A floating volume linked by a passerelle, a triangular service core, and a multifunctional square space express a clear geometry, presenting a concise organization of space towards downtown Beirut's old and new urban fabric. From the outset, thirty percent of the plot was allocated for public use as an outdoor planted terrace, forming an open plaza that provides a dynamic connection towards Beirut’s renowned souks. The ground plane is stratified with steps to create a new topography, offering ample room for cocoon-shaped display areas amidst pockets of greenery. Overhead, a woven pod—crafted from wood to resemble the rattan products exhibited in the showroom—hovers within the 9-meter void and houses the pottery workshop.
The hub materializes as a translucent cube, clad with polycarbonate panels encasing a slender steel structure—at once visually expressive and responsive to the client’s needs. The distinct materiality transforms the Art Hub into a kaleidoscope of color by nightfall, while during the day, it bathes the internal gardens in filtered natural light, ensuring privacy, calm, and focus by blurring the view of Beirut’s hectic activity around the building.
