Beirut City Hall facts for kids
The Beirut City Hall, also called the Municipality of Beirut, is a famous building in Beirut, Lebanon. It was built in 1924. This building is a special landmark in the city center. It has a yellow stone front and mixes different building styles. You can find it where Foch Street and Rue Weygand meet. The building combines Venetian and Arabesque styles. This mix shows the unique local identity. After the Lebanese Civil War, the building was fixed up. Today, it holds the office of the Governor of Beirut and the city council. It is open to the public for official paperwork.
Youssef Aftimus won the design competition for Beirut's City Hall in 1923. He later worked as the minister of public works. This was in the government led by Auguste Basha Adib from 1926 to 1927.
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A Special Building for Beirut
The Beirut City Hall was built between 1924 and 1925. The architect was a Lebanese man named Youssef Aftimos. Before this new building, the city's main office was in a place called the Petit Serail near Martyrs' Square.
The idea to build a new city hall started way back in 1880. Plans included a small garden, a fountain, and a clock tower. Different spots were thought of, but the location on Weygand Street was chosen.
Design and Style
The building is a masterpiece by Youssef Aftimos. It has special "oriental-style" fronts. This means its design looks like it comes from the Middle East. Aftimos was a big supporter of the Neo-Moorish revivalist style. This style brought back older, local designs. It was a way to show Lebanon's own identity. It also showed a wish to move away from too much Western influence.
A special message is written at the building's entrance. It says: "These are the traces that identify us: seek out henceforth our traces." This shows how important it was to have a building that felt truly Lebanese.
War and Restoration
During the Lebanese Civil War, which lasted from 1975 to 1990, the City Hall was damaged. It was left empty for many years. But by the year 2000, the building was fully restored. It looks beautiful again and serves the city once more.
Timeline of the City Hall
- 1880s: The idea to build a new city hall, with a garden and clock tower, first came up.
- 1925: The Beirut City Hall was built by architect Youssef Aftimos.
- 1975-1990: The building was damaged and left empty during the Civil War.
- 2000: The City Hall was fully restored and reopened.
See also
- Youssef Aftimos
- Petit Serail
- Martyrs' Square
- Riad Al-Solh Square
- Weygand Street
- Neo-Moorish revivalist schoolof architecture
