In Beirut, the Interdesign Building stands as a striking yet enigmatic structure. Never used since its conception in 1973, the building was designed by Lebanese architect Khalil Khouri and, in some ways, it represents a physical testament to the region’s hopes and struggles. During the inaugural edition of We Design Beirut, the exhibition “All Things Must(n't) Pass: A Subjective Recount Of Khalil Khouri’s Life And Career As A Designer” opened the building to the public, aiming to tell the story of its architect, Khalil Khouri, through the lens of his son and grandson, Bernard and Teymour Khoury. On this occasion, ArchDaily’s Editor in Chief, Christele Harrouk sat down with Bernard Khoury at his DW5 office to discuss the life of his father and a little-known chapter of Lebanese architectural history.
The video interview discusses the complex career of Khalil Khouri, an influential architect born in 1929 in Beirut. He began his architectural journey in the late 1950s, during a time of modernist enthusiasm in Lebanon, initially focusing on institutional designs guided by social-oriented ideals. However, the civil war in 1975 shifted architectural demands, leading Khouri to limit his projects to those for close friends or himself, diverging from his social roots. He shifted his attention to furniture design, creating modern, locally conceived pieces that were affordable for the Lebanese public. His belief in modernity and technological progress drove him to design not only the furniture but also the facilities and machinery for production, eventually becoming a successful industrialist.
