie Moussalem

Based in Beirut, Stéphanie Moussallem Design Studio is a multidisciplinary practice with a diverse portfolio of interior projects and furniture. Launched in 2015 by interior architect and product designer Stéphanie Moussallem to explore the evolving vision of contemporary culture, the studio is dedicated to improving the relationship between usability, ergonomics and style. “Design is a tool to facilitate everyday life, by making the objects around us as practical and pleasant as possible.”&nbsp;The studio creates one-of-a-kind as well as commissioned works of furniture design, interior concepts and architectural installations. Stéphanie Moussallem’s works have been exhibited at various design shows including La Fiera di Milano, House of Today. Her products available at Le Bon Marché - Rive Gauche Paris, WallpaperSTORE*, Over the Counter, R &amp; Company - New York , Lehmann Maupin - Aspen Colorado, Piasa Auction House Paris and Phillips London.-

Designkultur

Founded by Marc Haddad, Designkultur is a multidisciplinary arts platform whose areas of interest include architecture, product design, fashion design and digital arts; specializing in parametric, computational design and digital fabrication.-

Ardeco

Since 1998, Ardeco is Beirut's first gallery specializing in European 20th-century furniture, lighting and decorative objects. Ardeco is also the exclusive distributor of high-end European designer brands that have a historical notion, which can be viewed under "contemporary". On the other hand, Ardeco has a dedicated branch specializing in designing furniture and fitouts.-

Platform Beirut

Platform Beirut is specialized in design furniture for professional buyers and architecture bureaus.

Samar Mogharbel

Samar Mogharbel, born in Beirut, was trained with Dorothy Salhab Kazemi, the first ceramics artist in Lebanon and the Middle East. Later, she attended Goldsmith’s College in London, where she received a postgraduate diploma in ceramics. She has been involved in an excavation in downtown Beirut that influenced much of her work. In 2005, after the assassination of several major politicians, she made 6 booby-trapped cars using ceramics, which were awarded the Sursock Museum Prize. They were later cast in bronze and exhibited in London in 2011. She has had several solo exhibitions in Beirut, a major exhibition at the Millesgardem Museum in Sweden, and other several group exhibition worldwide. Mogharbel was awarded a special mention at the Salon d’Automne of the Sursock Museum in 1998, the first Prize of the Sursock museum in 2006 and the silver plaque at the Zagreb Clay Fest in Croatia. “Without Trace” is Samar Mogharbel’s second solo exhibition at Agial Art Gallery.-

Mary-Lynn Massoud & Rasha Nawam Atelier

Handmade functional tableware/sculptures/ architectural walls. Mary-Lynn Massoud is a ceramist born in 1981. After graduating from Manufacture de Sèvres in France, she opened her studio in Beirut. She then participated in a number of international exhibitions in Dubai (Dubai Design Days), London, Paris, the Armory Show New York, Basel Miami, Guild South Africa, Nomad Monaco and Saint Moritz. Her work is completely handmade, focusing on imperfections and mild distortions. It covers several dimensions, shifting between architectural walls for interiors, sculptures for galleries and fairs, and homeware.Rasha Nawam is a graduate of the American University of Beirut and studied ceramics in Lebanon and in the US. She has been collaborating with Mary-Lynn Massoud since 2007 and has participated in a number of solo and group exhibitions in New York, Paris, Dubai, Basel, Milan, Monaco and Beirut.-

Pierre Abboud

During the 90s, this interior architect graduated from ALBA and made a small fame in mural painting in Lebanon, and in particular, in the offbeat and humorous trompe-l'oeil. In 2005, the situation in the country of the Cedar having started to decline, Pierre Abboud &nbsp;settled in Dubai, where he founded his own architecture and event design company. Like many expatriates, his returns to the country were limited to the holidays he spent with his parents and in his village of Jeige, in the heights of Jbeil, where he likes to recharge his batteries.The events of October 17th, 2019, reanimated his patriotic feeling and propelled him into a new life: that of an artist invested in the protest movement though art and waste recycling.-

David Raffoul/Nicolas Moussallem

David Raffoul and Nicolas Moussallem have established a global presence since they set up their studio, david/nicolas, in Beirut in 2011. Through their interdisciplinary approach to their retro-futurist design aesthetic, they have staged several exhibitions and collaborated with established international brands like Vista Alegre, CC-Tapis, Moooi, Vogue Italia. The pair work in a salon-style studio environment and have fostered a creative space where their individual ways of creation can flourish and where critique is an indispensable part of their collaboration. david/nicolas met at the Lebanese Academy of Fine Arts, where they both earned a Bachelor’s degree in Interior Design, going on to undertake Masters degrees at the Scuola Politecnica Di Design in Milan. After graduating, both undertook internships with international design studios, Nicolas going on to freelance for a year in Beirut, while David worked as designer at Fabrica, in Treviso, Italy. In 2014 at the Milan Design Week, the New York Times selected them as one of the design week’s three breakout stars. Later the same year, they held their first solo show in Beirut, “Loulou/Hoda”, exhibiting pieces inspired by their grandmothers that combined Oriental and Western as well as antique and contemporary influences. Subsequently, the studio introduced its first industrial project at Maison &amp; Objet, the “Orquestra” tableware collection for Vista Alegre, which was awarded the Red Dot Design Award and the Wallpaper*Award. Since 2016, they are represented by Carpenters Workshop Gallery. Their solo exhibition “Supernova” was shown in both Paris and New York and is continuously expanding into a wide range of carefully crafted pieces.-Photos by Jean-Pierre Vaillancourt&nbsp;

Ras Beirut

Barjis Design

At Barjis Design, pieces are designed with you at the center of them, attuned to your vibe to organically embellish your space. By blending the vintage with the contemporary, they offer what is one-of-a-kind, alive, and dynamic. Their Palestinian-Lebanese heritage influences their creations, introducing dimensions of culture and tradition to the beauty of your home. They love a good story, and they want to help you tell yours. Their design process is intimate; every piece is made using fine textiles and accessories that are carefully selected from vendors all over the world. Their Palestinian embroidery is sourced from a collective of Palestinian women living in Lebanon’s refugee camps, preserving the authenticity of the craft while also supporting the artisans. For comfort and durability, they use only top of the line upholstery fillings and frames. They want your gems to last for generations.-

White Walls Gallery

White Walls is born from the joint effort of three entrepreneurs who decided to create a space that hosts a handpicked selection of furniture and design pieces. With a love for adventure and new discoveries, the trio embarked on a journey to assemble an eclectic range of products from both Lebanese and international designers. White Walls is located in the heart of Mar Mikhael’s bustling and creative neighborhood, showcasing an array of European design brands such as Ferm Living, New Works, Mater and Goula Figuera, with products ranging from furniture to lighting and accessories.-

Nevine Bouez

Following her MA in Fine Arts at the Oxford School of Design, Nevine Bouez has worked on a wide range of artistic mediums over the years. With art as an integral part of her life, her journey is constantly evolving, from painting, printmaking, interior design and intricate porcelain design, to her passion for handcrafted ceramics. Her relentless hands strive to express nature's transformative and healing capacity. Her designs have found beautiful homes in London, Cairo, Dubai, Paris, Beirut and New York.-

Nada Rizk

Nada Rizk is Lebanese Finnish artist working mainly with ceramics and bronze. She is a graduate of the Academie Libanaise Des Beaux Arts (ALBA) in visual arts, and also holds a masters degree in Political Sciences and International Relations from the London School Of Economics (LSE). Her hand-built ceramic sculptures grow from a multitude of images in the natural and imaginary worlds while being simple, organic and contemporary in shape, also bearing the influence of her Finnish connection. Rizk has worked on many series and exhibited at many national and international venues. Her sculptures can be found in many private collections. Her nine tall sculptures, COCOON ceramic installation, was selected for latest 33rd Sursock Salon d’Automne.&nbsp;“Some of my latest series in ceramics, marble or bronze like Neptune’s Cup, Bloom, Cocoon and Flock series grew out as a reaction to the war images, destruction and despair which we observe daily especially in our region. They symbolize hope, rebirth and new beginnings.” Rizk is continuously investigating art and design through new forms, textures and mediums.-

Iwan Maktabi

Hj. Hussein Maktabi, patriarch of the Maktabi family in Lebanon, immigrated from Isphahan to Beirut in 1926. Like his father before him, his passion was collecting fine oriental carpets. His arrival in Lebanon represented a new source of knowledge and expertise about this treasured art form. Since that time, Hj. Hussein and his sons have undoubtedly become premier purveyors of antique and decorative carpets in the Middle East.&nbsp;They spread their services from Riyadh and Jeddah in Saudi Arabia to the Gulf area, all the way to Zurich in Switzerland and to the rest of Europe.&nbsp;With the support of his father, Abbas Maktabi, Mohamed Maktabi opened Iwan Maktabi Gallery in 1995. Iwan Maktabi proved to be the go-to address for rare carpets and textile art in the region. Based on three generations of expertise and a rich family private collection of collectible carpets, Iwan Maktabi added to the depth of people’s appreciation for carpets in Lebanon and the region.&nbsp;-

Majd Bazerji

Born in Lebanon, yet living in Paris since 1989, Majd Bazerji studied art and economics in England and France before pursuing a career in fashion, photography and textiles. Following a string of successful accomplishments in fashion design (chief of which are a line of luxury leather bags and a series of silk scarves for a renowned jeweler), Majd focused his talents on furniture, and from the offset received acclaim for an ingenious series of convertible steel-and-wood stool-chairs.Following his instincts, Majd channeled his energy into reviving the ever-fading link between beauty, luxury, simplicity and practicality by incorporating a range of materials. Often featuring innovative design touches, the pieces serve as testament to his unconventional approach to standard design practices. By evoking a visible simplicity in materials and lines, mb-designlab creates objects that are equally functional and aesthetically pleasing, often with a hidden side, a rotating drawer, a back-rest integrated into a seat, perfection and high level of craftsmanship being a priority. The innovations developed by mb-designlab are limited editions numbered from 8 to 100. On certain occasions, they are presented in unique creations.&nbsp;Featuring in the collections of upscale galleries of Paris, Luxembourg and Beirut, Majd Bazerji remains in close contact with private clients in addition to interior decorators, architects and museums worldwide.-

Keserwan district

Jounieh

Pierre Mouhanna

P i e r r e M o u h a n n a ; conceptual architect, interior designer, landscaping architect, graphic designer, artist and thematic chairs designer. Since 1985, he is a professor at USEK in the fields of interior design and fine arts. He also started his professional career in Beirut and founded his own studio, 'Atelier Pierre Mouhanna'.&nbsp;During these teaching years, he wrote several articles and collaborated with Italian and Chinese manufacturers. He cultivates a particular interest in neo-modern and contemporary design. He has participated in several international trade fairs and has been awarded several prizes. His work and painting are owned by art collectors from Japan, KSA, Europe and Lebanon. He has designed several projects, notably private villas in Lebanon and abroad.&nbsp;-

Carlo Massoud

Carlo Massoud’s work stems from his relentless questioning of social, political, cultural, and environmental norms. He often pushes his viewers to question their knowledge of the subject, leading them towards thought-inducing confusion and provocation. “I am in persistent search for new spaces, ideas, cultures, and destinations, and I actively document, research, and collect information from various sources.” The exploration of new and unknown places is key to his creations. Through these, he finds new stories to tell and share through collaborating with local artisans and designers, creating a global narrative that stems from unique associations of people, cultures, and materials. “Collaborating with local visionaries allows me to discover new techniques of production, while using basic materials and groundbreaking technology. Our united effort creates an exchange of cultures, knowledge, and possibilities.” Having graduated from ECAL in Switzerland, he began his career working with Nasser Nakib Architect in New York City, where he was in charge of high-end residential projects, creating bespoke furniture and architectural details. In 2013, he began working under his own name, participating in international fairs, including the Armory Show (NYC), Southern Guild (Cape Town), Design Days (Dubai), among many more.-

Riad el Solh

Carla Baz

Having studied interior architecture at ESAG Penninghen in Paris, followed by product design for the luxury industry at the University of Art and Design Lausanne (ECAL), Carla Baz moved to London upon completing her Master’s degree to work with renowned designers, including Vivienne Westwood and Zaha Hadid.&nbsp;Carla Baz Lighting is, at first glance, meticulous in form and purist in aesthetic. Once illuminated, a soft warmth emanates and reveals the whimsical intention behind each hand-made work. In pursuit of a more engaged practice that reintroduces gesture back into the design process, Carla Baz established a Beirut-based studio where she collaborates with highly-skilled craftsmen to nurture the link between the hand that draws and the hand that makes. Together they work innovatively, transferring knowledge and reinterpreting techniques to modernize craft and create a distinctive product. Following several creative experiments and the release of small editions of her sophisticated yet sculptural furniture, Carla Baz received the 2013 Boghossian Foundation Design Award in Brussels.-

Studio Etienne Bastormagi

Nada Borgi and Etienne Bastormagi share many interests and a matching professional journey. Trained as architects and urban planners, they both worked in large practices before establishing their own individual architecture studios.&nbsp; BORGI BASTORMAGI was founded in 2016 when Nada and Etienne were invited to participate in Milan’s Fuori Salone with their [me]rror project, an installation designed to reflect fragmented body parts. Both Nada and Etienne live and work in Beirut, drawing inspiration from their surroundings and daily lives. Fusing tradition with modernity, their designs are influenced by everyone’s attempt to find moments of balance and harmony amidst the chaos of the city. In their free time, they used to spend long hours in cafés drawing in their sketchbooks. Drawing nights eventually became more focused on product design. Etienne’s artistic background and Nada’s interest in designing through narratives drafted the vision of BORGI BASTORMAGI. Their creations hold an urban dimension while putting the user at the centre of the design; they aim to question the relationship between body and space, suggesting different behavioural patterns and offering playful experiences that defeat gravity and equilibrium. The choice of materials is based on BORGI BASTORMAGI’s inclination for minimalistic forms and techniques. Recent projects include a three piece furniture collection named Hyphens, which was showcased during Maison &amp; Objet at the Lebanese Embassy Residence in September 2019, and a range of objects designed for the Sursock Museum Store in Beirut. At IMM Cologne 2020, Nada and Etienne presented Beirutitude: Design &amp; Architecture in Revolutionary Times, a talk exploring design processes in Beirut’s current tumultuous political landscape.-

Samer Bou Rjeily

Samer Bou Rjeily is an architect and designer based in Beirut, Lebanon. Marked by their large scale, his works explore the inherent tension between natural materials and man-made objects. His architectural designs employ wood, marble, and stone, often retrieved from abandoned houses in and around Beirut; in so doing, he reflects on the essence of raw materials, and the life they inject into past and present objects. Bou Rjeily holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Notre Dame university (NDU). He has shown his work in the framework of Beirut Design Fair in 2019, for which he received the Talent Award.-

Bab Idriss

T SAKHI

Based in Beirut and Venice, Lebanese-Polish sisters Tessa and Tara Sakhi co-founded T SAKHI in 2016, a multidisciplinary architecture and design studio. ​In an increasingly fast paced world, the sisters place human interaction at the core of their practice, and question our contemporary understandings of identity and living. They design both permanent and ephemeral spaces and objects, drawing from the emotional and physical experiences by incorporating senses and memory. ​From conservational heritage residences to modernized traditional restaurants, portable nightclubs, readapted urban designs, or satiric dining installations, their synergetic projects are diverse, playful and interactive. They range from small-scale architecture, public and urban installations, commercial and residential designs to collectible objects, scenography and film. In the latter, a variety of creatives are invited to explore their designs, creating narratives for spaces, cinematography, fashion and music, blurring reality and fiction.&nbsp;Despite their versatile talents and contrasting affinities, the sisters combine their duality to create a hybrid occidental-oriental inspiration, and collaborate with creatives and artists from diverse cultures, provoking an exchange and dialogue to reach craftsmanship and innovation. ​Their work has been exhibited in Beirut, Venice, Paris, Milan, London and Dubai. They have given lectures and workshops with universities in Dubai, Sharjah, Sydney and London, and participated in talks and conferences with institutions in Beirut, China and Miami. Their projects have been nominated for awards in China, Milan and Berlin, and have been highly published worldwide in magazines and online platforms.-

Ajaltoun

Ex Nihilo

"Why is there something rather than nothing?" That is the question pondered by e x n i h i l o, a design house that acquired its name from the Latin term meaning "out of nothing".Founded by Architect/Designer Joseph El Khoury in 2003, e x n i h i l o's domain encompasses all that relates to design, the philosophical aspect remains at the core of its concept.Beside producing finished design items and furniture in limited edition, e x n i h i l o also offers design and interior architecture studies, custom-made products and corporate gifts tailored to reflect the identity of the corporation. Clients range from individual customers to major companies in Lebanon and the region.e x n i h i l o has participated in annual exhibitions in Lebanon, as well as international fairs held in New York, San Francisco, France and Montreal.-

Pik'd

PIK’D is the most recent top destination for art and design lovers. Founded by Randa Missir, PIK’D brings together internationally renowned artists as well as the best talented Lebanese designers, in a contemporary and one of a kind gallery. Randa Missir has set a high bar for the pieces the high-end collectors, architects and art lovers choose to put out in their homes and projects. Every art piece is one of a kind,l which provide a unique and very personalized atmosphere for each interior. From over 20 different countries, PIK’D showcases award-winning artists who have demonstrated exceptional creativity and outstanding achievement. Most of them distinguished themselves as they become timeless by being included in famous museums such as the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Met, MOMA. PIK’D highlights exclusive pieces from unique ceramics sculpture to one of a kind handmade porcelain from around the world.-

Tarek Elkassouf

Tarek Elkassouf is an award-winning object designer and sculptor based between Beirut and Sydney who works on sculptures, collectible design objects and art installations.
Elkassouf’s cross-disciplinary approach to design ranges from designing the macro, including cities and buildings, to the micro including interiors and collectible design objects and furniture.
Multiple winner of prestigious A’ Design Award for his collectible furniture pieces, Elkassouf regularly speaks and conducts workshops on the intersection of art and design.
His studio specialises in precise craftsmanship and innovative design across a full spectrum of objects and work.
On one end of the range, advanced engineering is fused with the work of artisans who are masters of their craft to create high-end, collectible design furniture.
On the other hand, the object collections introduces the complexity of handmade work to simple products, celebrating the beauty of the everyday.
2018’s selected resident artist at the Swatch Art Gallery in Shanghai, Tarek Elkassouf has been featured at more than 20 international exhibitions, and is represented in galleries and museums in New York, Paris, Riyadh, Kuwait, Dubai and Beirut.

Thomas Trad Design Studio

Thomas Trad is a product designer from Beirut.&nbsp;An alumnus of London’s prestigious Central Saint Martins, he worked with world renowned studios Fredrikson Stallard and Michael Anastassiades before returning to Beirut in 2016 to launch his own design studio. His design aesthetic comes from a fascination of manufacturing processes, craftsmanship and the beauty of materials.&nbsp;-

Sodeco

Galerie Pierre Ghattas

Designers Jean Prouvé, Paul Evans, Reymond Loewy, Philippe Hiquilly and many others among a host of American and European artists have found an exceptional haven in the heart of Ashrafieh (Beirut). Established in 1998, the Pierre Ghattas Gallery collects and presents art and design pieces from the 1930s to the present day, and has earned an undisputed reputation for its diverse, rare and high-end pieces. A true design archaeologist, Dr. Pierre Ghattas is always on the lookout for new discoveries, establishing his gallery as a reference for art and design collectors in Lebanon. Lamps, paintings, furniture communicate in a three-story space of 600sqm under one denominator: quality and value.-

Effet Design

Effet design is an innovative and contemporary Lebanese boutique for home accessories and art-de-la-table established in 2005. Items are made of different materials such as copper, stainless steel, nickel, acrylics, leather, wood, concrete, etc… The range of products expands as far as customization and special desiging of tablecloths, to runners and placemats made out of fine fabrics (silk, organdi, organza, linen…).-

Booabood

Booabbood was created in 2014 in Beirut, Lebanon by Amanda and Joe Bou Abboud.Having met at university, Amanda and Joe both graduated with a Master in Interior Architecture, specializing in product design. After originally designing individual works focusing on lighting, interiors and artisanal products for more than a decade, Amanda and Joe thought it was time to finally come together, in terms of both marriage and business. The two soon realized that their skills and design approach complement each other greatly. This is how they started to adopt creative design solutions to everyday items that enhance their lifestyle, ranging from various home and personal products. From there, the story of Booabbood was created, born from the minds of two skilled designers who work together to create memorable and meaningful designs for their and everyone’s home.Booabbood has since established itself as a global presence with its unique and unexpected designs, with various publications in international articles, magazines and blogs, and exhibitions in galleries for design week, from Beirut and Dubai to Milan and Paris. Now, their studio and inspiration has grown, drawing inspiration from their life together, their travels and personal memories, and now their family is growing. With this will come more needs, inspiration and more creation and design.Booabbood is about designing their story, and they want to share it with you.-

Joyce Samaha

Joyce Samaha is a Lebanese ceramicist. She holds a license in Arts and Communication from LAU, and spent a decade in the field of films and documentaries before discovering the art of ceramics, a medium through which she was able to meet her own and that of herself. In 2016, she made her passion a reality by creating the Earthing Ceramic Studio, which quickly became a renowned creative space, specially dedicated to apprentices.-

Mawsam Design

Handmade products created with the utmost care. Skilled artisans apply ancient Lebanese craft techniques to make each Mawsam product, using wood, metal, brass and other materials. The resulting pieces are both traditional and contemporary. Each Mawsam piece is unique, encapsulating Lebanon’s rich cultural legacy and modern design flair, while providing a window to the future.Ziad Abi Karam is an architect with two masters degrees; one in restoration, and another in landscaping. Although he runs his own architectural practice, he launched Mawsam as a separate product brand in 2018.-

Downtown

Najla el-Zein

Najla El Zein's artworks explore the relationship between form, use and space. Intrigued by their dialogue, Najla stresses the importance in the expression of an object, derived by her personal observations and experiences. Born in Beirut in 1983, she was raised in Paris, France where she graduated from Ecole Camondo in product design and interior architecture. Her work has been exhibited at numerous public institutions and acquired by museums such as the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Dallas Museum of Art for their permanent collections. El Zein currently lives between Amsterdam and Beirut.-

Jisr el Wati

Studio Manda

Studio Manda specializes in the creation of timeless furniture pieces, interior design projects and commissioned works, founded in Lebanon, by architect and designer, Georges Mohasseb. Located in Beirut, the multidisciplinary studio space boasts an inspiring fusion of international cultures, reflecting an appreciation for high-quality crafts and artisanal works. Studio Manda adopts advanced design techniques and processes, collaborating closely with artisans in Lebanon. Every limited edition piece at Studio Manda undergoes a comprehensive design process, from initial sketches to creating replicas to scale, to modeling and experimenting with different materials. With its own in-house fabrication and innovation lab (FABLAB), design ideas and concepts develop and mature through research, trial, error, analysis, modification and reconstruction.&nbsp;Studio Manda’s interior projects are designed to offer a harmonious flow between architecture and furniture. The design process entails attention to every detail in commercial, hospitality and residential projects, bringing touches of elegance and whimsicality to life, in spaces all around the world.&nbsp;Studio Manda’s pieces are exhibited at international design fairs as well as solo showcases. Select pieces are represented by Carwan Gallery in Athens and Gallerie Gosserez in Paris, with close collaborations with Galerie Gabriel in New York and Le LAB in Cairo. Its timeless pieces are also available at Studio Van Den Akker in New York and Los Angeles.&nbsp;-

Sahar Bizri Design

Sahar Bizri design, Interior Architect and product designer. She introduces functional home furniture and accessories that combine innovative mechanics and contemporary design.-

On/Off

ON/OFF is a design stage, featuring ON/OFF shows and launching products by Wyssem and Cecile Nochi, in limited batch editions and one-offs. It is a design research and development consultancy, for urban design, architecture, interior architecture and design, product, and furniture design, a platform for independent multidisciplinary creatives, with studios and galleries all over Beirut.-

Inndesign

Founded by Cynthia Tambourgi Rizk, architect, and Joelle Maroun Sarraf, interior architect, in 2008, InnDesign is an Architecture &amp; Interior Design practice based in Beirut.They have established themselves as one of the leading design practices within the region, and continue to expand their scope of work locally and beyond borders.Associate Rizkallah Chaaraoui, Architect, Head of the Interdisciplinary Design Division, has launched a recently established Material Research Department, creating material-based bespoke designs.InnDesign are renowned for their precision, attention to detail, and modern interpretation of space. CYNTHIA TAMBOURGI RIZK Graduated with honours in 2000 from the Lebanese Academy of Fine Arts (ALBA) with a Master's degree in architecture. Worked for over one year at "AAA, Atelier des Architectes Associés" and later joined GM Architects, leading interesting projects throughout the world, mainly in Asia and Europe. Eight years later, having gained years of experience and worked on a multitude of diverse assignments, the time was right to open her own firm.&nbsp;JOELLE MAROUN SARRAF Graduated in 2001 from the Lebanese Academy of Fine Arts (ALBA) with a Master's degree in interior design. Upon graduation, she worked for "Jean Louis Mainguy Architecture Interieur" where she handled various residential and public projects in Lebanon and abroad. In 2006, she joined "GM Architects" and gained experience in designing large scale resorts and hotels in the region. In 2008, Joelle decided to establish INNDESIGN in partnership with Cynthia.&nbsp;RIZKALLAH CHAARAOUI Completed a Post-Professional Master’s degree of Science in Architecture with a concentration in Material Systems at the Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning (TCAUP), University of Michigan, in 2014. Graduated with Honors in 2012 from the Lebanese Academy of Fine Arts (ALBA) with a Master's degree in Architecture. In July of 2014, he rejoined INNDESIGN as Head of the Interdisciplinary Design Division, focused on material research in the fields of architecture, interior design and furniture making. He is currently exploring new venues in material configuration and actuation through the use of wood veneers, textiles and metal alloys. He has been involved with INNDESIGN since 2008.-

Sibylle Tarazi

Sibylle Tarazi is a product designer and aesthete based in Beirut, Lebanon. Raised in Beirut, Paris and Rome, she graduated in Graphic design with a minor in Fine arts from the American University of Beirut in 2002, and with a Master’s degree in Accessories design specializing in jewelry from Milan’s Domus Academy in 2007.Born to a family of archaeologists, designers and craftsmen specializing in Middle Eastern art, Sibylle was inevitably immersed in a stimulating historical and contemporary art milieu which clearly stands out in her art.Sibylle’s work displays her talent in transforming iconic pieces originally embodying traditional crafts into jeweled objets d’art; objects which will be heritage pieces in the future. Each piece is handmade in Beirut by a selection of outstanding craftsmen, discovered and selected by Sibylle – men, who are her kindred spirits, who while preserving the traditions and techniques of their heritage, are able to implement her contemporary vision of their craft.Fusing the ancient with the modern, she creates a dialogue between the past, present, and future. Tarazi’s distinctive and conceptually-based designs are translated through the “noble materials” that best express them. Indeed, it is this singular blend of life and matter that symbolizes the beauty of her work, and enables her to create such unique pieces. Pieces that are architectural in form, prompting to be touched and urging to be used by art collectors. Her work has been exhibited at the Paris Design week, Milan Design week, Sursock Museum, and in Beirut, and published in Skira, Wallpaper* magazine, AD amongst others.-

Wear Zed - Achrafieh