ميراث سنتر

Beirut Arab university, Faculty of Architecture, Tripoli

Project idea

“Mirath Center” is a cultural and folklore heritage center located in Smar Jbeil, designed to revive and celebrate Lebanon’s intangible cultural heritage through a contemporary architectural approach that reflects local identity and serves the community. The project is founded on the idea that folklore is not a relic of the past, but a living resource that can be reactivated in the present through arts, crafts, oral storytelling, and participatory social experiences.

This project emerges in response to the growing need to protect cultural identity amidst rapid urban and societal changes. It aims to create an interactive space that combines exhibition, learning, and community engagement within a sustainable environment rooted in the local context—through materials, architectural language, and details inspired by regional elements.

By integrating traditional components with modern techniques, Mirath aspires to be an architectural model that strengthens cultural awareness and belonging, offering visitors an opportunity to explore their heritage in fresh and meaningful ways.

Project description

"Mirath Center" is a multifunctional cultural project aimed at creating an inclusive architectural space dedicated to preserving and reactivating Lebanese folklore within an interactive community framework. The functional program of the center includes spaces for traditional performances, workshops for artisanal crafts, educational areas, a permanent folklore exhibition, an archival library, and outdoor gardens for recreational and interactive activities.

The architectural solution focuses on integrating the center into the natural and topographic context of Smar Jbeil by using an inclined green roof that doubles as an open-air amphitheater, and by employing local materials and details inspired by traditional architecture in a modern interpretation.

The scope of the project extends to social and environmental dimensions, aiming to serve as a meeting point between generations, a space for community engagement, and a model of cultural and architectural sustainability over time. The design also accommodates flexibility and adaptability for a variety of cultural events year-round, establishing the center as a lasting cultural landmark in the region.

Technical information

The Mirath Center project is located in Smar Jbeil, Northern Lebanon, and features an advanced structural system based on steel framing using steel trusses to cover large open spaces, combined with post-tensioned concrete slabs that allow for wide spans without interior columns. The main construction materials include locally sourced natural stone for facade cladding, double-glazed thermal insulating glass, and treated wood used for exterior details and shading elements, complemented by green roofs that integrate the building with the surrounding natural landscape. The project incorporates sustainability systems such as rainwater harvesting for irrigation, natural daylighting through strategically designed skylights and facade openings, passive ventilation, and thermal insulation to reduce energy consumption, along with solar panels powering selected indoor and outdoor functions. Site integration is achieved via a main entrance on the west side connected to the public road, gently sloped pedestrian pathways following the natural topography, and integrated parking areas designed to preserve the natural beauty of the surroundings.