ACA Archives - Joseph-Philippe Karam

As soon as he graduated as engineer-architect from the Ecole Supérieure d’Ingénieurs de Beyrouth in 1946, Karam started a dazzling career. He may be the architect who most exemplifies the optimism of his generation. Beirut was modern after all, and he would be the one to demonstrate it. After having been trained at the office of Albert Menassa, an engineer who had a career close to the sober Farid Trad model, Karam would distinguish himself by setting a trend of exuberant modernism that went crescendo, encouraged by the success encountered by his daring designs.
Many of Karam’s buildings that stand today in busy neighborhoods, were originally built in zones that were hardly developed. This is the case on the Raouché Corniche, in Horsh-Kfoury Badaro, as well as in the Hamra Street district. The buildings stood singular, and were appealing both for their presence in undeveloped locations and for the design.

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