The School of Tourism and Hotel Management (THM) at the University of Balamand (UOB) welcomed Mr. Charly Dabbaghian, Senior Architect, Urban Planner, and UOB Professor (ALBA), for an engaging talk at the Jacobo Auditorium (THM) on the UOB Main Campus on the 18th of February, 2025.
Graduating from the Polytechnic University of Torino in Italy, Charly Dabbaghian has had a distinguished career in architecture, urban planning, and design. His expertise spans across furniture design, product design, and interior architecture, with significant professional experience in Lebanon, France, and Italy. He has worked on key projects such as the monastery and church of the Carmelites sisters, commercial centers, hypermarkets, and various educational buildings. In 1987, he won the renowned Pierre Wardé prize. Mr. Dabbaghian is also a polyglot and a passionate writer and poet, often blending his artistic vision into his work.
In his talk, Mr. Dabbaghian emphasized the role of design in enhancing human experiences across various spaces, from homes to workplaces, making them both functional and enjoyable. He explored the intersection of art, architecture, and food, using the example of Italian car designer Giorgetto Giugiaro’s pasta design for BARILLA to illustrate how design influences even the culinary world. He also highlighted the importance of sensory design in hospitality, urging architects and designers to consider movement and balance, alongside the five senses, to create immersive experiences that elevate how guests interact with spaces.
Dr. Jihane Adeimi, Director of THM, also addressed the audience, emphasizing the value of interdisciplinary collaboration between designers and hospitality experts. She explained that this collaboration could generate innovative ideas and solutions that transcend conventional thinking in the industry. She encouraged hospitality students to embrace an interdisciplinary mindset and recognize the language of design in all forms of hospitality spaces. Quoting Italian designer Massimo Vignelli, she concluded: “Good design is a language, not a style.”
The talk gave attendees a valuable chance to learn from Mr. Dabbaghian’s expertise, offering new insights into how design and hospitality can merge to create functional and visually appealing spaces.
