Paul Chiniarah was born in 1942. He studied at the Department of Architecture of the Faculty of Fine Arts at Damascus University and graduated in 1965 as one of its first batch of graduates.⁰¹ After graduation, he was employed in the Damascus Governorate at the same time that French Architect Michel Echochard was working on Damascus’ Master plan. After finishing his military service in the Department of Military Works he started teaching at the Faculty of Architecture at Damascus University. He was sent to France to continue his postgraduate studies, which he completed in 1974. Upon his return to Damascus, he went back to teaching while also working on various projects, in both urban planning and architecture where he specialized in environmental studies. He retired from working as an architect in 2003 but continued to teach specific subjects at the Faculty of Architecture and the High Institute for Regional Planning, as well as head architecture departments at some private universities. ⁰²