At the city center western periphery, Wadi Abou Jamil commands superb geographic and natural qualities. It is within walking distance from the new waterfront, the hotel district and the Souks of Beirut. A gentle topography cascading towards the seashore and a cluster of stone buildings with terracotta-tiled pitched roofs define it as a Levantine hilltown. Together with nearby Zokak El Blatt, it has preserved buildings from the 1930-1950s, turn-of-the-twentieth-century centrally planned Lebanese houses, and Beirut's only surviving synagogue. Residences enjoy high ceilings, generous verandahs, loggias and private gardens. In some cases, fine woodwork, wrought iron, marble floors and decorative false ceilings are further evidence of their former splendor. New construction includes the Zokak El Blatt embassy complex and Rue de France multiuse development, serviced by a Nautilus health club. Heritage mansions are restored to house private art and antiques collections, converted into boutique hotels, or grouped as town houses. Solidere has initiated the design and implementation of clustered developments with a residential bias, involving infill construction together with restoration. The concepts developed define the future urban and architectural character of Wadi Abou Jamil. The architects are sensitive to the continuity and mix of successive architectural styles in Beirut. Construction is generally planned around an internal garden courtyard. The architects draw inspiration from the traditional central hall model and enhance it by using more articulate forms and modern features. The apartments, with their private gardens and their interiors of grand standing, offer exclusive residential accommodation combining luxury, modernity and privacy. Integrated into this fabric, gardens, pedestrian alleys and small piazzas will establish the basis for communal interaction among the new residents.