Eco-friendly cafe in Libya turns recycled materials into cultural hub
This vibrant space showcases local art and aims to inspire sustainable practices in a country lacking green initiatives.
Lamma cafe in Libya, built from recycled materials, serves as a cultural hub and promotes eco-friendly practices in a post-war environment. Photo: AFPIn Libya’s capital, a cafe’s shiny outside section gives little hint of the vibrant space inside. The eatery was built from recycled materials to promote sustainability in a country recovering from war.
The cafe’s name is Lamma, which means “gathering” or “hang-out” in Arabic. It features an art gallery that displays the work of Libyan artists and hosts events and workshops.
But its main mission, its owner said, is raising awareness of an eco-friendly lifestyle in Libya.
“We used materials abandoned in the streets, such as rubber from tyres, wood from trees and construction waste to build the cafe,” said Louay Omran Burwais, the architect who designed and founded Lamma. He hopes the cafe can inspire others to adopt eco-friendly practices.
Green initiatives are rare in the country, where people are recovering from a long period of conflict.