Secourir la Maison Rayes à Beyrouth

Financed
100 %
1,820€ Pledged out of 1,820€
Don contre don
18 Donations from 6 countries
Finished
The explosion of the Port of Beirut devastated this house which is one of the symbols of the heritage of the beautiful residences of the Lebanese capital. Renovated in 2019, it was about to open its doors as a guesthouse when the explosion took place.

The Maison Rayes IN BeIRUT


Maison Rayes is a Beirut mansion overlooking the Port of Beirut, which was badly damaged by the explosion on August 4. Located in the Sursock district - famous for its traditional character and its houses which symbolize the Beirut lifestyle from the beginning of the 20th century - Maison Rayes was built in the 1960s using old elements from a house patrician who belonged to the grandparents of the owner and who served as residence for General Gouraud when he landed in Beirut in 1919. The particularity of the house lies in its stained glass windows and interior woodwork which mixes oriental, Italian and French influences and which were commissioned in Europe by the owner's great-grandfather around 1890.

  


PRESENTATION OF THE PROJECT

These woodwork and stained glass windows underwent a thorough renovation in 2019. The explosion destroyed all the work done and caused damage to the rooms and damage to the furniture. Since the onset of the disaster, the rubble has been cleared away and an inventory of the works has been made. The priority is to “close” the house by restoring its front door and its exterior joinery with stained glass windows, the lower part of which is made up of mother-of-pearl panels and enhanced with bronze motifs attributed to Carlo Bugatti (1856-1940), Italian cabinetmaker famous for his production of Arab-type furniture, the fruit of his long travels in the East.

   
 


what will the collection be used for?

We, the owners, will fund the bulk of the repairs and refurbishment of the furniture. We have just installed a new, identically recreated front door. We are asking the public for the restoration of elements of heritage interest, namely the period joinery whose "cathedral" stained glass windows will have to be ordered in France and reconstructed according to the same motif in Beirut. These stained glass windows will find their place on the 4 large doors closing the house on the south side. While some of the woodwork can be restored, most of it needs to be recreated. It will also be necessary to re-manufacture the door of the vestibule (photo above with the red lantern) adorned with a beautiful stained glass drawing that it would unfortunately be too complicated and expensive to redo identically but which will be replaced by other period stained-glass windows that we still have and which will also be used to replace the stained-glass window in the sliding door separating the living room from the office.

The cost of replacing all the stained-glass windows bordering the south facade in accordance with the initial design (ie 8 panels) amounts to 14,400 euros.

Minimum objective: € 3,600 which will allow us to finance the replacement of the stained glass windows on one of the large doors.

If this goal is achieved:

Level 2:7,200: an additional € 3,600, which will allow us to finance the replacement of the stained glass windows on the second of the large doors.

Level 3: 10,800: an additional € 3,600, which will allow us to finance the replacement of the stained glass windows on the third of the large doors.

Level 4: 14,400: an additional € 3,600, which will allow us to finance the replacement of the stained glass windows on the fourth third of the large doors.

WHO ARE WE?

We are the owners of Maison Rayes, Beirutins in heart and blood. We had completed a few months ago the renovation of the old stained glass windows and woodwork which are the focal point of the house. These woodwork survived the two world wars and the war in Lebanon. They were part of the palace belonging to our grandparents and which was rented to General Gouraud when he arrived in Lebanon. It is important to restore or reconstruct them because they are part of the collective memory of Beirut. They are an important link in the chain of transmitting memories and bear witness to that orientalist spirit that took hold of interior furniture at the turn of the century. Restoring them will help keep this thread between the past and the present. The explosion was a terrible trauma, but we are determined to restore the House to all its beauty and to welcome you there with this famous Lebanese hospitality.


HOW TO SUPPORT THIS PROJECT?

You can support this project:

- by making an online donation by credit card on this page after registration on the Dartagnans site
- by making a bank transfer (for contributions from 1000 euros) after registration on the Dartagnans site

PRESS 

Article released in L'Orient Le Jour on 28/05/2020.


France 24https://www.france24.com/fr/20200810-liban-le-patrimoine-architectural-beyrouthin-en-p%C3%A9ril-apr%C3%A8s-la-double-explosion

Euronewshttps://fr.euronews.com/2020/08/11/beyrouth-apres-la-catastrophe-le-patrimoine-en-danger

France Interhttps://www.franceinter.fr/emissions/le-zoom-de-la-redaction/le-zoom-de-la-redaction-01-septembre-2020

France culture: https://www.franceculture.fr/emissions/le-reportage-de-la-redaction/beyrouth-ville-meurtrie-peut-elle-se-relever

L'Orient-Le Jour: https://www.lorientlejour.com/article/1231536

France 24 — Wikipédia euronews en français (@euronewsfr) | Twitter France Inter — Wikipédia France Culture — WikipédiaGilles Khoury - L'Orient-Le Jour

THANK YOU TO ALL OUR DONORS ! 

Nous remercions chaleureusement tous les donateurs. Votre aide contribuera non seulement à sauver le patrimoine Libanais en danger existentiel suite à cette tragédie, mais aidera aussi à donner du travail à beaucoup d'artisans gravement affectés par la crise économique que subit le Liban depuis le début de l'année.

KEEP FOLLOWING US

Email: [email protected]
Site web: www.maisonrayes.com
Instagram: @maisonrayes

Rewards

Pledge €5 or more
4 donations
A thank you postcard
A big thank-you! We send you a postcard to thank you for your contribution.
Pledge €20 or more
6 donations
Sending of 2 photos of the house + thank you on website and Instagram
We send you 2 photos of the house after restoration in postcard format and thank you also on the Maison Rayes website and on Instagram (if desired).
While in Beirut, you will be welcome to come and visit us to discover the house (by appointment).
Pledge €50 or more
2 donations
Sending 4 photos of the house + thank you
We send you 4 photos of the house after restoration in postcard format and also thank you on the Maison Rayes website and on Instagram (if desired).
While in Beirut, you will be welcome to come and visit us to discover the house (by appointment).
Pledge €100 or more
1 donation
Invitation to lunch or dinner at Maison Rayes
Invitation to lunch or dinner at Maison Rayes for 2 people in the company of other donors
Pledge €100 or more
0 donation
Invitation to a cocktail party
Invitation to a cocktail for 2 people at the end of the restoration
Pledge €200 or more
2 donations
One night at the Maison Rayes for 2 people + guided tour of Beirut
One night at the Maison Rayes for 2 people + guided tour of Beirut
Pledge without a reward
3 donations
 
Pledge an amount of your choosing