Zaki Nassif Museum and Cultural Center

Founded in 1960
President :
Mrs. Raya EL DAOUK
Address :
Achrafieh - Sursock Street
Aoun bldg – Beirut – Lebanon
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P.O.Box:
11 154 Beirut – Lebanon
Telfax:
01-334267
Email:
yscapsad@sodetel.net.lb
Website:
www.apsad.net
Establishing of
Zaki Nassif Museum and Cultural Center
Under the
“Association for Protecting Natural Sites
and Old Buildings in Lebanon - APSAD”
Founded in 1960 by Lady Yvonne Sursock Cochrane, Mr. Assem Salam and Mr. Camille Aboussouan
with a group of active social, academic and professional figures bent on protecting the country’s
natural and cultural heritage.
A pioneer in its field, APSAD is an officially recognized non-profit organization by
Presidential Decree #765.
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To promote the protection and restoration of ancient buildings with historic and
artistic characteristics and the conservation of natural sites.
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Act upon laws protecting the architectural heritage.
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Encourage investors to participate in this preservation in view of its economic benefits.
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Raise public awareness concerning urban and environmental problems.
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Strengthen the fabric of society by a general mobilization regarding the national
heritage, stimulate public interest and encourage a sense of civic responsibility.
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Develop architectural and natural sites to the extent that Lebanon can regain the
tourism stature it deserves on a regional scale.
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To encourage an architecture and a town planning of high quality.
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Also APSAD seeks to raise awareness and educate the public at large and to influence
the policies and activities of national and local institutions and authorities through
campaigns, conferences and debates, publications, exhibitions…
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APSAD has achieved some remarkable successes in Lebanon with the preservation and
the conservation of important sites and buildings.
APSAD is currently working in two major projects:
1. Recording and preserving Lebanon's at risk
heritage sites in two and three dimensions in
collaboration with Factum Foundation and the
Ministry of Culture.
2. Establishing
“Zaki Nassif Museum and Cultural Center”
in Mashgharah - West Bekaa –Lebanon
Zaki NASSIF (1916-2004): One of the most important and prolific
composers in the history of Lebanon who contributed significantly
to a mid-20th-century cultural renaissance in the young nation. He
left a rich musical heritage, a result of a new and uniquely
Lebanese school of composition.
Zaki Nassif Program for music at AUB: After Zaki Nassif’s passing
away, AUB established the “Zaki Nassif Program for Music” in
December 2004. The Program has set two primary objectives:
Preserve the musical and cultural heritage of Zaki Nassif and
Strengthen music education and programs at AUB.
Zaki Nassif museum in Mashghara: On December 2012,
Zaki Nassif’s house in his hometown, Mashghara, has
been officially donated by his heirs to APSAD to
rehabilitate it to a cultural center and a museum.
Provide to the locals and the public access to a Music School, to the Zaki
Nassif Museum and a Cultural Center. The activities of the Center include
yearly spring and summer musical concerts and festivals. The management
of these activities will be organized by APSAD.
According to the mission of the proposed Center, the building is divided as
follows:
Ground Floor: Reception, Cafeteria and Toilets.
1St Floor: Management Studio, Music School, Museum and Library.
Second Floor (Roof): To be used for spring and summer open air activities.
Remark: Extending the Center to neighborhood properties is a serious
option as several owners have expressed their willingness to donate their
non-habited houses to the Center.
The ground floor accessible from the street is
divided in 3 areas and a stone staircase leads
to the first floor.
The house itself is located at the first level
and opens the view to both east (valley) and
south directions.
The house is organized around a central hall
originally open to the outside and closed at a
later stage. Windows and doors with original
wooden shutters are still open on this central
area. Pavement are colored cement tiles and
all opening are in massif wood.
Two rooms will be dedicated to Zaki Nassif’s
Museum.
Heritage value of this building is mainly related to the life of the composer: he was
born in this house and used to
Architectural Heritage value
The house can be considered as a specimen of rural
vernacular houses built at the end of 19th century.
Very modest in its exterior finishes, the house
contains valuable typical interior details that are to
be preserved:
Apparent timber/metallic painted beams
Internal colored cement tiles
Massive Wooden windows and doors
Traditional oven in the kitchen area
1
Dismantling and cleaning
2
Structural reinforcement at walls, balcony
3
Reinsertation of major elements (stone lintels, beams..)
4
New partitions according rehabilitation project
5
Networks installation (electrical, mechanical & sanitary) and
sanitary equipments
6
Floors tiling replacement / additions
7
Walls plastering with traditional lime plaster
8
Restoration of wood openings (exterior/interior) & additions
9
Cleaning, pointing of exterior stone facades
10
Rehabilitation of iron balustrades and securing roof terrace
CONCEPT/SUPERVISION YM A&A
Total Budget
$ 480.000
Budget Spent to date by APSAD
$ 150.000
Budget needed to finalize the
musical center
$ 130.000
Budget needed to finalize the
museum/cultural center
$ 200.000
Your contribution will help
to make the difference
in helping to spread the culture
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