If you hurry, you might be able to get a glance of this historic facade before it is gone.
The demolition is taking place on a small alley next to the Phoenicia hotel called Hyram street, behind the hotel’s security barricades, where few may have noticed it.
Luckily, I was there a few weeks ago, and fearing the worst, I took some pictures. Here is what it used to look like:
Finally here’s a view from the top street:
The building seemed to be in pretty good shape, considering the circumstances. So why was it not preserved?
If anyone knows more about it–the building’s age, owner, legal status, architecture, etc.– please comment below and I will update the post.
And remember, always take pictures of old buildings. You never know when your images could be the last ones.
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UPDATE 28/11/14
One day later and the building is almost completely erased:
Interestingly, one commentator below noted that the previous structure would be “completely rebuilt” by a firm called “Nabil Azar Builders Design Consultants.”
Yet a quick look at the renderings of the new building on their website reveals in fact only one facade will be ‘rebuilt,’ but even this will differ significantly in terms of arches, balconies and the entrance. See photos above for comparison:
