Foster + Partners has completed its first project in Lebanon, a trio of limestone-clad residential towers in downtown Beirut with views out over the Mediterranean, and a McLaren car showroom in its base.

The stepped blocks are part of 3Beirut, a city centre development designed by British architecture firm Foster + Partners for Lebanese luxury property developer Sea View Properties & Construction.

The three towers are staggered and set at different heights to afford residents privacy and give unobstructed views of the surrounding city.
The north-facing facades are glazed to provide occupants with views of the harbour and the Mediterranean Sea.

On the south side the buildings step down in height at intervals, providing space for outdoor terraces and rooftop gardens. The towers are connected at ground level by a lobby area with a water feature that flows from the interior to an outdoor forecourt planted with trees.

The buildings on the south side of the development have been set back to make room for this public green space, and the ground floor has been populated with amenities.
There are shops, restaurants, cafes, a fitness centre with a 26-metre pool and a gym. A McLaren car showroom recently opened, and the ground floor gallery recently hosted a series of temporary art exhibitions. So far, 75 per cent of the apartments have been sold.

Pedestrian routes connect the historic city centre to the one side of the development to the waterfront and harbour area on t...