L.E.FT Architects

L.E.FT is a New York based architecture collective comprised of architects Makram el Kadi and Ziad Jamaleddine with a satellite office in Beirut. Established in New York in 2005, the practice is dedicated to examining the intersections of cultural and political productions as they relate to the built environment. With an interest in diverse programs, a focus on innovative interpretations of architecture is posited as a design onset, redefining the relationship between the architectural object and both its context and its users, from a social as well as an aesthetic perspective. The office is involved in numerous national and international projects. Currently, its designs for the Beirut Marina (Zaitunay Bay), in collaboration with Steven Holl Architects and the new Beirut Exhibition Center are under construction. The firm has been recognized internationally with numerous awards, publications and exhibitions for quality and excellence in design. The partners combine their architectural practice with research projects they conduct in the form of studios at several universities in the U.S. Including Yale, MIT, UPenn, Cornell university and Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation. The firm’s work has been exhibited at numerous museums and biennales, including the Guggenheim museum, the Museum of Modern Art in NY and the Barcelona Design Museum. The office is currently working on several residential projects in Lebanon, KSA and the United States.