Galal Mahmoud
The Sofitel Tamuda Bay's architecture and interior design were conceived by us as a smooth and seamless transition between indoors and outdoors. Moroccan culture and craftsmanship are rich in colour and texture and are highly characteristic of this Mediterranean civilization which has evolved over many centuries. The use of innovative materials and methods allowed me to reinterpret this traditional lifestyle into a contemporary language. A telling example is the use of Plexiglas to create the moucharaby screens of the Sofitel Tamuda Bay – Galal Mahmoud.

A contemporary and multicultural approach

Born to Egyptian parents and having an English grandmother and Lebanese citizenship, Ar. Galal Mahmoud lived in France for several years after fleeing the civil war in Lebanon with his family in 1976. He graduated from the Ecole d'Architecture de Versailles in 1986, opening his first architects' practice in Paris the following year. In 1996, he founded GM Architects in Beirut, specializing in the luxury hotel and upscale seaside resort markets. During his many trips to Asia, Galal Mahmoud witnessed Asian societies' lifestyles that are equally comfortable in an outside environment as inside a house. These experiences are at the root of his philosophy and approach to architecture where the concepts of 'well being' and multiculturalism are the key.

'Contextual immersion' therefore lies at the heart of GM Architects' way of thinking. Galal Mahmoud steeps himself in the geographical, historical, and cultural environment of each project. He makes these contextual components his own, reworking them in a way that is relevant to and easily comprehensible by contemporary society, but also respectful of the identity and culture of the location in question.

GM Architects is managed by Galal Mahmoud in partnership with Randa Chahine, Anwar Hajj, and Elie Waked. The firm has bases in Beirut and Abu Dhabi and is active worldwide with projects in France, Africa, the Middle East and throughout the Mediterranean region. The firm's expertise encompasses interior design, landscape architecture and site evaluation and analysis in seafront locations. The Museum of Civilizations designed by GM Architects was selected for the 'Future project of the year' category at the World Architecture Festival Singapore in 2014. In March 2015, it scooped the 'Cultural Regeneration' category at the 26th MIPIM Architectural Review Future Projects awards before winning an 'International Architecture Award' in 2015.