Hôtel Saint-Georges (1)
Location
Beirut
Beirut
Country
Lebanon
Lebanon
Architect/Engineer/Team
(Team) Poirrier, Lotte, Bordes, with A. Tabet
(Team) Poirrier, Lotte, Bordes, with A. Tabet
Construction
1930/1932
1930/1932
Project Status
Built
Built
Building Type
Hotel
Hotel
Notes
Strategically located at the tip of the bay of Saint-Georges in Beirut, the Hôtel Saint-Georges is an icon of modern architecture in Lebanon, designed by the French firm of Poirrier, Lotte and Bordes with Lebanese engineer-architect Antoine Tabet as architect on site.[1]
The building clearly bears the influence of Auguste Perret with its rational organization of space and exposed concrete.
It has a modular plan based on a triple grid: 7 x 7 meters, 7 x 3.5 meters and 3.5 x 3.5 meters, skillfully adapted to the functional needs. The plan of the hotel was organized around an open-air courtyard under which is found the kitchen, located there to avoid the harsh sun, while serving both the restaurant and the terraces outside.[2] The horizontal dominance of the hotel, resulting from the balconies surrounding its massive block and the daring use of exposed concrete, give the design its distinctive character. The guardrail is made of ornamental hollowed concrete blocks with wide openings in order to allow for maximum ventilation and view. The upper parts of the doors and windows are treated, also for ventilation purposes, with hollow blocks of a tighter grid. The massive water tank was built from the start at roof level, taking into consideration the extension of the third and fourth floors that were added at a later stage; it also carried the hotel sign, executed in relief with concrete blocks.
(George Arbid)
The building clearly bears the influence of Auguste Perret with its rational organization of space and exposed concrete.
It has a modular plan based on a triple grid: 7 x 7 meters, 7 x 3.5 meters and 3.5 x 3.5 meters, skillfully adapted to the functional needs. The plan of the hotel was organized around an open-air courtyard under which is found the kitchen, located there to avoid the harsh sun, while serving both the restaurant and the terraces outside.[2] The horizontal dominance of the hotel, resulting from the balconies surrounding its massive block and the daring use of exposed concrete, give the design its distinctive character. The guardrail is made of ornamental hollowed concrete blocks with wide openings in order to allow for maximum ventilation and view. The upper parts of the doors and windows are treated, also for ventilation purposes, with hollow blocks of a tighter grid. The massive water tank was built from the start at roof level, taking into consideration the extension of the third and fourth floors that were added at a later stage; it also carried the hotel sign, executed in relief with concrete blocks.
(George Arbid)
[1]Later, in 1946-47, Tabet was in charge of adding to the building the third and fourth floors, and enlarging the restaurant. See Hotel Saint-Georges extension
[2]Poirrier went on to design Hôtel Saada in Agadir, Morocco in 1951-53, a copy of the Hôtel Saint-Georges, with Bordes, Abran & Bassières. See Techniques et Architecture, September 1952, p. 53.
[2]Poirrier went on to design Hôtel Saada in Agadir, Morocco in 1951-53, a copy of the Hôtel Saint-Georges, with Bordes, Abran & Bassières. See Techniques et Architecture, September 1952, p. 53.
Sources
Archives of engineer-architect Fouad El Khoury
Monde Liban mai-juin 1969 / p. 4
Marie Tabet, Antuan Tabet
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General view
Typical floor plan
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Ground Floor Plan
Source: l'Architecture Française juillet aout 1946
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Section
Source: l'Architecture Française juillet aout 1946
© All rights reserved