13 architects shortlisted for Beirut Museum of Art

The Association for the Promotion and Exhibition of the Arts in Lebanon (APEAL) has shortlisted the architecture firms for a new museum to be located opposite to the National Museum. Slated to open in 2020, the museum will be called the Beirut Museum of Art (BeMA) .

The chosen architects are 109 Architectes, Bernard Khoury/DW5, Hashim Sarkis Studios and LLC, Hale Wardé/HW Architecture, ibda Design, IDC/Verner Johnson/ ETEC SA, L.E.FT Architects, Lina Ghotmeh/DGT Architects, Najjar Najjar Architect, Raëd Abillama Architects/Nadim Khattar, WORK Architecture Company, Yatsu Chahal Architects/Said Jazari Consulting Office (SJCO), and Youssef Tohmé Architects and Associates.

The association was assisted by an international jury that filtered through 66 applications for the contemporary and modern art museum. Sandra Abou Nader, Vice President of APEAL, said: “The museum will include a cultural center and will offer community activities for NGOs and public schools.”
The 13 architects will be reduced to the top three finalists by December of this year,, when a winner will be chosen, according to Abou Nader.

The museum will have a total built up area of 12,000 square meters. Construction will cost around $35 million. “We have started to fundraise with private investors, but once the final design is chosen, more funds will be raised,” she said.