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Combining heritage with modernity
About 1200 El Hosn
In the 19th century, Beirut was a city of just 20,000
people. With the city walls spanning only from today’s
Martyr’s Square to Bab Idriss, life, work and play were
all concentrated in what is today’s Downtown area.
Slowly, however, the population started to grow and
Beirut’s inhabitants started spreading beyond the
city walls. While commercial life stayed strictly in the
Downtown area, residences started flourishing in the
surrounding areas of Gemmayze, Basta, Zokak el Blat,
Kantari and of course Clemenceau. Those who were
able to, purchased plots of land in these areas and
they built their family homes, surrounded by luscious
gardens of gardenia and jasmine flowers.
Beirut
A short History
The architecture of these homes may look similar
to that of neighboring countries, such as Syria, but
the design and look of the buildings in Beirut are
quintessentially a Lebanese feature. On the surface,
the buildings are typically oriental with a main central
family room, from which other rooms extend. The
detailing however, such as columns and roofs, is
inspired by both Italian and French architecture. The
result is a unique blend of characteristics that come
together to create what today we see as our historic
icons of Beirut.
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History of the Tile
Imported from Marseille, cement tiles started to appear on Lebanese shores around 1890. They quickly
became a popular addition to the construction scene,
being used abundantly in both the most opulent
homes and the most humble. It wasn’t long before
Lebanese craftsmen caught on to the manufacturing
process and began producing the tiles locally. To the
purely functional item they added a cultural element
with the different designs and patterns we see today.
As a result, the tile became a decorative architectural feature, chosen in specific to set the tone to any
room and becoming the foundation for the rest of the
home’s design choices.
Interiors
1200 El Hosn
1200 Mina el Hosn is a reproduction of a previously
existing building in the Clemenceau area. Due to war
and fire damage, the original structure was beyond
repair. It was therefore decided that it would be rebuilt
it in its entirety, maintaining its prior appearance and
respecting the architectural aesthetic of the area.
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Floor Plans
By recycling materials from the original building
such as tiles, wooden beams and metal railings, the
building retained its antiquated feel and waste going
to landfills was reduced.
In striving for a LEED Certified building, measures
were taken to ensure that the structure was energy
efficient in terms of water and electricity use.
Even the sizes of the apartments were studied in order
to create the optimal area for a variety of inhabitants
and families. With each floor consisting of one 170m2
apartment and one 240m2 apartment, each home
also enjoys underground parking within the building.
As a result, the building is an enhanced version of its
former; it maintains the traditional architecture that
is Clemenceau’s signature, while providing additional
modern advantages for today’s lifestyle.
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Floor Plan Type 1
Floor Plan Type 1
240m2 apartment
170m2 apartment
1200 El Hosn / Mina El Hosn
MASHARIH CONSTRUCTION & DEVELOPMENT SARL
1st Floor, Total Building, Rue du Mexique, Clemenceau
PO Box 145571
T: +961 1 361 608 / +961 1 361 609 F: +961 1 361 605
www.masharih.com