Gholam Cluster
This cluster captures the architectural evolution of Beirut between 1870 and 1930. In 1874, under the Ottoman Empire, the Gholam family built sandstone cross vaults at street level to house the area’s first "supermarket” on plot 1137. Utilizing the natural slope, they added an upper-level vault as a residence, nestled within a garden of mulberry, bitter orange, and loquat (Akidenia) trees. Around the same period, a two-story red-tiled house (Plot 474) was constructed further up the stairs, featuring a freestanding staircase for upper-floor access.
By the early 1900s, the family expanded the cluster by adding a 6-meter-high triple-arch central hall apartment around the original cross vault. This expansion utilized the existing stairs of Plot 474 via a narrow bridge, maintaining the traditional load-bearing sandstone and red-tiled roof aesthetic.
The transition to modern materials began around 1930; the red-tiled roofs were removed (though the original cornices remain visible) to accommodate a third floor. This addition introduced concrete columns, beams, and flat roofs, marking a shift from stone to brick and reinforced concrete. A quirky architectural detail from this era is the "sandwiched" kitchen on the second floor of Plot 474, squeezed between existing levels. Today, the organic growth of this cluster stands as a testament to the needs of an expanding family and its seamless integration with Beirut’s iconic public stairs.
A study by: Naji Assi Architects
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