A project of Zanzalakht Foundation · Old Damascus
Beit Hayat
A House of Life for art, heritage and collective memory in Old Damascus: the founding initiative of Zanzalakht.
- Coming soon
- In development
- Completed
- Location
- Old Damascus
- Building
- Historic Damascene house, 600+ m²
- Lead organisation
- Zanzalakht
- Duration
- 24 months
- Outcome
- Living Cultural House
- Long-term vision
- A network of cultural houses
“For me, the story of Beit Hayat began with a woman, not a building.”
My mother’s name was Hayat, Life in Arabic. What I had mistaken for submission was quiet strength. She held our family together through generosity, dignity and love.
When, after nearly two decades of struggle through bureaucracy, corruption and war, I finally gained the right to restore the Damascene house I had fought to save, I knew its name before I knew its future: Beit Hayat, a House of Life.
Like my mother, the house speaks softly. Behind its modest walls lies a courtyard of light, water, jasmine and citrus trees.
Lina Sinjab, Founder
Restoration
Six priorities.
Structural stabilisation
Strengthening foundations, repairing damaged walls and rehabilitating weakened rooms and ceilings.
Architectural conservation
Basalt arches, ablaq stonework, carved woodwork, doors, windows, the iwan and historic mihrab.
Courtyard & environment
The courtyard, fountain, traditional planting and natural ventilation: the social heart of the house.
Infrastructure for cultural use
Water, sanitation, electrical systems and climate-sensitive lighting, respecting the historic character.
Traditional craftsmanship
Stone masonry, wood carving, lime plaster and stained glass, with apprenticeships for young practitioners.
Cultural activation
As areas are completed, workshops, exhibitions and screenings gradually reconnect the house with the public.
Timeline
Two years, four phases.
- Months 1–6
Phase 1
Emergency stabilisation, documentation and structural rehabilitation.
- Months 6–18
Phase 2
Architectural restoration, courtyard rehabilitation and traditional craftsmanship workshops.
- Months 18–24
Phase 3
Cultural infrastructure, residency spaces and pilot cultural programmes.
- Year 2 onwards
Phase 4
Full operation with residencies, public programmes and community partnerships.
Programme
What the house will hold.
Artist residencies
Artists, writers, filmmakers, musicians, architects and researchers from Syria and beyond.
Heritage & craftsmanship
Workshops led by Syrian artisans, preserving endangered crafts and passing them on.
Public programme
Exhibitions, screenings, performances, concerts and talks open to artists, neighbours and visitors.
Media & memory
Oral histories, documentary projects and podcasts recording the stories of Damascus.
House of Memory
An annual commission inviting artists to create new work inspired by Damascus and the house.
Within five years
6–10 residencies annually, 50+ public events, and a new generation of trained artisans.
The library
The books are ready. They are simply waiting for their room.
Two members of Zanzalakht have donated their personal libraries to the foundation: together more than 4,000 books spanning Arabic and international literature, poetry, history, politics, law and cultural studies.
The room will also be equipped as a small, professionally soundproofed and acoustically treated recording space for podcasts, oral histories, interviews and video conversations: a library, a place for quiet reading, and a space for recording contemporary Syrian voices.
Sustainability
Restoration is only the beginning.
Beit Hayat is planned as a permanent institution, not a one-off restoration. To reduce reliance on grants alone, Zanzalakht is developing a blended model.
Earned income
Paid residencies, appropriate ticketed events, workshops and training, and rental of spaces strictly for cultural and educational use.
Philanthropy & partnerships
Philanthropic support, institutional partnerships and multi-year grants alongside earned income.
Governance
Transparent pricing and procurement, managed conflicts of interest, and foundation funds kept separate from any owner-side arrangements.
Subsidised access
Free or low-cost events and scholarships, so that sustainability strengthens rather than restricts community participation.
Support Beit Hayat
Help bring the house back to life.
Every contribution, large or small, goes into the house: its walls, the crafts that restore it, and the cultural life it will hold. Choose how you would like to help and we will reply with the details.
Online giving opens soon. Until then, we reply to every message with the details.