This dissertation focuses on a building known as The Egg, a modernist ruin abandoned during Beirut’s turbulent past. Before the civil war began in Lebanon in 1975, Beirut was a centre of tolerance for different denominations and cultures in the Middle East. However, the war deepened sectarian conflicts and class divisions. When the war ended in 1990, it had no clear winner and this exacerbated the lack of a shared narrative.

Transformation of the Beirut built environment through post-war reconstruction projects emerged as one way to construct national identity. The Egg has been constantly threatened with demolition by these projects, which have resulted in extensive destruction and land sales. In response, citizens have embraced The Egg and placed it under their protection. The debate about The Egg's future has become a debate about not only the future of the built environment but also of society in Beirut.