Kanaan Terrace

Saida, Lebanon

Kanaan Terrace is an extension of our interior design for Kanaan, a well-known Arabic pastry and sweets destination, located at a prominent gateway to the city along the coastal highway.

The project addresses an elongated outdoor terrace positioned at the edge of the sea—highly exposed, highly visible, yet previously underserved. Existing conditions relied on temporary umbrella solutions that offered limited protection from the sun and communicated a low-quality, provisional character inconsistent with the brand and its location.

The site’s exposure, rather than being treated as a limitation, became the project’s primary opportunity. Visible from the highway and marking an important point of arrival into the city, the terrace was reimagined as a permanent architectural presence—one capable of attracting visitors, extending dwell time, and creating a memorable spatial experience.

The design introduces a continuous shading structure inspired directly by traditional Arabic sweets and the moulds used in their making. This reference translates into a sculpted canopy system whose underside integrates illuminated patterns, evoking the ornamentation, craft, and rhythm of Arabic confectionery. By day, the structure provides essential protection from sun and glare; by night, it becomes a glowing ceiling that transforms the terrace into a distinctive landmark along the waterfront.

A clear and functional seating layout is organised beneath the canopy, supported by a carefully arranged landscape strategy incorporating planters and partially fixed seating elements. The proposal strengthens accessibility and visual continuity between the main interior space and the outdoor terrace, allowing the experience of Kanaan to extend seamlessly beyond its walls.

Kanaan Terrace demonstrates how a permanent, well-considered architectural intervention can replace temporary solutions—elevating everyday hospitality into a recognisable spatial identity and establishing a new reference point at the city’s edge.