Raëd Abillama Architects: Fusing Lebanese Tradition with Modern Design

Somewhere between the stone arches of traditional Lebanese architecture and the sharp angles of modern design lies the extraordinary work of Raëd Abillama, founder and principal architect of his eponymous company. Abillama’s work transcends the ordinary and the expected through innovative architecture and interior and product design. Beginning his career just as Lebanon’s 15-year civil war was ending, the second-generation architect saw an opportunity to contribute to the rebirth of his country, leading to a fascinating journey of creation.

Abillama received his Master of Architectural Design from Columbia University in 1994, completing his Bachelor of Fine Arts and Bachelor of Architecture degrees in Rhode Island. He worked for three years at Rafael Viñoly Architects PC, New York, before moving to Lebanon to establish Raëd Abillama Architects in 1997. His experience working on large-scale projects was the ideal background for a business that champions the collaboration between design and production. With this in mind, Abillama founded a parallel company, Abillama Chaya Industrial Design, to ensure better design and quality for his projects and to facilitate a more straightforward progression from drawing board to finished product. 

Abillama’s designs explore a heightened focus on materials, shapes and tradition; each project is crafted with sustainability in mind and is grounded in a seamless marriage of Western motifs and Lebanese history. We catch up with Abillama to discuss the inspiration behind his company, his motivations and how he sees the future of his industry.

My architectural practice incorporates both design and production fields. This was born out of necessity; what was available on the market at the time was not what aligned with our vision. We believed that a rigorous understanding of the built form was an inherent part of the design process. We are still very interested in pushing the boundaries of the buildability of any idea.

The release of Lebanon from civil war was the catalyst for my entrepreneurial journey. I studied both in France and the United States, then worked for a few years in New York as an architect. At that time, Lebanon was beginning to see the other side of the years of war; there was the prospect of rebuilding, and I saw an opportunity to exploit my experience; to contribute to the rebirth of my country.

My father was an excellent mentor when I first started out. He was an architect by education, though he ended up becoming an entrepreneur/industrialist. He has always been and continues to be, by my side and has helped me to discover new creative possibilities. I believe that inheriting his expertise and gaining exposure to his diligent work ethic sparked my business’ success.

As the founder of my company, no day is the same. I have set up the practice to function as a studio where we review projects as a team, often including client feedback. Other days are dedicated to site visits, which are imperative for implementing our design strategy, as well as for receiving feedback. In addition, I often travel abroad for international projects.

Artificial intelligence is proposing a new dimension to the way we work. Early on, we introduced digital technologies to our creative process by mastering advanced drawing tools. This afforded us a certain freedom in design, allowing us to save time on the drafting aspects while enhancing early visualisations of the project. This aids in maturing preliminary proposals, as well as integrating all technical aspects early on to pave the way for a smooth building process. My hope is to continue to benefit from the capabilities of technology while staying grounded in our human experience of creativity and the earth's existence.

I aim to be sensitive to the world we live in and to appreciate the human psyche. This directly applies to all levels of our work, where we do our best to understand our clients’ personalities and ascertain how this knowledge impacts the project. In addition, we work to gauge the dynamics between the project and the site, which, in turn, will impact how we think about and employ global resources.

It is satisfying when you realise that the spaces you imagined take on a second life to evolve with the interaction of their intended users. If I could design any building anywhere in the world, it would be a hidden building, integrated and camouflaged in communion with its site, with the intention of being close to nature. This project would be in an isolated place, rich in nature. I find much of my design inspiration in nature; there is an efficiency there from which we can learn about all the natural states, a form of biomimicking.

I am trying to contribute to creating a better world. I hope to be remembered by my children for being able to integrate quality of living with a sustainable approach. If I could choose my path again, I wouldn’t do anything differently in my professional career. However, I see the approach not so much as a profession but more as a political way of thinking and analysing and formulating possibilities.

Sustainability is a cornerstone of Raëd Abillama Architects. Ideally, sustainability would mean passing on the state of the earth in a better condition than how we inherited it. Knowing that the building industry is one of the most taxing on the earth’s resources, it is imperative that we, as architects, set an example of leading the way to minimise our impact on the environment.

I consider success in a project encompassing harmony and fluidity of process from initial design to construction.The same goes for my personal life in terms of harmony and flow, including a balance between individual self-fulfilment and that of my loved ones. At the end of each day, I enjoy a meditative swim and dinner with my family to reflect on our days. 

I am fortunate to have my office near my home in Dbayeh, a coastal town with an unobstructed view of the Mediterranean Sea. This diffuses the fact that we live in a turbulent country. I enjoy spending time in our organic family garden – a place of retreat where I get to absorb the sensitivity and beauty of growth and indulge in all that the earth has to offer.

My favourite holiday spot would be my wife’s home town of Salzburg in Austria, a place where we, as a family, hold many summer memories. Though relatively small, it is a very culturally rich place, nestled between mountains and forests. This is a lovely place to immerse myself in reading. I particularly enjoy articles that discuss design, art, science and architecture, of course.