The quirky things we like

The Egg, the Blob, the Bubble, the Dome… In the heart of Beirut, the shell of the egg-shaped structure that once was the avant-garde cinema of the late City Center complex is soon to be demolished to be replaced by a section of the Beirut Gate project. Formerly a property of Solidere, the company in charge of the reconstruction and development of Beirut’s central district, the land was sold to the Abu Dhabi Investment House (ADIH) in 2005. Plans to redevelop the plot were put off after the 2006 war, but talks about demolishing the Egg resurfaced shortly after, triggering a surge of disgruntlement.

Built between 1965 and 1968 by Lebanese architect Joseph Philippe Karam, the Egg was an icon of modernist architecture. While some architects and citizens have contested the architectural value of the building, many have remained attached to it. Save The Egg activists have been  fighting against the destruction of the structure, which many find to be reminiscent of prewar Beirut. An online petition is available for those who wish to get Beirut Gate to reconsider the demolition of  the structure. On the Save The Egg  Facebook cause page, creator Dania Bdeir says architect Bernard Khoury has offered his support to work on an alternative project that would suit the desires of Egg-lovers. The league of independent activists Indyact is also backing the initiative.