MOMENTUM OF PLACE, PEOPLE IN MOTION:

CITY IN

PORTRAITSB e i r u t C i t y C e n t e r

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S O L I D E R E A N N U A L R E P O R T

“After all anybody is as their land and air is. Anybody is as the sky is low orhigh, the air heavy or clear, anybody is as there is wind or no wind there. It isthat which makes them and the arts they make and the work they do and theway they eat and the way they drink and the way they learn and everything.”

- Gertrude Stein -

People reveal as much about a city as architecture andlandscape. They are its soul and its reason for being, and thecity reflects their culture, traditions, and aspirations.

Acclaimed photographer Miguel Ángel Sánchez journeyedto Lebanon in April 2012 and photographed more than sixtypeople who live and work in Beirut city center. Renownedfor using the 17th century Old Masters’ techniques ofdramatic light and shadow within intimate studio settings,Sánchez’s photographs become works of art that delve deepinto the subjects and capture their essence. The resultingimages are a constellation of identities that refract the city.

A portrait of the city through its people.

Foreword

***

City in Portraits

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The GreengrocerMiguel Ángel Sánchez, April 2012

The garden beds in his hometown grew sunflowers,

cucumbers, squash, tomatoes, and eggplants. He was raised

in Qasr Nabaa, an old village perched atop a hill overlooking

the Bekaa Valley.

Then came the day when Ali had to leave his village to reap

the fruits of all the years spent learning about earth and

harvesting. It was a seasonal start when he found the job that

garnered his aspirations. Today, Ali tends to the fruits of the

earth in the city. Fresh from the field and bursting with flavor,

the crops of the growing seasons are Ali’s everyday celebration,

an invitation to taste the harvest in full swing.

The Greengrocer

***

ALI DIRANI

Fruit and Vegetable CounterTSC Signature – Beirut Souks

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The Scarf WeaverMiguel Ángel Sánchez, April 2012

The Scarf Weaver

If the city were one of her scarves, it would be oddly beautiful,

never harmonious, endearingly eccentric, and seductive.

Left with empty spaces and fragmented holes, it would have

a permanently unfinished look.

The colors…

Soft, like the locals’ timid smile and tone of voice;

Blue, fading away into the sky under the sea;

Pallid yellow for the winter sun peeking through the sky’s

Plush robe of gray; and green for the memory of the star

Jasmine and topiaries dripping from the balconies.

***

DINA KHALIFE

Accessory and Textile DesignerSTARCH – Saifi

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Les Petits ParisiensMiguel Ángel Sánchez, April 2012

Les Petits Parisiens

It was his first visit to Beirut in 20 years, a visit that made him

fall in love with the city and find his missing piece in Maya.

Skilled at creating and acting upon chance opportunities, Fadi

adopted a relaxed attitude to a major life decision: to leave all

the years spent in Paris behind and settle with the family in

his country of origin.

Establishing a small family business in a quiet and safe

environment was the goal. That’s when the concept of Les

Petits Parisiens took root, and Saifi Village was the ground

where these roots grew stronger and deeper.

***

MAYA AND FADI MROUEH WITH YASMINE, LILA, AND JAD

OwnersLes Petits Parisiens – Saifi

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The Warden Miguel Ángel Sánchez, April 2012

The Warden

Abou Saddam embraces his beliefs about upholding rules and

regulations. He follows the same regimented and ordered way of

doing things – rising early, making the rounds, and supervising

work. Under his command, nothing is left out of place.

“If a person abides by what is good, life gives him goodness

back in return,” says Abou Saddam.

***

HUSSEIN ALI MOHAMAD

Janitorial Team Leader Siyana – Beirut Souks

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The Flutist Miguel Ángel Sánchez, April 2012

The Flutist

Everyday from 1:00pm to 3:00pm, in a cafe with friends,

sounds of old places echo hazily in his ears. They feel so

distant and faint as he gathers the voices of today, in a city

rich with artistic expressions and fine-tuned environments.

Between the rhythms, he swings; his flute strives to express

what the place means to him. Home to the Lebanese National

Higher Conservatory of Music and by association with his

artistry, it communicates an intense beauty, when music

becomes a healer, a powerful expression of rebirth, a

manifestation of hope and renewal.

It wasn’t so long ago! It seems we are still overtaken by these

expressions of grace and beauty. The city is unrealistically

idolized that sometimes she is left too lonely. As a citizen and

a musician, Nabil’s flute laments the fact that the creative and

artistic side of the individual is often ignored or suppressed. He

says, “I am a foreigner touring my native city.” Maybe, one day,

the place will grow to become a safe haven for creative

initiatives and a fertile ground for self-expression.

***

NABIL MROUE

Musician / FlutistLebanese National Higher Conservatory of Music – Zokak El Blatt

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The Earthly VeilMiguel Ángel Sánchez, April 2012

The Earthly Veil

Threads intertwine in patterns to weave the fabric of the city.

Young and spontaneous, Audrey is one of the threads that weave

this fabric. The earthly colors of her veil conceal what flows like

an undercurrent beneath all the stratified layers of her dreams

and ambitions. Like the city she has adopted, she knew her life

could not be defined by the past. She added the yarns of today,

the aspirations of tomorrow, and went on weaving.

***

AUDREY ASLY

Interior Architect Dada & Associates – Bab Idriss

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The StudentMiguel Ángel Sánchez, April 2012

The Student

His relationship with the place has always been too visual.

As a child, he once visited Riad El Solh Street with his father.

The buildings looked too tall and empty; they were bullet

ridden. In Wadi Abou Jamil where he used to visit relatives,

walls appeared thick, windows too narrow, and the planters

mounted on the wall came off as stubborn.

Slightly older, Adam rode the bus to school past Martyrs’ Square

to Gemmayze. Another element that impacted Adam’s

relationship with the city was the sea. It had become too far to

reach: “The land has drawn the city away from the sea,” he says.

***

ADAM ABOUALEIWI

Lebanese University Architecture Student Beirut City Center

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The WriterMiguel Ángel Sánchez, April 2012

***

HAZEM SAGHIEH

Writer and Columnist Al Hayat Newspaper – Etoile-Maarad

The Writer

He slightly knew the pre-war city center. Before he left to

London, he used to go to Roxy and Metropole cinemas and

meet friends at Automatique and La Ronda cafes. His

recollections of old Beirut are so fragmented that the city of

today does not seem to evoke too many distant memories.

Memories of destruction, however, seem to strike: “The image

of ruin engrains itself in one’s mind more than the vision of

prosperity, or normality. War images are too resilient.”

Working in the city center was the beginning of a discovery

period, a discovery of the place that has deliberately moved past

the old picture, a place synonymous with novelty and glamour.

“The very new, the perpetual new, is against any continuity,

memory, and history,” he says. “For something new to have

meaning it must be connected to a certain past, but it should

not be the victim of that past. It’s the march towards

reconciliation.”

The writer thinks that “the city center holds a visitor in high

esteem; it is definitely an attractive place, but it would have

been even more engaging had it been more casual and

spontaneous. Maybe a public library or a newspaper kiosk,

a sandwich cabin or a juice bar would have added the feel

of a more common place. It is a transitional city center, very

much so, and its identity is growing on a daily basis. Bit by bit,

the new generation who knew little about the old city center

will feel more and more integrated. It’s the balance between

continuity on the one hand and novelty, growth, reconstruction,

and development on the other.”

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The Art Director Miguel Ángel Sánchez, April 2012

The Art Director

Drawn to images and stories, Laurent alludes to the relationship

between colors, forms, and language as he tries to exemplify

their affinity in his productions.

Inspiration starts with a tingling feeling that blossoms into

a ripe idea for the picking. It needs time and space to grow,

contemplation and variety to formulate. “I find all that at the

terraces of the cafes that are strewn around the city center,”

he says. “It is a sensorial experience.”

***

LAURENT EL KHOURY

Art DirectorGossip Magazine AÏSHTI – Foch-Allenby

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Wled El Balad Miguel Ángel Sánchez, April 2012

Wled El Balad

Each comes with a different musical background: a blues

guitarist, indie-rock drummer, grunge lyricist, and concert-

trained bassist.

They play a hybrid of rock with Arabic lyrics and electric guitar

with Arabic poetry. They are “the offspring” as their name

suggests, and they believe their “beats” will induce social

change in the heart of the city. Their lyrics, rich with black

comedy, convey the struggles of Lebanese youth, suggesting

endless layers of social grievances. Cynical and sarcastic,

they master the use of figurative language and local allegories.

***

SAAD MALAEB, MAHMOUD RAMADAN, AND MOHAMAD HODEIB

Lebanese BandWaterfront

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The ChefsMiguel Ángel Sánchez, April 2012

***

GERALDINE RAMOS MEJES AND HERNANIE LAZARA

Sushi Chefs TSC Signature – Beirut Souks

The Chefs

He is the shokunin (sushi technician or artisan), and she is the

itamae, (the trained chef, literally “with a chopping board in

front”). From behind the sushi counter, they display culinary

dexterity while exchanging banter. You see them wet their

hands lightly with tezu (vinegar-water) and pick up almost the

same amount of grains of rice each time they make the perfect

piece of sushi.

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The Gardener Miguel Ángel Sánchez, April 2012

***

GHAZI AL ABED

GardenerSolidere Tree Nursery – Waterfront

The Gardener

Originally from Deir El Zor, a fertile farming area in Syria on

the banks of the Euphrates River, Ghazi lives in a calm and

green area near the Solidere nursery. He tends to the trees

and flowers in the city center every day – watering, planting,

and pruning. He believes that flora not only beautifies an

urban environment, but that “they are also beneficial to

people’s mental health and outlook on life.”

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The HostMiguel Ángel Sánchez, April 2012

***

MOE EL ABED

Head HostSt. Elmo’s Seaside Brasserie – Zaitunay Bay

The Host

Having grown up in Saudi Arabia, Moe would come to

Lebanon on short visits during summer vacations. His affinity

with the place grew stronger year after year, until he finally

landed in the city center in 2009 with the most attractive and

powerful weapon, his warm smile. The secret of his smile is

behind his eyes; it puts everyone at ease, something that has

added to his success in a job that relies on charisma.

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The CheesemongerMiguel Ángel Sánchez, April 2012

***

MARC KANAAN

Cheese CounterTSC Signature – Beirut Souks

The Cheesemonger

Marc intertwines his career story with an ongoing love affair

with cheese. He offers cheese-lovers recommendations on

their favorite wedge of fromage from around the world.

Given his appreciation for the skill and tradition that go into

a good slice of antique gruyère, Marc is delighted to have the

chance to practice such a passion in a delicate surrounding

that reflects his careful and meticulous approach. He says,

“Every day, I welcome regular and new clientele, and every

day I make sure I have something new, something to surprise

them with.”

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The PriestMiguel Ángel Sánchez, April 2012

***

FATHER RICHARD ABI SALEH

PriestSt Maroun Maronite Church - Saifi

The Priest

Father Richard is a son of Beirut. He walks his way from

St Maroun Maronite Church in Gemmayze to the city

center every day. While enjoying a quiet moment in a cafe,

he observes passersby, their behavior, the social diversity in

public spaces, and the unique religious amalgamation.

In 1990, the city center was in ruins, and the St George

Maronite Cathedral was heavily shelled and without a roof.

Father Richard organized an outdoor event for a cause.

“It was the ordination of a priest. People came. They were

happy to return after so many years of forced interruption,”

explains Father Richard.

“Following reconstruction, Beirut has become an exemplar

of modernity and innovation,” he says. “Cities are places that

have innovative and dynamic aspects to them as well as

challenges and barriers. Beirut is one of those places.

What I come to appreciate about it is that it is not stuck in

a romanticized vision of its own past. Because of its history,

it can't be. The vibe I get, very strongly, is of a place in the

process of remaking itself, on the edge of change, where

people look to the future as much as to the past.”

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The ExpertMiguel Ángel Sánchez, April 2012

***

RAY SAAD

Master ButcherCRO MAGNON Steakhouse & Bar – Zaitunay Bay

The Expert

A meat aficionado and skilled butcher, Mahmoud, or Ray as he

is affectionately known, cuts, trims, portions, and dry ages the

prime grain-fed Black Angus Beef served at Cro Magnon

Steakhouse.

Ray keeps a vigilant eye on the dry ageing lockers, making sure

that every piece is properly labeled, stored, and aged for up to

40 days at times. From behind the retail meat counter at Cro,

he personally chooses every cut that goes out to guests.

Striving for quality is how he describes it: “I am proud that the

city has set high standards in its development and is now able

to compete with large cities in the world. I admire the vibe of

modern buildings, the organization, and the professionalism

that almost everyone is striving for.”

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The Disc Jockey Miguel Ángel Sánchez, April 2012

***

CALINE CHIDIAC

Public RelationsNada Debs Designs – Saifi

The Disc Jockey

When she was an optometrist in Badaro, Caline began to itch

for a creative career. Her professional journey shifted when

she took a job in Saifi Village with designer Nada Debs,

whose hybrid aesthetic captured her interest. Colors, forms,

and textures also began to cultivate her passion for music.

From Saifi Village to Beirut Souks to private parties, the

unbridled thirst for music fueled by design tendencies

merged into one world. She sometimes works as a DJ at

Momo at the Souks and other hot spots, where she infuses

the soundscape with unique riffs, tones, and motifs.

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The BooksellersMiguel Ángel Sánchez, April 2012

The Booksellers

You see them constantly looking over to the shelves. They

never resist the smell of the pages, even if they have become

worn and tattered. Customers spend hours in their bookshop,

browsing and examining, before they purchase their favorite

book for their private libraries.

“Bookstores or libraries are one of the city’s greatest possessions,”

Michel states. “It’s the intellectual infrastructure of any city, and it

is as important as the physical infrastructure.”

***

MICHEL CHOUEIRIGeneral Manager

CHANTAL SFEIRAssistant Manager

Librairie El Bourj – An-Nahar Building

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The ChiefMiguel Ángel Sánchez, April 2012

***

ALI SALMAN

F&B Captain WaiterJaipur Restaurant – Markazia Monroe Suites

The Chief

Legend has it that Indians drop hot chillies around doorways to

keep away evil spirits. Perhaps an outlandish claim, but it won’t

do any harm to toss a handful of them every now and then.

It was in Holland where Ali discovered a whole world of

cuisine and the effect of food on lifting the spirits. Cayenne

or cascabel spices, sweet or chili, are all highly prized

condiments serving to enhance the spells of magic.

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The VisitorMiguel Ángel Sánchez, April 2012

***

EMMA RUBIN

Danish TouristBeirut City Center

The Visitor

The story follows Emma Rubin, just as she was gazing

at “The Visitor” in Beirut Souks, when she was suddenly

captured by the spirit of an unforgettable scene. “It is like

nothing I have expected,” she says, “a little bit more than

anything I have expected.”

Drenched with sunlight, Emma trekked through the dense

history of the “once-upon-a-time Paris of East”: the intriguing

cultural heritage, the social diversity, the “exotic” food

experience, the young spirit of the whole surrounding, and

mostly the untouched bullet holes etched into some of the

restored building façades. As a theatre student, Emma’s

imagination migrated to those scenes of war that have marked

the place.

“The Visitor” is a public art installation by Arne Quinze (Belgium)

in Beirut Souks.

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The SpiritsMiguel Ángel Sánchez, April 2012

***

ELIE ABI KHALIL AND ZAHI RIZKALLAH

PartnersZucca Mixology Bar – Uruguay Street

The Spirits

It is about the “spirit” that seeps into the wood while aging

and never evaporates from the barrel. Smoky and bold, it holds

a splendid blend of aromas, liquid colors of gold, and fortified

tastes as old as a city.

Inspired by the place and the layers of history it accumulates,

Zucca formulates recipes with the most spirited layering and

fragrances, something to do with the gravity of the different

liquids. From the heaviest to the lightest, liquors are garnered

with a dash of perfume, crushed sage or mint, and served in

copper cups. The result is multi-colored and multi-layered

cocktail that filters through the soul and dissolves into the spirit.

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The DwellerMiguel Ángel Sánchez, April 2012

***

MARCEL GHANEM

Television Anchor Resident – Saifi

The Dweller

It was an intimate and outgoing conversation with Marcel.

As a resident of Saifi Village, he openly reflected about the city

center as an urban phenomenon and the rise of a multifaceted

cultural arena that mirrors the many facets of Lebanon.

“Regardless of the controversies, the end result is an oasis that

other areas should emulate,” he says.

Known for his sociopolitical commentary, Marcel’s interview-

based television program “Kalam Ennass” always exposes

current and critical topics. It’s constantly the latest and most

important events that inspire his opening monologues.

However, this time, it was the ongoing enduring story of the

city, her heart, and the rest of the nation that triggered his

emotional sensitivity.

“More images of Beirut will be reflected in the city center when

people extend their horizons beyond local boundaries and when

the notion of a ‘center’ for gathering becomes publicized,” he

says. “Only then, will we learn about the achievements of local

and international architects, and only then will we value those

world-renowned artists visiting our shores, leaving traces and

imprints for generations to come.”

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The Planner Miguel Ángel Sánchez, April 2012

***

MAHER NAKIB

Operations, Maintenance, and Technical Services Division ManagerSolidere – Beirut City Center

The Planner

He used to visit the city center as a child with his father who

owned a business off Foch Street. Today, Maher commutes to

his workplace from Saida, carpooling with three others as his

contribution to saving energy and reducing pollution.

As part of his job, he moves around the city center during

the day. He always spots something new, a flower budding,

a building completed, and a shop opening. “It is time to enjoy

the city anew, time to cherish the past and appreciate the

present,” he says. “The essence is not in comparing the present

with the past; what matters is the huge effort that we have

spared, beyond the feelings of regret, to bring the city back.”

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The Architects Miguel Ángel Sánchez, April 2012

***

TOUFIC AL-AYYASHInterior Architect

TEDDY HAJJAR

Interior Designer

Dada & Associates – Bab Idriss

The Architects

They meet in the middle of the impossible, equal partners

standing at opposite poles.

Obsessed with their space but terrified of becoming

pigeonholed, they are tied by one conflicting quest: success.

They are the constant interplay between forces: feeling and

reason, vision and reality, permanence and flux, fact and trivia.

At the collision of the “two architects,” a new space of endless

possibilities will emerge.

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The GuardMiguel Ángel Sánchez, April 2012

***

MOHAMAD BADER

Dog Handler S9 Unit – Beirut City Center

The Guard

He molded him into a reliable guard dog: finely bred, faithful,

and athletic. Together, they patrol the city sites all day long.

Understanding the importance of security and safety control,

Mohamad operates within his assigned zones with high

commitment.

Long shifts and emergency calls are routine, and he knows

how to deal with unfamiliar situations. While everyone enjoys

the day-and-night safe environment, he remains the watchful

eye that detects threats and warnings.

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The Lady of Turath Miguel Ángel Sánchez, April 2012

***

SAMIRA TALHOUK TAKIEDDINE

Shop ManagerTurath (NGO created by May Jumblat) – Saifi

The Lady of Turath

For as long as she can remember, it has been the place of

a dear old memory and the time that has elapsed.

Her affiliation with the city center goes back a long way, and

she holds it dear to her heart. It is the place where she served

for years with her late husband, when he headed a department

at the Municipality.

Managing Turath since 2004, Samira showcases handmade

needlework and vintage embroideries of the Shouf region.

“Our aim is to empower women in our region by giving

them a chance to use their skills and generate income for

their families.”

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The Urban GirlMiguel Ángel Sánchez, April 2012

***

KRISTINA ZOUEIN

Production Manager and Designer Johnny Farah Bags, Belts, and Accessories – Saifi

The Urban Girl

Between the Johnny Farah ateliers in Bourj Hammoud and

Mar Mikhael, and the boutique in Saifi Village, Kristina is

constantly struck by the charm and complexity of the urban

contrast. The soulful, chaotic, and intense street movement in

Bourj Hammoud juxtaposes with the serene, idyllic order in

Saifi Village. The richness of this contrast invites her to step

outside the box and take a chance on exploring new insights

and perceptions.

A designer and a production manager, Kristina recognizes the

value of an accessory that has been crafted by the hand of a

dedicated artisan. Skill and workmanship require a great deal

of time and patience, a commitment to the continuous

development of the craft.

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The CorrespondentMiguel Ángel Sánchez, April 2012

***

ALIA IBRAHIMSenior Correspondent

LOUIS AL ACHKARCameraman

Al Arabiya TV – Riad El Solh

The Correspondent

Personal memories tying her to the place take her back to the

mid-nineties, when as a fresh college graduate, she guided

visitors who came to witness the resurrection of the city.

“Artists, photographers, writers, architects, comedians,

students, archeologists, investors, expats, and even former

hostages visited, and I took them on a stroll along Beirut’s

history and its future,” she says. “There were plenty of wounds,

but it was a time for healing. It was a magnificent time.”

After a summer of tour guiding, Alia pursued journalism,

and over two decades later the city is still her base. Her job as a

correspondent takes her to the worlds of politics, discrimination,

and injustice across Lebanon and far beyond. It always brings

her back to an office, a coffee shop, and other routines that have

become essential in her life and that of her family.

“I have a great deal of affection for the place. Sometimes I am

irritated by how orderly and inaccessible it is; it feels too unreal.

Yet I feel I am being too harsh; I know the city is growing, it is

accumulating time, stories, and experience. Home can be a

turbulent place, but this is the only place I’d call home.”

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The EducatorMiguel Ángel Sánchez, April 2012

***

DALIA MURAD HAMDAN

DirectorLebanese Montessori School (Lemonts) – Saifi

The Educator

Early in 2000, Dalia embarked on a mission of discovery,

a journey of a lifelong learning.

Acting as an educational guide and a co-learner at the same

time, her relationship with children took the form of a new

concept of instruction, one which challenges children to take

an active role in learning. Dalia was inspired by the words of

Colombian novelist Gabriel García Marquéz, who was an avid

supporter of the principles of Montessori. He said, “I do not

believe there is a method better than Montessori for making

children sensitive to the beauties of the world and awakening

their curiosity regarding the secrets of life.” Dalia remains

faithful to the same philosophy of “seeking the release of

human potential.”

Under her wings, children grow. She offers them a space rich

with love and inspiration, an environment that extends beyond

the classroom and opens up to the wide horizon.

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The Moroccan FlairMiguel Ángel Sánchez, April 2012

***

SABINE JABBOUR

Operation ManagerMomo at the Souks – Beirut Souks

The Moroccan Flair

With degrees in Nutrition and Food Technology under her belt,Sabine landed at Momo’s after exploring other poles of Beirut.

“The French and North African destination is an exotic oasis,

a blend of vintage and modern, and a gourmet experience,”

she says. In those same exact terms, Sabine describes the

city center.

The finest of Moroccan arts is its cuisine, and tea remains a

drink of pure hospitality. It has to be poured from a distance to

produce the foam on top of it. Served à la marocaine allthrough the day, it is said that the first glass is as gentle as life,

the second as strong as love, the third as bitter as goodbye.

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The Entrepreneur Miguel Ángel Sánchez, April 2012

***

MICHEL ELEFTERIADES

Founder and Co-owner MusicHall and ElefRecords – Hotel District

The Entrepreneur

For many, Cuba brings to mind cigars, old cars, and sunny

beaches. After he spent almost two years on the Caribbean

island, it is revolution and the passionate Latin rhythm that

swayed his soul and awakened his entrepreneurial instincts.

Upon his return to Lebanon, Michel went into a few music

industry-related ventures – the founding and running of the

Byblos Mediterraneo Festival, the Amor y Libertad club in

Kaslik, and ElefRecords, a Warner record label – until a vision

directed his focus to the city center.

Equipped with a plan, in which he fervently believed and upon

which he acted, he followed a route of success – a dreamer

consumed with the need to communicate with his words,

music, writing, voice, art, and actions. With observational skills

and flair, he hunted for people overflowing with latent

potential and hidden talents, and he perceived opportunities

and saw potential developments in a groundbreaking concept –

the now mythical MusicHall, a cultural showbiz hub for local

and international acts.

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The Pearl FisherMiguel Ángel Sánchez, April 2012

***

EL HUSSEINI WAHBA EL HADARI

Fish CounterTSC Signature – Beirut Souks

The Pearl Fisher

His day starts before dawn, when he leaves Almoun, a seaside

village in North Lebanon, to take the bus to the city center. Back

home in Al Mansoura, an Egyptian city resting on the east bank

of the Nile, Wahba was a jeweler. In Lebanon, he fishes for

pearls as a purveyor of fruits de mer and fresh fish. His regularcustomers have come to trust his recommendations just as he

has grown to know their expectations.

Whenever he gets the chance, Wahba visits Mohammad Al

Amine Mosque. He says, “It reminds me of Al Hussein

Mosque in Cairo, especially during the month of Ramadan

and Eid holidays, a place that makes me feel at home.”

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The Coffee Seller Miguel Ángel Sánchez, April 2012

***

TAREK GHANEM

SalesmanIlly Boutique – Foch-Allenby

The Coffee Seller

When coffee plants were first tasted by monk Chadely,* he had

to crush them into powder and pour boiling water over them.

The effect was heavenly. It helped him stay awake during his

long hours of prayer.

From monastery to monastery amongst fellow monks, coffee

shrubs were believed to be the divine gift brought by an angel

from heaven to the faithful.

From a humble seedling with religious roots to rituals of

freshly brewed cups in cities around the world, coffee culture

has become an increasingly dominant form of social behavior.

Skilled at distinguishing flavors, bodies, and aromas, Tarek

religiously practices the rituals of coffee marketing. He knows

which blends leave a dry aftertaste and which ones give off a

floral taste.

* Chadely is a monk from a monastery in Eastern Africa

(modern day Ethiopia), the first to try the effects of coffee beans

after a shepherd named Kaldi introduced the shrubs to him.

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The StrategistMiguel Ángel Sánchez, April 2012

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KRYSTEL KILO

Senior Marketing Strategy OfficerBank Audi – Bab Idriss

The Strategist

For the past three or four years, the city, which she used to visit

for shopping and social gatherings, has also become her place

of work.

The contemporary milieu housing her office, with high ceilings,

green corners, and water features, is an inspiring and productive

environment for the dynamic and ambitious strategist.

From time to time, Krystel enjoys a break from her routine:

she fancies a cup of coffee with friends, shopping, or an

evening out, all within walking distance. “This accessibility

is both practical and pleasant,” she says.

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The LawyerMiguel Ángel Sánchez, April 2012

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CHADIA EL MEOUCHI NAOUM WITH AVA

Managing Partner Badri and Salim El Meouchi Law Firm – Saifi

The Lawyer

Another city face! A tailored suit and a black gown! Not quite.

Another city voice who “irrevocably declares that all statements

made herein of my own knowledge are true and…” Barely!

It’s the discreet voice of Chadia, a mother who seeks to declare

and advocate no more than a culture of peace, justice, and

harmony.

Chadia lived most of her life abroad. As a lawyer and a mother,

civic order remains her primary quest. She chose to work and

live in Saifi Village. “Happy,” as she says, “to feel safe and

secure, in a multicultural community and a clean unpolluted

environment.”

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The Ballerina Miguel Ángel Sánchez, April 2012

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MIA AWAYDA

VisitorBeirut City Center

The Ballerina

One day, she will get her own curtain call, and she will dance

center stage under the spotlights. She is the prima ballerina

who dances in graceful harmony.

A few more minutes to curtain, Mia impatiently taps her foot.

She twirls to join the corps de ballet. Lifted off her feet, a surgeof applause rushes through the crowded hall. Yasma, her sister

and idol, and her friends, Cybelle, Makram, and Yasmina, are

watching from their velvet-cushioned seats. They are yelling,

incessantly yelling, and Mia wakes up.

She awakens to join them at the ice-skating arena, Planet

Discovery, around the Christmas tree, and the doughnut kiosk.

Then she returns to the stage and throws herself again into her

spontaneous dancing.

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The Pigeon Keeper Miguel Ángel Sánchez, April 2012

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FARID CHEHADE

Singer and MusicianMusicHall – Hotel District

The Pigeon Keeper

Pigeons are easy to breed and their behavior has always been

an intriguing theme in the urban environment. They call to

each other and fly close to one another. One can spend a whole

afternoon watching them.

“It was during our early years in Jerusalem when the world

of pigeons drew us in. Another world, another realm. There is

the Baghdadi , rare, colored and quite large; the Egyptian, with

a narrow body and a long sloping back; the Polish, which is

small and has a flower design on its chest; the qallab that flipsover while flying, and a hundred different species,” says Farid.

Years later, down the road in Etoile Square, Farid introduced

the wonderful kingdom of pigeons to his son. This amazing

bird never forgets a face. It roams endless lands and always

finds the way back home.

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The Academic TravelerMiguel Ángel Sánchez, April 2012

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FEDERICO LOSADA CARRIÓN

Academic DirectorCervantes Institute – Etoile-Maarad

The Academic Traveler

Bolivia is his country of birth. His travels carried him to

Granada, then Madrid, Algiers, Vienna, Tangiers, Rabat and

Beijing, before he came to Beirut. Where one comes from is

merely a location. On the eve of his departure, after five years

of residency, he will be “from Beirut” at his next destination.

Perplexed by his feeling for Lebanon yet certain he will miss it,

Federico holds dear to his heart how the people of this country,

despite their deep and long uncertainties, still live from day to

day and always to the fullest. They anticipate tomorrow without

planning it, they don’t hang onto the past, they maintain family

and make friends, they clear their minds and laugh a lot, and

they seize the day, every day, as if it’s their last.

In his briefcase, Federico will carry all such stories. Places

of the city will chase him through the maze of memories –

the once-upon-a-time happiness he encountered in Etoile

Square, the children playing and pigeons flying amid military

police with machine guns and armored official vehicles, the

friendly taxi driver sharing his life story on a 10-minute drive,

the smell of bread, the chaotic order, the sea and the passionate

longing deep within the heart of the city.

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The SheikhMiguel Ángel Sánchez, April 2012

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SHEIKH DR. MOHAMMED ANIS AL-ARWADI

Member of the Muslim Council of Forensic Top of the Dar Al-Fatwa in BeirutBeirut City Center

The Sheikh

Dr. Mohammed Anis Al-Arwadi has been teaching and giving

speeches at different mosques in the city center and other parts

of Beirut, as assigned by the General Directorate of Dar Al

Awqaf of Mosques and Endowments, for nearly fifteen years.

Sheikh Mohammed grew up in the Aicha Bakkar neighborhood

just fifteen minutes from the city center. As a child, he used to

take a five-piastre (unit of currency) train trip to downtown. He

remembers Al Majidiyyeh and Abou Bakr al-Siddiq (Dabbagha)

mosques that, decades ago, stood on the edge of the Beirut

peninsula, overlooking the sea. With his uncles, he used to

visit the Emir Munzer Mosque, and Al Amin Mosque when it

was operating as a zawiya (prayer corner) since the midnineteenth century.

He pursued his studies in Italy, where he lived for ten years,

and came back to Lebanon in 1984 with a PhD in internal

medicine. Later on in his career, he pursued degrees in Islamic

Sharia and Comparative Islamic Jurisprudence.

Sheikh Mohammed hails the restoration and reconstruction

efforts that “have enriched the mosques’ architectural details

and brought valuable additions, such as Hadiqat Al Quran

(Quran Garden) at Al Omari Mosque,” as he says.

Sheikh Mohammed often roams the city center with his family.

He has a soft spot in his heart for the Emir Munzer Mosque –

his late uncle used to preach there. He finds refuge in nature

and in the sea. He says, “I still do this with my son. We enjoy

the time when we leave the city behind and go fishing.”

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The BarberMiguel Ángel Sánchez, April 2012

The Barber

He wanted to reinvent the golden age of hair salons.

Narrow places with stunning surroundings, marble counters,

chandeliers hanging from frescoed ceilings, wintergreen-

flavored tobacco smoke, hair pomades, and powders.

Bachir is the barber who knows how to fashion a style and an

atmosphere. With kits and tools as old as the profession itself,

the warm and relaxing ambiance envelops his customers with

a welcoming familiarity: a story to share, a conversation about

politics, fashion, sports, a celebrity magazine, and careless

comments about serious events.

***

BACHIR BAHRIHairdresser

MOHAMAD ABU EL HASSAN

Assistant Hairdresser

Ï Day Spa Aïshti – Foch-Allenby

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The Bread MakerMiguel Ángel Sánchez, April 2012

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MONA EL DURR

Saj Bread MakerSouk El Tayyeb – Beirut Souks

The Bread Maker

Mona, known as Imm Ali, hails from Majdel Zoun, a village in

southern Lebanon. She supports her family of four children by

baking saj bread (flat bread) at Souk El Tayeb, the weeklyoutdoor farmers’ market in the city center.

Since 2002, visitors to the market follow the warm scent of

freshly baked bread and watch her prepare loaves with the

precision of an artisan.

Imm Ali’s bread follows the paths of old generations: she

spreads the flattened dough on a round piece of cloth, places it

over the saj fire, and turns it into a primitive form of flatbread.By cultivating the folklore of tailored recipes and techniques,

her hands perform the majority of labor, revealing the tact of

the human craft, and the strong roots of an old tradition.

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The ArcheologistMiguel Ángel Sánchez, April 2012

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MICHEL DAOUD

Architect, Restorer, and ArcheologistBeirut City Center

The Archeologist

As a child, he accompanied his father to the printing services

company he owned in Bab Idriss area. Childhood memories

seem to resurface every time he visits those places. He never

thought that some day he would uncover buried cities, hidden

pathways, and veiled realities.

The Ancient Tell northeast of Martyrs’ Square was his

first intervention on the conservation of archaeological sites.

The site yielded a series of fortification walls from the Bronze

Age to the medieval period, which made it a long and complex

project. When working on other sites in the city center,

archaeological features dating back to the Neolithic to Medieval

times were salvaged.

“By preserving those remains we conserve their historical

value, and consequently the evidence of our important

civilization,” says Michel. Some of these were put aside to be

later integrated within the modern developments, others were

preserved in situ, but “the Phoenico-Persian Quarter museumon the northeast side of the Souks is an exemplary in situpreservation of archeological finds.”

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The Merchants Miguel Ángel Sánchez, April 2012

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GHAZI, KAMEL, MAHER, AND FAYSAL JAWAD

Carpet Wholesalers and RetailersAhmad Jawad & Sons – Foch-Allenby

The Merchants

In 1927, Ahmad Jawad established a carpet business on

Allenby Street in Beirut city center, a business that has

contributed to the growth and prosperity of the neighborhood.

The second generation joined the league of furnishing homes

in Lebanon and around the world, where carpet patterns find

roots in legends and popular culture. “Each design is the

weaving of a particular civilization, a particular time in a life,

a path, and a meaning. They age with their owners, and they

keep silent memories of their lives,” Maher says.

The early nineties witnessed the end of the war and the

recovery of the city’s old role and identity. The Jawad family

joined forces in endeavoring to recover their building and

breathe new life into a prominent trademark and business

location. Today, the third-generation merchants carry on the

family legacy.

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The Pastor Miguel Ángel Sánchez, April 2012

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REVEREND DR. HABIB BADR

Senior Pastor National Evangelical Church of Beirut – Zokak El Blatt

����������

American missionaries arrived in Beirut in 1823 and established

a church for themselves as foreigners in 1826 (now the

International Community Church).

In 1848 the National Evangelical Church was organized, and in

1869 a church edifice was built. It is located on the hillside of

Zokak El Blatt near the Grand Serail.

Reverend Habib Badr grew up in this church. It is where he

was baptized and where he got married, but the civil war,

which lasted from 1975 until 1990, left the church in ruins.

Following the reconstruction of the National Evangelical

Church and completion of restoration works in 1998, Pastor

Habib Badr resumed services and has since revived the

community, reaching people from all walks of life who join

in worship on Sundays, religious holidays, and other events.

The Pastor

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The Trend Trailer

One of the things she likes most is to stroll through the narrow

streets of the city and hang out at an outdoor cafe after a long

shopping spree. The city looks too picturesque. “I love that it’s

different than anywhere else. Everything about it is related, you

feel it is one space,” she says.

Rhea is an interior architect with an eye for details. She values

the built environment as a whole: the discrete blend of colors,

the religious amalgamation, and the archeological remains

deep-seated in the city fabric.

***

RHEA SHIBLEY

Interior ArchitectDada & Associates – Bab Idriss

The Trend Trailer Miguel Ángel Sánchez, April 2012

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The SalesmanMiguel Ángel Sánchez, April 2012

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SAMI AZKOUL

SalesmanNada Debs – Saifi

The Salesman

Dressed neatly and professionally, Sami wears a casual,

sincere smile that comes to him naturally. He offers his

clientele friendly greetings while his sense of humor

lightens the atmosphere.

“The Saifi Village location has its own demographics of

customers,” he says, and Sami has learned what works for

them. What he aims for is to make their experience pleasant

so that they come back again soon.

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The CaricaturistMiguel Ángel Sánchez, April 2012

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STAVRO JABRA

Caricature Artist and PhotographerBeirut City Center

The Caricaturist

“Beirut is MY capital, I see her with my own lens,” says Stavro.

The city is satirically depicted through an insatiable and

passionate camera lens – before, during, and after the war.

At every turn, moments of old Beirut resurface. He recalls

every face, street, and building. While he travels between the

past and the present, a scan of an old remaining landmark is

always in the background, a proof of how the place has been

restlessly travelling through time.

The quotidian life of the city remains in focus. All the vices,

abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule in his

“images insolites,” a photo-caricature in the Lebanese French-language daily newspaper L’Orient-Le Jour. And while he is known for drawing endless smiles on the faces of the city,

his light-hearted satire has always swallowed the most seriously

bitter after-tastes.

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The Beiruti Miguel Ángel Sánchez, April 2012

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ABOU KHALED

Narguileh WaiterPetit Café – Etoile-Maarad

The Beiruti

A narguileh waiter for many, many years, the 75-year-old AbouKhaled has met people from all over the world and has taken

pictures with most for keepsake. He says, “People stop to

admire my folkloric clothing, the cherwal. My picture getstaken at least 20 times a day with locals and tourists, without

exaggeration. I was told my photos have reached as far as

China!”

Certain in his adoption of the new vision of the city center,

Abou Khaled has crystal clear and fond memories of the past:

the Singer sewing machine shop, the one lira store, the Bafka

chocolate factory, and the tramway that used to circle the whole

city. With a voice filled with warmth and longing, he chants,

“Rizkallah ala iyyamak ya tramway Beirut” – hail to the days ofthe Beirut tramway!

Following thorough planning and logistics, the team relocated to the

“black box” in Beirut Souks. The portraits were photographed in

sequence according to a clear call-sheet. Under carefully selected

studio lights and with the necessary props for each scene, the

randomly selected characters posed under the photographer’s

influences, following short conversations that inspired the stories.

***

The MakingCity in Portraits

Design and ProductionMultidisciplinary Design Department

Writing and Editing Multidisciplinary Design Department

CoordinationChairman’s Office

and Business Development Unit

Studio SetupCommunications and Public Relations

Division

PhotographyMiguel Ángel Sánchez

Photography AssistanceNuria Tesón

Special thanks to

ABBAS BASSAM

ALI HAMED

ANTHONY NAOUM

BACHAR MAKTABI

CAROLE HAKIM

CECILE FARAH

CHARIF BADIH

DIVINA ABOU JAOUDE

GAELLE IRANI

IMAD ANTOUN

KHALED AL NAFIS

LEILA HAMED

MAJIDA AZAR

MOHAMAD IBRAHIM

NIZAR SONBOL

OMAR KHATTAB

RABIH EZZO

RAMI CHEHADE

SHEREEN SALEH

SUHEIL SOLRANA

WALID ABI MERCHED

WALID BERJAWI

YASMA AWAYDA

YASMINE ABOU ASSAF MAKAROUN

COLOPHON

Copyright © 2012 Solidere

All rights reserved. No part of this publication can be reproducedor transmitted in any form or by any means, whether by

photocopying, recording or facsimile machine or otherwisehowsoever without prior written permission from Solidere.

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