Alaa Aridi

Portfolio · Architecture

AlaaAridi

Architecture student shaping spaces where light, mass and material meet the needs of people and community.

Scroll

The Light House · Damour, Lebanon

The Light House · Damour

09

Projects

03

Certifications

B.Arch

In progress

Selectedworks

(04) Featured projects

The Light House

01

The Light House

Damour, Lebanon

A lighthouse along Lebanon's coast, conceived as both a navigational landmark and a cultural destination. The design grew from studying how natural rock formations meet the sea · the building rises from the shoreline like a piece of the cliff itself. Observation decks at different heights give visitors shifting perspectives of the Mediterranean, while inside, a small maritime museum and education spaces anchor the program. We used local stone where possible and kept the lighting system minimal, letting the building's silhouette do the work at night.

View project
Artist Residency

02

Artist Residency

Baysour, Lebanon

An old industrial building turned into live-work spaces for twelve artists. The brief was straightforward · give each resident a well-lit studio and a place to sleep, then create shared spaces where collaboration can happen naturally. A central atrium with a cafe and informal gallery connects the studios and encourages chance encounters. The design preserves the original concrete shell and exposed roof trusses, adding only what was necessary: skylights, a new circulation core, and a rooftop terrace for installations. It is rough, honest, and built to evolve with use.

View project
Beirut Art Trails

03

Beirut Art Trails

Baysour, Lebanon

A network of walking routes that turn underused streets and empty lots into an open-air gallery. The idea was simple · connect different parts of the city through a curated path of murals, installations, and sculptures by local and international artists. Distinctive paving and lighting guide visitors from one art node to the next, each with seating and shade. Green infrastructure like bioswales and permeable paving improve the walking experience while managing runoff. A simple app gives context for each artwork and suggests routes based on how much time you have.

View project
Roots of Resilience

04

Roots of Resilience

Baysour, Lebanon

A memorial and community center near the site of the 2020 port explosion. The project is about remembering without being frozen by the past · a contemplative garden with reflecting pools sits next to flexible community spaces for events, education, and support services. Fragments of buildings damaged in the blast are incorporated into the landscape as quiet reminders. The planting uses native species arranged in patterns inspired by traditional agricultural terracing. It was developed through extensive conversations with people who live and work in the neighborhood.

View project

Philosophy

“An architect has the tools to createhomes or insane asylums.Through balance, a spacebecomes a home.”

Architecture can profoundly affect human beings and the course of a society. The architect sets the tone for the whole community · and must create a better world.

About the architect

The completeindex

(09) Works · 2022 · 2026

Open the works page