Architects: Maroun Lahoud Architecte
Area: 850 m²
Year: 2016
Photography: Courtesy of Maroun Lahoud
Project Team: Salam Geha, Dany Ajouz
Civil Engineer: Bureau International de Genie
Contractor: Maalouf Contracting and Trading
Electro-Mechanical Engineer: EMPROJECT
Acoustics: Pierre Geara
Project Owner: Ministry of Displaced Persons
City: Brih
Country: Lebanon
St. Elie Church, a religious project by Maroun Lahoud, was completed in 2016 in Brih, Lebanon, and serves as a significant landmark in the Shouf valley. The 850 m² structure features a white stone-clad exterior and a semi-sunken base, thoughtfully integrating natural elements and regional materials to honor the traditions of the Maronite Church.
The design of St. Elie Church focuses on creating a space for communal gathering, emphasizing the celebration of natural elements. Two squares anchor the project, encompassing the church and its semi-sunken base, fostering a connection between the built environment and the surrounding landscape.
Clad in white bush-hammered stone, the church is a solemn addition to the landscape, reflecting the Maronite Church’s architectural traits: pure massing and a flat roof. The interior design employs indirect lighting, with zenithal light over the altar, sacristy, and confessional, and parietal lighting along the lateral walkways. The white walls diffuse the natural light, while the marble floor enhances this effect.
The base of the structure mimics the region’s terraced topography, using dry stone walls sourced from the site and repurposed stones from village houses demolished during the war. This approach firmly anchors the project in its surroundings.
Due to its strategic location and contrasting materials, the project establishes a new focal point in the Shouf Valley.
Project Gallery
Project Location
Address: Mtaile, Brih, Lebanon
Location is for general reference and may represent a city or country, not necessarily a precise address.
