Three 19th-century houses threatened by high-rise development in Beirut’s Gemmayzeh neighborhood have been preserved and reborn as an artistic members’ club with views of the historic port. Once home to a beloved local restaurant slated for demolition, Beihouse now offers a sanctuary for creative Lebanese in an area rocked by a devastating explosion in 2020 — an elegant phoenix rising from an alley of abandoned buildings.

London-based Linda Boronkay Design Studio led the design of the townhouse, collaborating with local metalworkers, glassblowers and weavers to craft bespoke furnishings, chandeliers and straw parquetry detail. The team blended tradition and modernity in the scheme — a day-to-night destination for culture, cuisine and community — taking inspiration from the city’s dynamic cultural heritage. Beirut’s wildflower, a symbol of resilience during the Lebanese Civil War, became a recurring motif across upholstery, mosaics, plasterwork and cornicing.

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Photography: Marco Pinarelli

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The experience begins at the gates, which open to reveal a cobbled courtyard around a mature olive tree. It leads into a Garden Bar just inside the buildings, with a striking custom plaster ceiling depicting an unusual relief of stars and clouds. Two 150-year-old tiered Italian chandeliers draw attention to the bar itself, faced with straw parquetry, brass and antique mirror inlay, with a sprawling green marble top. This connects to the Garden Lounge, with relaxed armchairs and coral-pink walls with dramatic cornicing.

The four rooms of the main restaurant have five-metre ceilings and plastered walls embellished with bespoke bas-reliefs, cornices and trompe l’oeil effects. These are rendered in a rich palette created with restoration artist Kareen Nahas. One of the rooms is reserved for private dining and clad entirely in mirrors.

Reviving the home’s tradition of fine food is chef Tarek Alameddine, a veteran of Noma who helms a raw bar and menu of French classics, interspersed with inventive recipes like octopus with porcini glaze and smoked Lebanese freekeh with porcini mushrooms and truffle.

The upper floor takes over at night with a sophisticated bar and lounge in olive green with a deep blue alcove, an intimate library and fireplace. To furnish them, Boronkay sourced custom rugs and vintage lighting. A private ceramic studio and rooftop garden sit above, reserved for the programme of workshops and exhibitions.

Related: See Linda Boronkay’s bold design for North London rentals at The Sessile

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