A Beirut Residence Blends Historic European Furniture With Local Modernist Heritage
Interior designer Guillaume Excoffier has curated a Beirut apartment that pairs Biedermeier pieces and 1980s icons with locally crafted items, reflecting the city's rich design history. The home features works by artists like Hamish Fulton and Félix Bonfils, alongside furniture from Aldo Rossi and Robert Mallet Stevens. Excoffier's approach draws on his research into Beirut's modernist architecture, documented in his book 'Modernist Beirut.'
Excoffier removed an unattractive renovation in the 1952 Ashrafieh building, revealing concrete floors and restoring the original tall windows. The resulting loft-like space displays a circa 1810 Biedermeier cabinet alongside 1980s icons, including Jean-Michel Wilmotte's La Fontaine chairs.
His architectural research, compiled in the book *Modernist Beirut*, shaped the design. He paired locally crafted stools and zellige tiles with international artworks by Hamish Fulton and Félix Bonfils, weaving together the city's modernist heritage with European antiques.
This feature could inspire design enthusiasts to view historical preservation and cross-cultural curation as forms of resilience. By spotlighting Beirut's modernist architecture and local craftsmanship, the story may encourage homeowners and architects to value existing structures over demolition. It could also boost interest in Lebanese design heritage, potentially benefiting local artisans and galleries, while offering a nuanced perspective on a city often defined by conflict, framing it as a vibrant cultural hub.