Who We Are

IGA is an architectural and landscape design practice based in Beirut and established in late 2003. With the dynamism of an energetic, experienced and motivated young team, the firm took a quick speed in getting involved in major projects in Lebanon and the Middle East. Carefully selected, where the design quality and environmental considerations are the main criteria, and relying on an appropriate teamwork as much as on transforming work into pleasure and self-satisfaction, the projects vary from the private realm to classified National Heritage sites and large scale public spaces.

The firm’s vision of architecture and design is not limited to either exterior or interior spaces but an interaction of both to complete a whole sustainable living environment. The team’s approach is global yet detailed, wide and diverse yet focused, futuristic in expectations and aspirations yet based on the experience of the past, from urban design of agglomera- tions growth down to individual convivial spaces. The serenity of the design, the purity of the spaces and the neatness of the volumes are complementary elements and common vocabulary of the firm’s architectural and design language. Sustainability concerns have led the team towards setting its own environmental criteria as a condition to their involvement.

IGA was able, in the short time since its establishment, to build strong relationships with international renowned firms, which were consolidated over the projects and multiplied over the years. This is due to the ability of adapting and swiftly adopting the international norms as well as the capacity of assimilating the approach, the methodology and the interpretation of these firms. Large-scale projects often require regular coordination, specific protocols of communication, international standards, quality control strategies, and so forth, all of which IGA has grown to be quite familiar with.

With the first contact in mid-2005 and by end of 2006, IGA became a regional representative and sub-consultant for the British landscape practice Gustafson and Porter on most of their Middle Eastern projects. By early 2007 similar arrangements were done with the American architecture and urban design firm Machado and Silvetti. In 2008, IGA was called for by Nor- man Foster’s landscape consultants Gillespies to assist on Abu Dhabi’s experimental Zero Carbon Dioxide emissions Masdar City as well as other projects in Kuwait and KSA. It was its flexible structure that allowed the IGA team to engage in both local and regional projects with these international firms. Among these firms are also PLP Architecture (UK), Land (Italy), Ilex Paysage (France), Sasaki (USA), Vogt Landscape (UK & Germany), ESI (Italy), Battle I Roig (Spain), JRA (UK), PROAP (Portugal).

Depending on the context and nature of the project at hand, IGA’s team may vary to include architects with additional expertise and experience in landscape design, urban planning and project management. The core key personnel have been in the firm for more than 4 years and have collaborated in their capacity of architects, project managers, administrators and document and quality controllers.The small but efficient team counts among its members: architects, landscape designers, urban planners and lecturers at the American University of Beirut (AUB) and the Academie Libanaise des Beaux Arts (ALBA).