INTERVIEW RAMY EL KHAZEN
Ramy el Khazen carefully selected and put together every single part of The Junkyard. We're impressed -he's not even a designer
What is your actual profession?
I produce alcohol. I'm the sixth generation in an Arak producing family. I have nothing to do with architecture or design at all.
How did you become involved in this project?
Mario[the owner]is my cousin. I Always design things, break down things, asahobby.
How did you come up with this concept?
Mario wanted a junkyard, so I started with the shipping container that houses the kitchen.
Where did you source everything from?
I was just going to junkyards all around Lebanon, picking things up.There is actually a lot that has come from the Arak factory: pots and barrels, a distillation pot that now has flowers coming out of it. The chandelier above the bar was a buoy we found. It's cut in half and I used poles for scaffolding to attach the lights. All the wood is used, bought from building sites.Nothing is new. Except the toilets.
How long did it take?
A bit of time. We had nothing: no plans, no designs, no ideas. I started with the container and worked every day .It all spanned from what I found in the junkyard.
Do you have a favourite piece?
Actually I'm In love with the place.But guess it's the bar door, which is a car door; the chandelier and table made from an old engine, stripped of its insides. I made everything.
What about the graffiti?
Not me. That was a guy called Raoul Mallat, a very talented guy.
What else have you worked on then?
I did Häagen-Dazs in Downtown, the offices of Karma, houses of friends.
What will you do when this place closes?
We'll remove it all and either return it to scrap, or rebuild it elsewhere. I'm dying to do another one. I have plans for something bigger, on a much higher scale-a double decker container with balconies, using a lot of hardware and construction material.
What is your actual profession?
I produce alcohol. I'm the sixth generation in an Arak producing family. I have nothing to do with architecture or design at all.
How did you become involved in this project?
Mario[the owner]is my cousin. I Always design things, break down things, asahobby.
How did you come up with this concept?
Mario wanted a junkyard, so I started with the shipping container that houses the kitchen.
Where did you source everything from?
I was just going to junkyards all around Lebanon, picking things up.There is actually a lot that has come from the Arak factory: pots and barrels, a distillation pot that now has flowers coming out of it. The chandelier above the bar was a buoy we found. It's cut in half and I used poles for scaffolding to attach the lights. All the wood is used, bought from building sites.Nothing is new. Except the toilets.
How long did it take?
A bit of time. We had nothing: no plans, no designs, no ideas. I started with the container and worked every day .It all spanned from what I found in the junkyard.
Do you have a favourite piece?
Actually I'm In love with the place.But guess it's the bar door, which is a car door; the chandelier and table made from an old engine, stripped of its insides. I made everything.
What about the graffiti?
Not me. That was a guy called Raoul Mallat, a very talented guy.
What else have you worked on then?
I did Häagen-Dazs in Downtown, the offices of Karma, houses of friends.
What will you do when this place closes?
We'll remove it all and either return it to scrap, or rebuild it elsewhere. I'm dying to do another one. I have plans for something bigger, on a much higher scale-a double decker container with balconies, using a lot of hardware and construction material.
