An Architect Who Writes: ArchDaily’s Editor-in-Chief Christele Harrouk on Global Discourse, Responsibility, and Shaping Daily Lives

Christele Harrouk is a French-Lebanese architect and urban designer based in Beirut, Lebanon, and the Editor-in-Chief of ArchDaily. She joined the platform in 2019 as a content editor and became Managing Editor in 2020, overseeing editorial strategies and partnerships to inspire, connect, and empower its global community to create a better living environment. She also highlights the role of women in this domain, aiming to empower future generations of female architects to achieve their full potential. In her conversation with Julia Gamolina, Christele talks about her personal mission and that of ArchDaily, advising those just starting their careers to resist the urge to define themselves narrowly.

JG: Congratulations on your new role as Editor-in-Chief of ArchDaily! This is incredibly exciting for you and for its visitors. What do you envision for the rest of 2025 as you begin this new chapter?

CH: The built environment is facing growing demands, and for the past sixteen years, ArchDaily, the world’s most visited architectural platform, has been an integral part of the architectural discourse, understanding challenges, and highlighting innovative solutions. In 2025, we continue to deepen our engagement with the complexity of the world. Paradigms are shifting, and alternative centers of knowledge production are emerging.

Alongside this, new audiences are seeking different narratives, tools, and languages of space, form, and place. Our definition of architecture is constantly expanding, and we need to stay ahead of these changes, always broadening our scope, to provide an ever-evolving platform for anyone passionate and determined to shape the world around them.

JG: Now let’s go back a little bit—you studied architecture and urban design in Lebanon. Having published so many architects from all over the world for ArchDaily, what are the unique aspects of the Lebanese approach to architecture and to building?

CH: In the case of Lebanon, the urban fabric is molded by the many significant periods the country has experienced. One can easily distinguish modern times from the French mandate to post-war reconstruction, for example. Whatever you are building in Lebanon, you are integrating into a history-rich urban fabric in cities, and a distinctive topography and natural landscape in more rural areas. Moreover, for a long time, engineers were the sole actors responsible for the building, and the notion of having an architect on board is relatively recent.

That being said, building in Lebanon also means overcoming numerous administrative hurdles, from outdated construction laws that don’t vary from place to place, to a system that prioritizes maximum occupancy and fast commercial results over well-thought-out architecture. Essentially, you need to outsmart the system to deliver interesting architecture. Fortunately, this is possible. What sets the Lebanese approach apart is the necessity for architects to be incredibly resourceful and adaptive. Lebanon has many talented architects whom I have great respect for, because coming from the field, I know the obstacles they have had to overcome to avoid succumbing to the status quo. Their ability to deliver high-quality architecture in such a challenging environment is a testament to their values, passion, and dedication. This is one of the reasons, in my opinion, that many of them have become internationally renowned.

“We are often asked about our jobs in architecture and media, particularly in terms of how they are perceived as an alternative career path. I have never felt like I am branching out or doing something different because I still see myself primarily as an architect. I am an architect who writes.”

Christele Harrouk

JG: Tell me about your work as an architect before joining ArchDaily. How did you then come to a focus in media?

CH: I started my career working in architectural offices, but I always knew my true interest wasn’t in adding new constructions to the built environment. I consistently wrote about architecture because I enjoyed analyzing the field more than engaging in the act of building itself. From a very young age, I’ve been drawn to words and languages. It’s something that came naturally and I didn’t give it much thought, but I never realized how much it would eventually define my architectural career and become an integral part of who I am. During my architectural studies, writing began as a way for me to reflect on various subjects, which later evolved into a deeper exploration of the different aspects of the field.

Inclined towards the “kind of” radical idea that we don’t need to build new structures and should focus on transforming and improving existing spaces, I pursued a second Master’s Degree in Urban Design. At the same time, I contributed to various writing jobs, worked as an editor for a local magazine, and served as a research and teaching assistant, until I applied for an open call at ArchDaily out of curiosity. Fast forward, five years later, I get to shape the editorial vision and strategic direction of the platform.

We are often asked about our jobs in architecture and media, particularly in terms of how they are perceived as an alternative career path. I have never felt like I am branching out or doing something different because I still see myself primarily as an architect. I am an architect who writes. The challenge is that we often think there’s only one way to be an architect—designing and building structures. However, writing is another way to engage with and explore the field. We get to deepen and reevaluate our understanding of architecture daily because we are exposed to a vast amount of content in a fast-paced environment.

JG: How have you evolved personally in your five years with ArchDaily, and how did the platform evolve?

CH: Over the past five years, my role at ArchDaily has allowed me to reinvent myself daily and embrace my multidisciplinary identity, which has become fundamental in today’s world. The platform encourages engagement with all aspects of your personality, breaking free from traditional roles and expectations. Moreover, it’s a portal to the world, connecting you to millions of readers, visitors, as well as architects, and change-makers. It’s a quick-moving platform and lifestyle, but also a very fulfilling career path.

ArchDaily is actively engaged in ongoing global discourses, raising awareness, providing solutions, involving the community, adjusting narratives, and empowering all individuals who contribute to the field of architecture. The platform has revolutionized how architectural knowledge is distributed and produced, focusing on providing tools, inspiration, and knowledge to empower those who shape the built environment. Focused on quality content from around the globe, its coverage has evolved from focusing on individual buildings to exploring both the built and unbuilt environment, a change recently highlighted by the updated logo.

Recently, ArchDaily has embarked on two notable projects. To address the question, “What is good architecture?” it has created “The ArchDaily Guide to Good Architecture,” reflecting on the role of architecture in contemporary challenges by reviewing over 40,000 projects and centering findings on ten principles. In 2022, ArchDaily also produced the documentary “Women in Architecture,” initiated by Sky-Frame and directed by Boris Noir, which highlights the role of women in architecture, featuring Toshiko Mori, Gabriela Carrillo, and Johanna Meyer-Grohbrügge. At the end of the day, ArchDaily’s success is the result of the many talented individuals who have contributed to its mission over the years. There are so many names and figures involved that it’s difficult to know where to start naming them.

Looking back at it all, what have been the biggest challenges? How did you both manage through perceived disappointments or setbacks?

CH: The biggest challenge has been staying relevant in today’s world, which is not a given. Being competitive and reliable in terms of content, positioning, and importance requires a balance and understanding of the users, but mostly of the key questions in the architectural world. It’s all very fast-paced. You have to keep up with everything that is happening around you and try to draw relatively fast conclusions. Sometimes our work is evolving so quickly that it’s not easy for someone looking from the outside to understand the internal changes. Despite this, we manage to dodge bullets and maneuver obstacles because we are highly flexible and, of course, we love what we do.

Moreover, for ArchDaily specifically, it’s always very important to be diverse and inclusive on all different levels, looking at the entirety of the globe across timeframes. Current stories are as important as previously untold ones. As the architecture realm expands, our perception of the field grows, making it crucial for platforms like ArchDaily to integrate different outcomes and horizons of the profession. ArchDaily was born in the Global South out of a need to democratize information and valorize good architecture. Members of ArchDaily understand this and take this mission personally. This shared passion and commitment help us navigate challenges. We are constantly adapting and growing, always striving to fulfill our purpose of bringing valuable architectural content to a global audience, through the power of the internet, words, and imageries.

“Resist the urge to confine yourself to a single box, as you are far more interesting than that. By unveiling your diverse qualities and interests and integrating them, you will create something unique that reflects only you.”

Christele Harrouk

JG: What have you also learned in the last six months?

CH: Patience, patience, and more patience. But also perseverance and focus. I would also add that this year has taught me not to fight on all fronts, but to pick my battles. On a more practical level, I have learned to use a bunch of new software to communicate with different teams within the company.

JG: Who are you admiring now and why?

CH: There are so many names that come to mind; I don’t even know where to start. Many of them are studios and individuals we have highlighted in our “Best Practices” selection, a survey we conduct annually to assess the work, values, and mission behind innovative studios worldwide. These include names like Oana Stănescu, Studio Zewde, Sean Canty, Wallmakers, Matri-Archi(tecture), RUÍNA, Taller General Infraestudio, and Syn Architects.

Additionally, prominent figures are shaping the architectural discourse through education, international exhibitions, and impactful interventions, such as Lesley Lokko, Hashim Sarkis, Yasmeen Lari, Nasser Rabbat, Martha Thorne, Gabriela de Matos, and Paulo Tavares, to name a few.

Moreover, many interdisciplinary designers are crafting their own narratives, demonstrating exceptional creative sensibility, engagement, and activism. These include Formafantasma, cave_bureau, AAU Anastas, SO? Architecture and Ideas, and Noura El Sayeh and Anne Holtrop who are recognized for their body of work and the colossal revitalizations they have undertaken in Bahrain. Other notable figures include Sumaya Vally, Aziza Chaouni, and from Lebanon, platau, and East Architecture.

JG: You’ve talked about ArchDaily’s mission and how it handles challenges—now, what is your core mission? And what does success in that look like to you?

CH: I am happy to empower architects to become influential in other parts of the world, share their stories, highlight “good architecture,” and contribute to the global discourse on how to transform the world for the better. By making knowledge accessible, we can enhance urban living and mitigate the impact of today’s challenges on our built environment.

In college, I had a t-shirt that read “Architecture Can Save the World.” Although this statement may seem simplistic, I appreciate it because it reflects the potential for architects to be change-makers and activists—both of which are integral to who I am. It underscores the profession’s ability to offer solutions and highlights the responsibility it carries. Building for others and shaping their daily lives is a profoundly significant task.

Success, to me, means aligning with my core beliefs, realizing these potential impacts, and ensuring every voice—as ambitious as this might sound—is heard. Ultimately, seeing tangible improvements in how architecture addresses global challenges would be the cherry on top. Additionally, I see success as deeply linked to representation—putting Lebanon on the map, advocating for female architects, and promoting diverse perspectives in the field.

JG: Finally, what advice do you have for those starting their career? Would your advice be any different for women?

CH: It’s perfectly fine not to have everything figured out from the beginning or to follow a predefined path. Have faith and allow yourself to experiment, primarily to discover who you are. We are complex beings with many layers. Resist the urge to confine yourself to a single box, as you are far more interesting than that. By unveiling your diverse qualities and interests and integrating them, you will create something unique that reflects only you. Be flexible, embrace whatever comes your way, learn, and let go of what no longer serves you. Don’t obsess about your purpose—it will come.

For women, I would add that in some areas of the globe, it can be harder to penetrate the architectural workforce. Unfortunately, situations are not aligned everywhere. However, many pioneers have proven that it is possible. Things are changing, slowly but steadily, so despite any challenges, seize the opportunities, get on board, and lead the movement.

SOURCE: madamarchitect.org
Editing: Julia Gamolina
Translation supervision: Interiors pick Team