The B018 music club, completed in 1998, served as the professional debut for Lebanese architect Bernard Khoury, establishing his reputation for critical interventions within problematic urban zones. Born in Beirut in 1968, he developed a significant portfolio spanning residential, commercial, and cultural sectors, often navigating the complex socio-political conditions characteristic of his home country’s post-war landscape.
Formative Education and Early Practice
Bernard Khoury began his architectural training in the United States, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1990 and a Bachelor of Architecture in 1991 from the Rhode Island School of Design. He continued his academic path at Harvard University, receiving a Masters in Architectural Studies in 1993. Upon returning to post-war Beirut, he spent four years from 1993 to 1997 experimenting with 16 unbuilt projects. During this interval, he utilized resources provided by his father Khalil Khoury’s furniture manufacturing business to facilitate his studio practice.
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Khoury’s early career focused on the entertainment industry, leading to the creation of the B018 music club. This success was followed by several built projects in Beirut, including the Centrale project in 2000, Yabani R2 in 2002, the BLC Bank in 2004, the Bank of Beirut pavilion in 2004, and the Black Box in 2005. His first permanent building, IB3, was completed in 2006. Subsequently, he designed multiple residential developments, including plot #732, plot #183, plot #893, and his own residence at plots #2251 and 1314. His later work includes various high-rise projects such as plot #1063 R2 and plot #450, designed to impact the Beirut skyline.
International Commissions and Academic Involvement
Beyond Lebanon, Khoury’s international practice includes the conversion of an industrial block into the Pfefferberg Project in Berlin. He has maintained a significant presence in Armenia through interventions for the Tumo Center for Creative Technologies in Yerevan, Paris, and Gyumri, alongside projects in Nagorno-Karabakh. His global reach extends to proposals and ongoing developments in Senegal, Ukraine, the United States, Russia, Morocco, and across the Arabian Gulf region. In addition to his built work, Khoury has held teaching positions at institutions such as the American University of Beirut, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, and the University of Miami, and co-founded the Arab Center for Architecture.
Fast facts
- Born: 1968, Beirut, Lebanon
- Education: Rhode Island School of Design, Harvard University
- Independent practice started: 1993
- First built project: B018 music club, 1998
- Father: Khalil Khoury
- Notable academic affiliation: Arab Center for Architecture
Questions readers ask
Where did Bernard Khoury study architecture?
He earned his undergraduate degrees from the Rhode Island School of Design and a Masters in Architectural Studies from Harvard University.
What was Khoury's first completed project?
The B018 music club, which was completed in 1998 in Beirut.
Achievements
- Trained at Harvard University and Rhode Island School of Design