Layal Merhi

About Layal Merhi

Layal is an architect, designer, and educator. Her work and teaching stand at the intersection of architecture, memory, and the urban realm with particular focus on pushing the boundaries of representation across media, including through installation, animation, and print.Most recently earning a Master of Design Studies (2023) from the Harvard Graduate School of Design, Layal also holds a RIBA accredited Masters in Architecture (2016) from the Bartlett UCL. She has taught architecture design studios and seminars since 2017 at Northeastern, WIT, and the Lebanese American University. Layal’s work has been exhibited on a number of occasions, including a recent solo exhibit of her thesis work at Harvard. Her academic work in Beirut, London, and Boston has also been distributed in a number of publications since 2012.A registered architect in Lebanon and the United Kingdom, she has worked on a number of projects ranging in scale from furniture to urban design, some of which are showcased at offsh, a design and research studio she

Experience

1. Architect and Founder

   Offsh

   Aug 2018 — Present · Beirut, LB

   Housing architects, visual artists, and thinkers, Offsh is the platform for an open mind. Feeding our thirst for progress, our work lies at the intersection of critique, development, and exploration.• Developed innovative design concepts and solutions, addressing complex architectural challenges with a focus on enhancing user experience.• Utilized data analysis to inform design decisions to create meaningful and impactful designs.• Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to integrate diverse perspectives and expertise into the design process.• Applied creative problem-solving skills to address design challenges, adapting to changing requirements and constraints.• Managed design projects from conception to completion, overseeing all aspects of project development and execution.

Education

• UCL

  Master of Architecture | MArch RIBA pt. II, Architecture

  2014 — 2016

• Harvard University Graduate School of Design

  MDes, Ecologies

• Lebanese American University

  Bachelor of Architecture (BArch)

  2008 — 2013

Skills

• Revit
• Model Making
• Illustrator
• Architecture
• Autocad Architecture
• Autocad
• Sketching
• 3d Studio Max
• Drawing
• Photography
• Microsoft Office
• Interior Design
• Urban Design
• Photoshop
• Sketchup
• Architectural Design
• Design Research
• Indesign
• Autodesk 3ds Max