Cultural Connections

Since Lebanon’s civil war ended three decades ago, Beirut has been rebuilt and revitalised into a city of soaring apartment blocks, pop-up art galleries, chic restaurants and bars. Risen from the rubble of the old souk there is now a gleaming shopping mall filled with luxe fashion brands such as Yves Saint Laurent and Louis Vuitton. But, sadly, few of its oldest buildings remain – those that do are scarred by smoke and shelling. ‘It’s a tiny city,’ says interior designer May Daouk, who moved back to Beirut from New York 10