Beirut · Founded 1960
Guardians of a Vanishing Lebanon
For sixty-five years, APSAD has stood between Lebanon's architectural treasures and their disappearance — restoring, documenting, and defending the places that hold our memory.
The First Appeal · 1960
Take care: this heritage is sacked, abandoned, despised — disfigured by ugly buildings, incoherent suburbs, and cities without dignity…
The appeal called on those who would preserve harmonious towns and villages — a welcoming Lebanon, proud of its past, trustful in its future. Lebanon answered. A hundred architectural treasures have been saved since, through plans, drawings, and stubborn devotion.
The Record · 1960 — Today
Sixty-five years of rescue
Churches, souks, bathhouses, and family houses — each entry below is a place that still stands because someone refused to let it fall.
1960
Beirut
The Appeal
APSAD is founded and issues its first appeal to the Lebanese people.
1962
Abey
El-Dine Residence
The first restoration — a historic house later chosen as the British Ambassador’s residence.
1964
Tripoli
Hammam el-Jédid
The 18th-century bathhouse restored with the Directorate General of Antiquities.
1969
Batroun
Mar Estephan
The coastal church returned to its parish, stone by stone.
1972
The Chouf
Deir el-Qamar
A rehabilitated residence becomes APSAD’s regional home in the mountains.
1978
Beirut
The Jeweler’s Souk
Reconstruction plans drawn for the old gold souk in the wake of war.
2001
Jounieh
The Old Souk
Rehabilitation and a pedestrian revival return evenings to the souk.
2012
Mashghara
Zaki Nassif House
The composer’s heirs entrust his family house to APSAD.
2015
Mashghara
Zaki Nassif Museum
Museum, cultural centre, and music school open their doors.
2016
Kesrouan
Nahr el-Kalb
With Factum Foundation, the river’s ancient stelae are studied for preservation.
Swipe to travel the record
Why We Exist
Proud of its past, trustful in its future
APSAD requests all initiatives and accepts all suggestions; it saves old buildings and coordinates every effort within the field. From the founding charter onward, the work has followed six aims.
Protect & Restore
Promote the protection and restoration of ancient buildings of historic and artistic character, and the conservation of natural sites.
Act Upon the Law
Advance and defend the legal frameworks that shield Lebanon’s architectural heritage from demolition.
Enlist Investment
Persuade investors that preservation pays — economically, culturally, and in the standing of the country.
Awaken the Public
Raise awareness of urban and environmental problems through campaigns, publications, and debate in three languages.
Strengthen the Fabric
Mobilize communities around their own heritage, stimulating civic responsibility and a sense of custodianship.
Build Toward Tourism
Develop architectural and natural sites so Lebanon regains the standing it deserves on a regional scale.
1960
Founded in Beirut
100+
Treasures saved
4
Regional sections
5
International affiliations
Stone by stone — the slow, patient work of keeping a place alive.
Enter the galleryIn Good Company
The company of guardians
Europa Nostra
Member since 1963
Through APSAD, Lebanon is the only non-European country in Europe’s federation of heritage organizations.
ICOMOS
Official partner in Lebanon
UNESCO’s principal advisor on the conservation of the world’s monuments and sites.
World Monuments Fund
Collaboration
Together, the region of Enfeh was placed on the list of the world’s 100 most endangered sites.
Patrimoine Sans Frontières
Member since 1996
Locating threats to old heritage and answering them with concrete action.
Civitas Nostra
Member since 1961
Assemblies and congresses across the historic cities of Europe.
From the President
Our cultural heritage is of a richness beyond telling. We must look past the disappointing chronology of the everyday and never succumb to indifference — but learn again to respect our heritage, and to love our country.
« Réapprendre à respecter notre patrimoine et aimer notre pays. »
Raya Daouk
President, APSAD
The Invitation
Add your name to the record
APSAD has always been carried by its members — patrons, volunteers, and friends of Lebanese heritage. The salon on Sursock Street is open.
Sursock Street, Aoun Building · Achrafieh, Beirut