Sodeco building restoration underway

Structure will encompass a
public library and a museum

The Municipality of Beirut has started work on restoring the famous Barakat Building in Sodeco square. The project, dubbed ‘Beit Beirut’, involves transforming the existing structure into a museum and cultural center, and constructing an adjacent building. The project will cost $18 million and will be financed by the municipality. It is expected to be completed by 2014.

Restoration work will be carried out in collaboration with the Municipality of Paris which will be providing technical assistance.

Beit Beirut will have a total area of 7,000 square meters. It will include a communal library, a documentation center, a history museum, and another museum on the city of Beirut.

Al Jihad for Commerce and Contracting is in charge of the project’s development.
Youssef Haidar, the project Architect, said the original four-story Barakat Building will retain its traditional façade. He said the new building will have a modern design and will only use alternative power: “It will be a green building, wrapped up in mirrors that capture solar energy.” The structure will comprise ten floors, including six underground levels dedicated for archiving. It will include an auditorium, as well as an 800-square-meter space dedicated to hosting art exhibitions.