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The new tallest building in Lebanon now stands tall above the vibrant streets of its largest city. The 50-storey Sama Beirut by Antonios Projects SAL houses several components on a 5,220-square-metre property. The 195-metre tower's footprint covers just over 1,000 square metres of land, with the remaining majority of the site reserved for extensive landscaping and water features.
Six high-end retail boutiques will animate the ground level. The project's office portion occupies floors two through 13, allowing the rest of the volume to host 80 residential units. It is topped by a sweeping penthouse nearly 1,500 square metres in size. A number of unique elements have been envisioned for this suite, including private elevator access and an internal mezzanine for staff. It will also be characterized by a solarium, garden, pool, and a pond in the living area.
Residents will have access to several first-rate amenities, such as a club spa with the latest workout equipment, a hydrotherapy pool, and a multifunction room. Seven levels of underground parking provide stalls for 700 vehicles. The design, courtesy of ERGA Architects, is defined by a glass facade that possesses both transparent and shaded variations, allowing adequate light to enter both the office and residential units.
The tower's position in Beirut's Sodeco area puts it within arm's reach of numerous shops, theatres, and restaurants. Its proximity to a sensitive district of historic buildings has also caused concern among heritage activists, who believe the design and scale of the building is contextually inappropriate. To address these concerns, the green buffer zone surrounding the tower attempts to mitigate any conflict between the old and new aesthetics of the neighbourhood.
With Sama Beirut topped out, the building's angular roofline is now receiving silver trim. As gaps in the glass envelope are filled in, the external crane should be dismantled soon. Beirutis have witnessed the skyscraper's dominating ascent for years, and in the coming months, they'll have the opportunity to revel in its grand interiors when the doors to the country's tallest building finally open.
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