The second edition of “We Design Beirut” will run from October 22 to 26, 2025, in Beirut, Lebanon. Rooted in the themes of heritage, revival and continuity, the five-day design event integrates architecture, craftsmanship and culture against the backdrop of the country’s most historic sites.
Guided by the core concepts of empowerment, protection and sustainable development, the event fosters collaboration among designers, craftsmen, students and architects. It serves as a dynamic platform for exchange, connection and creative expression, a space for healing and innovation, and a window to showcase the region’s rising design talents on the international stage. It also responds to Lebanon’s complex architectural and sociopolitical history, illustrating how design embodies resilience and remembrance.
Key Venues & Exhibitions
This year’s event utilizes seven significant venues in and around Beirut, each selected for its architectural and symbolic value: Abroyan Factory, Burj El Murr, Villa Audi, Roman Baths and Immeuble de l’Union. These sites—ranging from repurposed industrial spaces to restored modernist buildings—act as active participants, reflecting the city’s evolving character and its urban texture’s tensions and potential.
At Abroyan Factory
Two major exhibitions highlight Lebanese craftsmanship here. “Threads of Life” showcases traditional and contemporary textile art, while “Métiers d’Art” transforms the space into a live workshop where craftsmen and designers collaborate to explore new forms of material expression and heritage preservation. The factory also hosts the “Skin of a City” photography exhibition, a joint work by Lebanese photographers Patrick Baz and Anthony Saroufim—from different generations and backgrounds—who use the human body to explore boundless possibilities of free expression.
At Burj El Murr
The “Design in Conflict” exhibition takes place here, organized by Archifeed founder Teymour Khoury, Yasmina Mahmoud, Tarek Mahmoud and Youssef Bassil. Featuring works by students from nine Lebanese universities and supported by Solidere (the Lebanese Company for the Development and Reconstruction of Beirut Central District), the exhibition examines how conflict shapes spatial experiences and architectural forms.
At Immeuble de l’Union
A landmark of Beirut’s modernism built in the 1950s, Immeuble de l’Union is currently undergoing meticulous restoration led by architect Karim Nader. As part of the event, it hosts two exhibitions:
- “Convergence: A Journey Through Architecture and Light” – a retrospective co-created by Karim Nader and Atelier 33. The building itself is both the exhibition’s theme and display, serving as a physical memory and a canvas for reimagination.
- “Aspire High, Build Together” – featuring works by Lebanese emerging designers under 30, including Karel Kargodorian, Marc-Antoine Frahi and Miriam Abi Tarabay. Grounded in real-world contexts and design intentions, the exhibition presents fresh visions for Lebanon’s design sector amid rapid cultural shifts.
Expanded Cultural Programs
The public program invites visitors to explore Beirut from a new perspective. A modern architecture bus tour, curated by architect and professor Dr. Omar Harb, showcases 48 iconic buildings and explores 20th-century monumental structures that defined the city’s post-independence architectural heritage.
With support from the Niemeyer Heritage Tripoli Foundation, two additional trips extend the event’s reach:
- A tour of Oscar Niemeyer’s International Fair in Tripoli—the largest project by the architect outside Brazil—offering insights into its cultural significance and untapped revival potential.
- A visit to the Saloua Raouda Choucair Foundation, located in Lebanon’s mountains. Designed by the pioneering abstract artist herself, the foundation provides an immersive experience into her modular forms and modernist ideas.
Opening Night & Core Mission
The opening night will feature a collaboration with Arab master musician Michael Ibrahim to honor the legacy of Nazih Al Ghadban, Lebanon’s most renowned oud maker. This symbolic moment merges design, sound and cultural memory.
Against Lebanon’s ongoing economic, environmental and political crises, “We Design Beirut” positions design as a unifying, collaborative force to overcome hardships. More than a showcase, it is a space for reflection, restoration and hope. It invites people to view cultural heritage not as a static relic to be preserved, but as a dynamic force that inspires, enlightens and bridges generations and disciplines. By highlighting Lebanon’s rich architectural history, celebrating its craftsmen and designers, and providing a platform for emerging talents, the event has grown beyond a festival to become a movement driving cultural renewal.
