manouk avedissian (1841–1925), more commonly known as bechara effendi (or bechara effendi al-muhandis, bechara afandi, also bechara effendi el-dob ""the bear"") was an ottoman administrator and the chief engineer of the vilayet of syria and later of the vilayet of beirut. avedissian, who is considered as one of the founding fathers of lebanese architecture and urban planning, is of armenian descent.