What’s the Story Behind ‘The Egg’ in Beirut?

Have you ever wondered what the story behind the egg-like structure in Downtown Beirut is? Dubbed ‘The Egg’ due to its unusual shape, this structure has watched over the bustling city of Beirut for many years. It also referred to as ‘The Dome’ and ‘Sabouneh’, meaning soapbar in Lebanese Arabic. Here’s what we know about its history and what it is (or was supposed to be).

The “Beirut City Center” Project

In the 1960s, a growing interest in modernist architecture marked a golden age of construction in Beirut. Modernist architects experimented with new ideas across the capital. Tripoli also witnessed a similar movement with the construction of the Rachid Karami Int’l Fair, designed by Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer.

^{Image source: issuu.}

Lebanese architect Joseph Philippe Karam designed the Beirut City Center, intended to be the first mall in the Middle East. Plans included two large towers flanking The Egg, which was designed as a cinema. The project aimed to enhance Beirut’s reputation as “the Paris of the Middle East.” However, the civil war that erupted in 1975 halted construction. A damaged Egg, its platforms, an underground parking lot, and one of the two planned towers—that was what remained. The war resulted in the demolition of the remaining tower.

The structure was largely forgotten amid efforts to rebuild post-war Beirut. As the city’s Downtown was completely reconstructed, the crumbling Egg remained as it was.

^{Image source: Atlas Obscura.}

The October 17 Revolution

When the revolution broke out on October 2019, the Egg found a new purpose as a gathering point for protesters. People adorned it with graffiti and repurposed it for film screenings, among other activities that became emblematic of the protests.

^{Photo: Paul Rafih.}

Once a highly anticipated project that hoped to further transform Beirut, the structure now stands as a reminder of the city’s tumultuous history and, as cliché as it sounds, the resilience of its people. Despite its scars, the Egg remains a symbol of Beirut’s evolving identity and its enduring spirit.

It’s not the prettiest structure, and it’s not really contributing much to the city landscape. But we will always feel a sense of attachment to the Egg.

Did you enjoy learning the story behind the Egg? You might want to give this a read: The Story Behind “Al Ba3sa”: Lebanon’s Thinnest Building.