The Barn
Lebanon
2024
Needs Assessment & Design
DI-Lab, School of Architecture and Design at the American University of Beirut & Design for CommunitiesÂ
Instructors
Sarah Rita Kattan, Shoghag Ohannessian, Karim Najjar
Architects
Celine Tutunjian, Tracy Abou Saab
Students
Roupen Mardirossian, Lynn Chmaysani, Fouad Yassine,Selina Khoury, Dani Tarabay
Partners
Di-Lab, arc en ciel
In collaboration with Di-Lab, we transformed an old mudbrick barn at Domaine de Taanayel into an engaging and multi-functional Cultural Center. This space celebrates the rich agricultural heritage and craftsmanship of the Beqaa Valley, offering visitors an interactive and educational experience.
Through engaging characters and exhibits, visitors are immersed in the traditions of Earth’s architecture and sustainable agricultural practices while also discovering the region’s broader cultural story.
The center combines traditional and modern architectural styles, utilizing mudbrick and
wood logs alongside a striking industrial-style butterfly roof. This inverted-pitched roof serves as a modern twist on traditional roofing and a design element that opens up the space beneath it to the public. The fusion of these materials and styles not only pays homage to traditional craftsmanship but also showcases the sustainability and adaptability of earth architecture in contemporary design.
The barn aims to :
This project, developed in partnership with Di-Lab and Arcenciel, honors the legacy of Earth architecture and the Beqaa Valley’s cultural and agricultural traditions while illustrating the potential for blending history and innovation to create sustainable, educational spaces for the future.