It was intended for mixed use, with residential apartments and commercial spaces, embodying the urban growth and modernization of Beirut during the French Mandate period.

The architectural transparency and openness of the design are among its most distinctive features along with the colorful cement tile patterns and sun-washed with pink, yellow, green, and blue walls.

[3] The Lebanese Civil War, lasting from 1975 to 1990, was a multifaceted conflict involving numerous factions and militias, each supported by different sectarian, political, and foreign interests.

The building was abandoned by its residents and quickly became a critical position for snipers and militias due to its strategic location of the Damascus Road, the de facto demarcation of the Green Line dividing the Christian East and Muslim West sides of the city of Beirut.

An amnesty law passed in 1991 provided immunity to many wartime leaders, allowing them to transition into political roles without being held accountable for their actions during the war.

The decree stated that the Barakat building will be restored to accommodate a memory museum and a cultural center (which will later be known as "Beit Beirut") with objects tracing the 7000-year history of the city.

The French government provided technical assistance to the Beirut municipality but the cultural specialists who were supposed to visit and counsel on the museum's development were delayed because of the 2006 and 2007 Lebanon conflicts and political instability.

Even though Haidar had experience in rehabilitation as he had previously worked on the restoration of traditional buildings in downtown Beirut and Tripoli, his selection was contested since he was chosen without having recourse to an open competition.

In 2007, then Beirut's mayor Abdel Menem al-Aris affirmed that the prospected memory museum will showcase the city’s history and most notably the civil war.

[2][11][17] Although part the exterior is slated for renovation, the ground and first floors of the Barakat building's ruined façade will be kept in its decrepit state, to serve as a reminder of the city's wartime history.

Bullet holes and sniper barricades are to be kept in their original places as well as the belongings of Fouad Chemali, a local dentist who occupied an apartment in the building's first floor since 1943.

[12] Beit Beirut serves as a dynamic cultural hub, hosting a range of exhibitions and community events that reflect the city's rich history, artistic talent, and ongoing dialogue about memory and reconciliation.