Carlo Massoud, armenia Street, Beirut (2026)

31/08/2026

YAM is conceived as a restrained intervention where the landscape takes precedence over the building.

Rather than placing a singular architectural object on the site, the restaurant follows the existing contours and terraces of the hillside, embedding itself between stone, vegetation and planted canopies.

The experience begins from the upper level, where both the restaurant and the sea remain largely concealed. A sequence of broad descending steps leads gradually through the landscape, revealing the Mediterranean in stages and turning circulation into a promenade of anticipation and discovery.

28/08/2026

At YAM, the architecture unfolds between landscape, terrace and interior as one continuous experience.

The outdoor dining spaces extend naturally from the hillside, framed by timber, stone and Mediterranean planting, while large openings maintain a constant connection between the restaurant and its surroundings.

Inside, natural materials, woven textures and warm-toned finishes create a quieter, more intimate atmosphere without disconnecting the space from the landscape beyond.

As daylight fades, the character shifts. Table lamps, candlelight and soft architectural lighting bring warmth to the materials and transform the restaurant into an intimate evening setting.

From terrace to interior, and from day into night, the project is shaped as much by atmosphere and inhabitation as by architecture itself.

27/08/2026

Proposal by Carlo Massoud X Atelier 130

Perched on a steep Mediterranean promontory overlooking the Lebanese coastline, Carved into the Coast is conceived as a surgical architectural intervention where landscape, rather than building, becomes the dominant spatial experience.
Instead of imposing a singular object onto the site, the proposal follows the natural terraces and contours of the terrain, embedding the restaurant within the hillside and allowing the architecture to gradually disappear into vegetation, stone retaining walls, and planted canopies. Every architectural gesture is guided by the site’s existing relief, resulting in a composition that appears shaped by the landscape rather than placed upon it.
Arrival is intentionally understated. Visitors approach from the upper level, where neither the sea nor the restaurant is immediately visible. A sequence of broad Spanish steps gently descends through the terrain, gradually revealing framed views of the Mediterranean and transforming circulation into a choreographed promenade of discovery. The journey becomes an integral part of the architectural experience, where movement, landscape, and anticipation unfold together.
The landscape strategy plays a central role in this approach. Native and regionally adapted Mediterranean species including umbrella pine, Aleppo pine, olive, tamarix, and casuarina are strategically introduced to reinforce the site’s character while creating generous canopy cover that naturally shades outdoor seating areas. More than a planting scheme, the vegetation softens the architectural presence, frames views, moderates the microclimate, and strengthens the impression that the project belongs to the hillside rather than occupying it.
More than a standalone building, the project is conceived as a continuation of the topography itself. A restrained intervention where architecture, landscape, and coastline merge into a single spatial experience.

27/08/2026

Proposal by Carlo Massoud X Atelier 130

Perched on a steep Mediterranean promontory overlooking the Lebanese coastline, Carved into the Coast is conceived as a surgical architectural intervention where landscape, rather than building, becomes the dominant spatial experience.
Instead of imposing a singular object onto the site, the proposal follows the natural terraces and contours of the terrain, embedding the restaurant within the hillside and allowing the architecture to gradually disappear into vegetation, stone retaining walls, and planted canopies. Every architectural gesture is guided by the site’s existing relief, resulting in a composition that appears shaped by the landscape rather than placed upon it.
Arrival is intentionally understated. Visitors approach from the upper level, where neither the sea nor the restaurant is immediately visible. A sequence of broad Spanish steps gently descends through the terrain, gradually revealing framed views of the Mediterranean and transforming circulation into a choreographed promenade of discovery. The journey becomes an integral part of the architectural experience, where movement, landscape, and anticipation unfold together.
The landscape strategy plays a central role in this approach. Native and regionally adapted Mediterranean species including umbrella pine, Aleppo pine, olive, tamarix, and casuarina are strategically introduced to reinforce the site’s character while creating generous canopy cover that naturally shades outdoor seating areas. More than a planting scheme, the vegetation softens the architectural presence, frames views, moderates the microclimate, and strengthens the impression that the project belongs to the hillside rather than occupying it.
More than a standalone building, the project is conceived as a continuation of the topography itself. A restrained intervention where architecture, landscape, and coastline merge into a single spatial experience. .

14/08/2026

They’re everywhere.

Sleeping on car roofs, wandering around garbage bins, sitting under café tables or comfortably occupying a chair as if it had always belonged to them.

Some are looked after, some are fed by the neighborhood, some seem to belong to everyone and no one. They are simply part of Beirut . F amiliar little characters we encounter every day, often in the most unexpected places.

The Cats of Beirut is a playful caricature and a tribute to them: their strange faces, imperfect bodies, funny attitudes and very particular personalities.

The idea was to bring these familiar street characters indoors. Not as perfect cats, but as the funny, odd and wonderfully individual creatures we know from the city.

A little tribute to Beirut and the cats who have quietly made it their home.

13/08/2026

They’re everywhere.

Sleeping on car roofs, wandering around garbage bins, sitting under café tables or comfortably occupying a chair as if it had always belonged to them.

Some are looked after, some are fed by the neighborhood, some seem to belong to everyone and no one. They are simply part of Beirut. Familiar little characters we encounter every day, often in the most unexpected places.

The Cats of Beirut is a playful caricature and a tribute to them: their strange faces, imperfect bodies, funny attitudes and very particular personalities.

The idea was to bring these familiar street characters indoors. Not as perfect cats, but as the funny, odd and wonderfully individual creatures we know from the city.

A little tribute to Beirut and the cats who have quietly made it their home.

13/08/2026

Behind every cat is another story . The story of the hands that made it.

Each piece is individually handmade by local women artisans, who cut, stitch, assemble and bring these slightly eccentric creatures to life, one by one.

The cats are made from leftover fabrics provided by SKAFF , transforming discarded textile samples and offcuts into something new, useful and full of character.

Through the collection, the project supports not only Beit Kanz and its mission, but also the women behind the sewing machines. Celebrating local craftsmanship, creating work, and giving value to both materials and hands that might otherwise be overlooked.

No two cats are exactly alike. And that is precisely the point.

12/08/2026

The Cats of Beirut were created for Beit Kanz , with a purpose beyond the objects themselves.

This playful collection was conceived to support the association and the people it helps, with part of the proceeds from every cat going directly towards its work.

A small object, a funny character, but also a way of contributing to something larger. By bringing one of these cats home, you are not only taking home a piece of Beirut, you are helping give something back to its community. cats

Carlo Massoud

31/08/2026

28/08/2026

27/08/2026

27/08/2026

14/08/2026

13/08/2026

13/08/2026

12/08/2026

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