Hala Wardé's 120-Meter Tower Design Wins BeMA Competition in Beirut
The Beirut Museum of Art (BeMA), a striking 120-meter tower located in central Beirut, has been designed by Hala Wardé, a Franco-Lebanese architect from HW architecture. This remarkable building, inspired by bell towers from southern Europe and Arab minarets, won an international competition organized by APEAL, which saw participation from 66 teams across 16 countries. Wardé's proposal made it to the final 13, evaluated by a panel that included Lord Peter Palumbo and other renowned architects like Rem Koolhaas and Zaha Hadid. The museum will house around 1,000 permanent artworks and various exhibitions. Set to open in 2020, it will also include a garden, amphitheater, library, and artist residencies, all on land owned by Université Saint-Joseph.
Key facts
- BeMA – Beirut Museum of Art will be a 120-meter tower in central Beirut.
- Designed by HW architecture led by Hala Wardé.
- Design inspired by southern European bell towers and Arab minarets.
- Competition launched by APEAL, attracted 66 teams from 16 countries.
- Jury chaired by Lord Peter Palumbo, included Rem Koolhaas, Richard Rogers, Zaha Hadid.
- Museum will have a permanent collection of about 1,000 works.
- Located on land owned by Université Saint-Joseph.
- Opening planned for 2020.
Entities
Artists
- Hala Wardé
- Rem Koolhaas
- Richard Rogers
- Zaha Hadid
- Lord Peter Palumbo
Institutions
- BeMA – Beirut Museum of Art
- HW architecture
- Ateliers Jean Nouvel
- Louvre Abu Dhabi
- APEAL – Association for the Promotion and Exhibition of the Arts in Lebanon
- Pritzker Architecture Prize
- Université Saint-Joseph
Locations
- Beirut
- Lebanon