These houses generally have at least three things in common: the red roof tiles, very high ceilings and interior arcades with three pointed arches in a street-facing wall which sits within a large central room.

High ceilings were born from the need for cool rooms during Lebanon’s hot summers, as they allowed a breeze to swing through and the central hall was convenient for extended families living together in the same large house.

The three central large arched windows evolved to take advantage of the sweeping views of Lebanon’s hilly coastline and impressive mountainscapes.

The triple arch usually has a central door with a window on each side and a small balcony outside it and the high ceilings and the placement of doors & windows ensured some cross ventilation, creating a comfortable and cool environment. The orientation of this main central room was usually towards the valley and hence the breeze.

Back to that red-tiled roof that I mentioned earlier, it appeared in the nineteenth century possibly an Italian import. The roof never has windows, nor any chimney stacks and it is known locally as the Tarboush or fez of the house. This red roof was a source of pride for owners up and down Lebanon.