Born in Beirut, Lebanon in 1960, Maha received the Bachelor of Architecture from the American University of Beirut in 1983. She teaches architectural design at AUB since 2003. The main focus of Maha Nasrallah architect’s design office is on sustainable design. Some of her projects include: The ecological renovation of Casa Batroun in 2011, in collaboration with EcoConsulting, Dar al Aytam Qobbeh Complex in collaboration with Prime Design, and the Bkerzay lodging project. Maha also started experimenting with clay in 2010 and became one of the co-founders of the Bkerzay Pottery Workshop that began in 2011 in Baakline, and where she exhibits her work permanently.
Casa Batroun Case Study: A small private house in the Mediterranean sea-side town of Batroun, North of Lebanon renovated and extended in an eco-friendly manner. It achieved the BREEAM Excellent rating and is the 1st project to be BREEAM-certified in Lebanon and the 1st BREEAM Excellent rating in the Middle-East. Casa Batroun was also the recipient of the GOLD Award from the UK Green Apple Award for the Built Environment in 2013 and the winner of the Lebanese Architect Award 2017 in the Sustainable Architecture category! The presentation will describe its bio-climatic design, the choice of low-impact materials, as well as all the energy-efficiency, water conservation, and sustainability features of the house.
Bkerzay Case Study: The first Lodging project in the country to achieve a green building certification and one of the highest ratings in Lebanon under BREEAM International 2016.
Bkerzay located in Chouf, has been crafted into its site while the design reflects the local natural and cultural environment, using the principles of vernacular architecture and sustainable design.
As a conservation project, Bkerzay succeeded in implementing sustainable strategies like protecting the existing forest by changing the zoning of its land, enhancing its ecology, using natural and reused materials, adopting green roofs, recycling and composting, water treatment, as well as a passive energy-efficient design and renewable energy production.
Today, by training and hiring people from the local community, Bkerzay is providing many with a better source of income. Bkerzay eco-village acts as a center for exchange between urban and rural communities through its eco-lodges, wellbeing center and hiking trails.
Moderate
The Circular Economy & Eco Design
Green Buildings & Sustainable Neighborhoods
The Circular Economy & Eco Design
Sustainable Cities & Communities
Affordable & Clean Energy
Responsible Consumption & Production
Partnerships for the Goals
Good Health & Wellbeing
General public, specifically architects, engineers, and architecture or engineering students
