Site: Maasser El Shouf, Lebanon
Timeline: September 2024 – July 2025
Team: Manal Kahale
Local Partner: Jabalna

CONTEXT

Maasser el-Shouf is a picturesque, historic village nestled in the mountainous Shouf region of Mount Lebanon. It is a gateway to UNESCO biosphere reserve Al-Shouf Cedar Nature Reserve, and its natural and cultural heritage have put it on the map for ecotourism.

Rural communities live in dire light poverty throughout Lebanon, and those living in Shouf are no exception. In 2024, Jabalna, a local nonprofit that focuses on the environment and rural tourism in the Metn district, reached out to us about bringing light to the residents of Maasser El Shouf.

Shopkeepers and residents started installing ad hoc, cool lights that created patches of glare in between long stretches of darkness, and in the absence of a vision for the nighttime identity of the village, they would soon multiply and prevail over the visual quietude that Jabalna deemed not only better suited and more desirable, but also more equitable.

Jalbana’s goal is for our sustainable, environmentally-friendly and cost-effective outdoor lighting model to inspire neighboring communities, so they can expand this project to adjacent villages.

PROCESS

Our approach was to light sparingly and carefully using three simple rules: highlight the façades with a soft wash on their light stone walls and blue and green doors and shutters; feature select tree specimens with moonlighting; and bring general lighting with inconspicuous road lighting.

We presented our findings and ideas to the local community in a kick-off meeting, and our team exchanged with residents on their lighting needs, explained current trends in environmentally-friendly lighting applications, and offered suitable design solutions.

Since it was decided to prioritize the historic town square area of the village, and to implement lighting in the remaining areas at a later date due to budget restrictions, we developed a two-phase lighting masterplan based on the community’s feedback.

PROJECT

After long disruptions due to the war in the region, we were able to complete the first phase in July 2025, for which we solely used 40 low-cost medium-sized solar-powered utility lights for landscape and architectural lighting and 13 pole- and bracket-mounted solar-powered streetlights for public areas and roads.

In a region rich with a distinct cultural and natural heritage and a longstanding tradition of ecotourism, Maasser El Shouf is becoming a regional beacon for all visitors to see at nighttime.

Participatory events

Workshops planned for late 2025.

Equipment donated

13 solar streetlights

40 solar floodlights