Jounieh Seaside
Jounieh Seaside is a mixed-use waterfront development on the Mediterranean coast of Jounieh, Lebanon. Conceived as an extension of the city's active waterfront, the project brings together hospitality, dining, retail and leisure within a masterplan that establishes a direct relationship between the street and the sea.
A key challenge was the integration of an existing structure that could not be demolished. Rather than treating it as a constraint, the project incorporates and rehabilitates the building as part of a new architectural composition. The resulting masterplan creates a dialogue between adaptive reuse and new construction, allowing the development to evolve around what already exists on the site.
Three principal volumes are organized in an L-shaped configuration that opens toward the Mediterranean. A continuous pedestrian corridor extends from the street to the waterfront, forming the main public spine of the project and maintaining visual and physical connections with the sea. Secondary entrances along the street provide direct access to the different functions.
Volumes A and B accommodate restaurants, retail and a bar at ground level, with spaces positioned to engage both the street and the waterfront. Above, a spa and gym accompany a five-room boutique hotel with private terraces overlooking the beach club and Mediterranean. A communal rooftop with a bar and Jacuzzi extends the hospitality experience vertically through the development.
At the center of the waterfront landscape, a private beach club is organized around a swimming pool, sun decks, landscaped areas and a beach bar. A suspended deck with private Jacuzzi lounges and direct access to the sandy beach reinforces the connection between architecture and the coastline, while a private jetty allows arrival directly from the sea.
Volume C contains three flexible commercial spaces conceived as individual portals between the street and private sea-facing terraces. Its sloping roof introduces natural light into the double-height interiors and allows for the integration of mezzanine levels. The distinctive roofline gives the volume a recognizable presence from both the city and the water.
The architecture draws on the restrained white palette associated with Mediterranean coastal architecture while allowing each volume to respond to its particular program. Landscape, shaded circulation and framed views bind the different elements together, transforming Jounieh Seaside into a sequence of experiences between city and sea.
