Heneine Palace: A Glimpse into Beirut's Ottoman Past

Heneine Palace, nestled in the Zokak el-Blat area of Beirut, offers a window into the city's opulent past. Built in the late 19th century during Ottoman rule, the palace stands as a remarkable example of the architecture of the time. Zokak el-Blat was then an area of elite homes surrounded by orchards, marking a shift towards urbanization outside Beirut's old city walls.The palace's exterior is relatively plain, concealing a Moorish-inspired interior. Inside, visitors would have found fountains, intricate plaster decorations with geometric motifs, and arcades of crenellated arches. These elements combined to create a unique and lavish atmosphere, a meeting place for Beirut's intellectual, artistic, and political figures. The palace has been home to a Russian nobleman, the Mezher family, the United States Consulate-General, the Dutch consulate, and writer Dr. Dahesh.However, the palace's fortunes declined after the death of its last owner in 1970. The Lebanese Civil War in 1975 led to the displacement of families who then occupied the ground floor. By 1990, the palace was abandoned and left to decay. Despite being designated a landmark in 2010 and placed on the World Monuments Fund Watch List in 2016, its future remains uncertain. Save Beirut Heritage and other organizations are advocating for its preservation and transformation into a public space.