Editions al-Ayn recently published "Lime in Lebanon: history and practices" by archaeologist Jeanine Abdel Massih, restoration architect Nathalie Chahine and historian Raja Youssef Labaki. In addition to historical and scientific explanations, the 140-page book includes almost fifty photographs and architectural drawings.
Although the use of lime had been abandoned in Lebanon at the beginning of the last century, the reconstruction of the capital following the double explosion on 4 August changed all that, with a resurgence in the use of this material, which had long been sidelined.
At the beginning of the 20th century, Lebanon had thousands of lime kilns, particularly in the mountains, but very few are still in use today.
"The double explosion of 4 August 2020 in the port of Beirut, which destroyed hundreds of old buildings, led to a revival in demand for lime, a material used in houses built in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Few restorers, however, were familiar with this practice. It became clear that any restoration or renovation could only be carried out using materials from the period" - Houda Kassatly for L'Orient-le-Jour.
Photo: the lime oven, an essential architectural heritage to be preserved. Photo Houda Kassatly.