Known for its large, slanted forms, balance of voids and solids, and sweeping concrete walkways, the Issam Fares Institute building at the American University of Beirut by Zaha Hadid Architects is a symbol of the contemporary Middle East.
Completed in 2014, the award-winning concrete and glass building is home to an academic team that addresses public policy and international affairs. Described as “a forum for the exchange of ideas”, the Issam Fares Institute’s mission is symbolised by its building’s interweaving pathways which connect it to the university’s central buildings, administrative offices and accommodation.
Featuring a 21-metre, two-story-tall cantilever, which creates a covered courtyard and reduces the footprint of the building, the institute is surrounding by huge cypress and ficus trees — many of which significantly predate the building by more than 100 years.
A newly-released series of images by Lebanese architectural photographer Bahaa Ghoussainy show the building in active use, pairing daytime scenes of visitors relaxing on benches or walking across pathways with dramatic evening views.