Mabarat Restaurant Wins Design Award

The Mabarrat restaurant Qaryat al-Saha has won an award for its original Muslim Arab design and reflection of architectural heritage, a very rare feat in Lebanon.

The restaurant resembles a traditional village in the midst of an urbanized environment. The Arab Towns Organization gave the award last week, adding its appreciation for the entrepreneurial success of Muslim Arab architecture.

"We wanted to establish a successful tourist-related enterprise that generates revenues for Al-Mabarrat Charity Association," Jamal Makke, chief architect of Saha, said. "However, we wondered what difference a new restaurant could have or add to the existing 5,000 fine restaurants or more in Lebanon?"

Makke heads Al-Sanabel for Urban Studies and Architectural Design, a branch of Al-Mabarrat.

"At Sanabel, we take into consideration the environment, cultural heritage and efficiency in all our projects," he said.

Following guidance from the country's leading Shiite cleric who also heads the charity organization, Sayyed Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah, Makke said: "Among many successful enterprises, only the distinguished ones could make a difference."

But Sanabel's school projects are constructed differently.

"For example, we eliminated the high fences that usually surround schoolyards like prison walls do," he said. "In the coun