Kheirallah's Watermill

Kheirallah's watermill, currently a property of the Lebanese Directorate General of Antiquities, is a 19th century watermill located in Baalbek, believed to date back to the Ottoman period, between 1831 and 1892. It was originally called, up to the twentieth century, the well's mill or 'Tahunet el Bir,' because of the well located right in front of its North-East facade, linked to the historical 'Ras al Ain' river that powered the mill. The mill's modern name follows that of its previous late owner, who used to operate it: Qasem Kheirallah.\n\nThe project consisted of a full restoration and adaptive reuse study of the mill. After conducting architectural assessments, structural diagnosis, and historical studies, the restoration and rehabilitation proposal was developed, focused on respect for the existing heritage structure, its delicate preservation, and architectural harmony with new additions. A modern spiral staircase was added to the mill's facade as a signal of its so-far-hidden presence and a functional representation of its mechanical aspect: the turning wheel. The project, inspired by the mill's social facet, will become a gathering and informational facility representing the city and its people, a core that attracts and disperses visitors around the old city to learn about its traditional habits, products, and culinary produce. The purpose of the rehabilitation was to give the mill back its former glory as a social and active space within and for the city.