mirrored ceilings and textured glass shape club amis’ layered interiors in beirut

Club Amis’ layered hospitality interiors revive Beirut residence

Club Amis by Rabih Geha Architects is located in the Gemmayzeh district of Beirut within a restored traditional Lebanese residential building. Developed for Pernod Ricard Middle East, the project combines hospitality, education, and event programming through a sequence of immersive interior environments organized around the themes of conviviality and spatial versatility.

The venue operates across multiple functions throughout the day. During daytime hours, the space hosts professional trainings, tastings, and masterclasses for bartenders, mixologists, and hospitality professionals. In the evening, the project transforms into a social venue activated by guest bartenders, chefs, and curated cultural events. This dual programming informs the spatial organization of the project, where individual rooms accommodate varying atmospheres, scales, and forms of interaction.

Rather than removing the compartmentalized layout of the existing structure, Rabih Geha Architects integrated the historic spatial framework into the design concept. The original sequence of rooms becomes a series of distinct environments, each associated with different Pernod Ricard brands while remaining connected through a cohesive material and lighting strategy. At the center of the venue is the main bar, conceived as both a spatial anchor and a social focal point. The bar integrates bold blue tones, striped motifs derived from the Pernod Ricard logo, and a suspended lighting installation composed of circular illuminated tubes referencing the brand’s emblem. Stainless steel surfaces, fluted glass, mirrored elements, and amber-lit shelving create layered reflections and visual depth throughout the space.

all images by Wael Khoury Photography

Material contrast and lighting shape the immersive interiors

Radiating from the central bar, a sequence of rooms introduces varying material palettes and atmospheres. The Jameson and Chivas rooms share a mirrored spatial arrangement defined by gridded display systems and reflective ceilings that visually extend the interiors. Despite this shared framework, each room develops a distinct identity. The Jameson room adopts darker green tones, textured glass, and a circular seating arrangement combined with integrated sound systems and vinyl listening equipment. In contrast, the Chivas room incorporates warm wood finishes and more open seating configurations oriented toward conversation and display.

The Malfy terrace extends the project outdoors through a lighter spatial atmosphere informed by Mediterranean references. Patterned wall panels, integrated greenery, and custom tables shaped after the silhouette of the Malfy bottle establish continuity between branding and architectural detailing. A U-shaped seating arrangement organizes the terrace around collective gathering and open-air interaction.

Studio Rabih Geha Architects extends the project’s layered approach to narrative and atmosphere through additional spaces. A washroom integrates graphic wallpaper by House of Hackney referencing Monkey 47, while the Mixology Academy introduces a contrasting interior language inspired by Absolut Vodka. Glossy white tiles combined with electric-blue grout create a laboratory-like environment where individual workstations are organized with precision and clarity, positioning mixology as both technical practice and performance.

the venue combines hospitality, education, and event programming

Heritage architecture merges with contemporary hospitality

Throughout the project, original architectural elements, including marble flooring and historic tiling, were restored and integrated alongside contemporary materials such as stainless steel, mirrored finishes, textured glass, and custom lighting systems. This combination establishes a dialogue between the building’s heritage character and the contemporary identity of the venue.

Lighting functions as a unifying design element across the fragmented floor plan, reinforcing circulation, atmosphere, and spatial continuity between rooms. Despite the constraints of the existing heritage structure, the project incorporates new mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems through carefully coordinated interventions designed to preserve the original fabric of the building.

Through adaptive reuse, layered material strategies, and a sequence of differentiated spatial environments, Club Amis by Rabih Geha Architects transforms a historic Beirut residence into a contemporary hospitality and cultural venue organized around interaction, craftsmanship, and brand storytelling.

original room divisions shape the project’s spatial sequence