V&A Museum in London hosts exhibition promoting reconstruction of Beirut

V&A Museum in London hosts exhibition promoting reconstruction of Beirut
Bayt K is one of the few remaining classic Ottoman-Venetian homes left in the historic quarters of Gemmayzeh in Old Beirut. (Supplied)
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Updated 24 June 2022

V&A Museum in London hosts exhibition promoting reconstruction of Beirut

V&A Museum in London hosts exhibition promoting reconstruction of Beirut
  • Annabel Karim Kassar’s installation presents to-scale façade of Beirut heritage house

LONDON: Beirut has long been recognized as the Middle East’s capital of art and culture. But Lebanon’s financial crisis and political instability, and the devastating explosion at Beirut Port in August 2020, have caused the destruction of much of the city and made life increasingly difficult for its creative community.

While rebuilding continues in the much-loved Lebanese capital, architects and designers persevere to champion and commemorate the richness of its architectural heritage — modern buildings alongside Ottoman edifices; Roman and Byzantine structures in addition to stylistic nods to the Phoenicians, Umayyads, Crusaders, Mamluks, and French.

French-Lebanese architect Annabel Karim Kassar, a London Design Medal winner, has a new installation at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. “The Lebanese House: Saving a Home, Saving a City” runs until August 21.




Beit Kassar, North Facade. (Supplied)

The Beirut Port blast severely damaged hundreds of heritage buildings predominantly located in the historic downtown neighborhoods of Mar Mikhaël and Gemmayzeh, many of which were already in a state of disrepair. The Lebanese government has shown little interest in restoring them.

“Just because the situation in Lebanon is a mess doesn’t mean that we have to stop talking about culture, heritage and preservation,” Kasser told Arab News. “Part of my duty and mission as an architect now is to discuss what happened to the buildings of Beirut after the explosion and raise awareness (of the need) for their preservation.”

Kassar’s installation reflects her ongoing mission to restore Bayt K, one of the few remaining classic Ottoman-Venetian homes left in the historic quarters of Gemmayzeh in Old Beirut, and one that she had been working on for several years prior to the blast. In 2017, Kasser unveiled Handle with Care, a project focusing on the conservation of Bayt K, for Beirut Design Week. The project was a public intervention emphasizing the importance of conserving and restoring the port city’s historic Ottoman-Venetian buildings, particularly in the aftermath of the Lebanese Civil War and Beirut’s commercial building boom around 2014. (According to CNN, real estate purchases totaled $8.7 billion in 2014 alone and roughly 400 building projects are currently underway in the Lebanese capital.)




The Lebanese House installation at the V&A by Annabel Karim Kassar. (Supplied)

That boom has vanished now amid Lebanon’s political and economic crises. But Kassar’s mission to preserve Bayt K has taken on new life abroad with her V&A installation— a to-scale reconstruction of the façade of the building created by Beiruti craftsmen who came to London from Beirut. The installation was constructed by hand on site at the museum. “Tiles, marble, and other pieces from the original home are all being used in the installation in London,” she said.

The centerpiece of the installation is a triple arcade, exemplifying a trademark of traditional Lebanese architecture that dates back to the 19th century. Kassar has also reinterpreted the traditional liwan — a small salon located in the entrance hall of a typical Lebanese residence — and recreated a typical reception area, replete with long, colorful cushions, inviting the museum’s visitors to pause and contemplate the installation and its significance.

Bayt K’s reconstruction at the V&A is being used as a catalyst to further inspire the restoration and rebuilding of Beirut. The installation includes three accompanying documentary films, commissioned by Kassar, by directors Wissam Charaf and Florence Strauss that explore the emotional impact of the explosion through interviews with people from Beirut.




The Lebanese House installation at the V&A by Annabel Karim Kassar. (Supplied)

Since the V&A’s opening in the mid-19th century, the museum has demonstrated an interest in architectural conservation around the world. Through its Culture in Crisis program, it acts as a resource and center for the protection of the world’s cultural heritage. For example, the V&A’s editorial project, “Beirut Mapped,” explores the impact of the blast and its economic and political consequences from the perspective of the artists and writers who live there.

“Saving a Home, Saving a City,” as Kasser stresses, uses the vehicle of the Lebanese home — its preservation, its heritage and its beauty — to remind viewers of Lebanon’s rich past. A home is a place of memories, a structure where families often live for generations, and a place that becomes a crucial component of human and cultural identity.

As Kasser states: “This exhibition is not just about our homes, but about the memories of people and continuity — that is something that is missing a lot in Beirut now.

“I want people to remember their city and its history through these houses,” she continues. “This is not just about architecture; it is about memories that are transported across generations.”


Emirati singer Balqees Fathi named a Maison Valentino ‘Di.Va.’ 

Emirati singer Balqees Fathi named a Maison Valentino ‘Di.Va.’ 
Updated 21 March 2023

Emirati singer Balqees Fathi named a Maison Valentino ‘Di.Va.’ 

Emirati singer Balqees Fathi named a Maison Valentino ‘Di.Va.’ 

DUBAI: Emirati singer Balqees Fathi has been given the title of Di.Va. by Italian luxury label Maison Valentino.  

Akin to a brand ambassador, creative director Pierpaolo Piccioli’s chosen Di.Vas personify the labels’ “different values.” 

“The contemporary need to identify, to belong yet feel different, to risk and to feel strength. The modern DI.VA is a complex character of codes, upheld by inner values,” the brand previously explained on Instagram. 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Balqees (@balqeesfathi)

 

Fathi took to Instagram to share the news with her 14.9 million followers. “I am proud to announce that I am a @maisonvalentino Di.Va. for the Middle East,” she wrote. “To me, it means being part of a community that shares my same values, and with every Valentino piece I wear, I feel liberated and in unconditional love with myself.” 

Before working with the label, the “Ya Hawa” singer was one of the brand’s loyal clients.  

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Valentino (@maisonvalentino)

 

In July, she tuned heads at the brand’s Fall-Winter Haute Couture show in Rome that was held on the steps of the historic Piazza di Spagna. 

She wore a pink creation from Valentino’s Pink PP Collection by Pierpaolo Piccioli to the show titled “Valentino The Beginning.” 

It was not the first time Fathi was spotted in Valentino. She wore an elegant all-white ensemble from the designer’s Rendez-Vouz collection back in March 2022 — a white silk shirt paired with a blazer and pants set that was an instant hit among fashion lovers on social media.  


Iraqi artist Rand Abdul Jabbar awarded Richard Mille Art Prize at Louvre Abu Dhabi

Iraqi artist Rand Abdul Jabbar awarded Richard Mille Art Prize at Louvre Abu Dhabi
Updated 21 March 2023

Iraqi artist Rand Abdul Jabbar awarded Richard Mille Art Prize at Louvre Abu Dhabi

Iraqi artist Rand Abdul Jabbar awarded Richard Mille Art Prize at Louvre Abu Dhabi

DUBAI: Iraqi artist Rand Abdul Jabbar has been awarded this year’s $60,000 Richard Mille Art Prize in a ceremony held at the Louvre Abu Dhabi.

The award, held jointly by the museum with Swiss watchmaking brand Richard Mille, was given to the multidisciplinary artist who lives in Abu Dhabi.

The artist won for “Earthly Wonders, Celestial Beings” (2019–ongoing),  which was put on show during the Art Here 2022 exhibition in October.

 “I am grateful to be recognized amongst a group of peers for whom I have deep respect and admiration. The Richard Mille Art Prize represents a significant investment in the growth and development of an artist’s practice, instilling both the capacity and drive to forge ahead in their pursuit. I would like to thank Louvre Abu Dhabi and Richard Mille for their generous support, and acknowledge the esteemed jury for their trust,” Jabbar said in a released statement.

To date, the artist has had her work exhibited at Shubbak Festival (UK), SAVVY Contemporary (Germany), Rabat Biennale (Morocco), Biennale d’Architecture d’Orléans (France), Abu Dhabi Art, Jameel Arts Centre, NYU Abu Dhabi Art Gallery, and Warehouse 421 (UAE).

The museum also revealed the theme for the upcoming third edition of the Richard Mille Art Prize as “Transparency.” Curated by Maya El Khalil, the open call for the upcoming edition will begin on March 30.


Sharon Stone shows off gown by Saudi designer Yousef Akbar at Beverly Hills gala event 

Sharon Stone shows off gown by Saudi designer Yousef Akbar at Beverly Hills gala event 
Updated 21 March 2023

Sharon Stone shows off gown by Saudi designer Yousef Akbar at Beverly Hills gala event 

Sharon Stone shows off gown by Saudi designer Yousef Akbar at Beverly Hills gala event 

DUBAI: Saudi designer Yousef Akbar has added another Hollywood star to his client list —Sharon Stone.  

The Oscar-winning US actress wore an embellished green dress designed by Akbar to the 2023 Women’s Cancer Research Fund Gala this week.  

Her dress, which was clinched at the waist, featured half-satin and half-sparkling fabric with built-in gloves. Stone accessorized her look with a metallic gold clutch.  

The star received the 2023 Courage Award for her support of breast cancer research and dedication to raising awareness for the cause.  

Upon taking the stage, Stone said: “So often things that start with women get overlooked completely, and I am so grateful to stand for something that doesn’t.” 

The event, which took place in the Beverly Wilshire hotel in Beverly Hills, raised over $2 million to benefit the Women’s Cancer Research Fund, a program of the Breast Cancer Research Foundation that is dedicated to ending disease by advancing research across the globe.


‘It will blow your mind,’ US actor Rob Lowe says of Egypt trip

‘It will blow your mind,’ US actor Rob Lowe says of Egypt trip
Updated 21 March 2023

‘It will blow your mind,’ US actor Rob Lowe says of Egypt trip

‘It will blow your mind,’ US actor Rob Lowe says of Egypt trip

DUBAI: US actor Rob Lowe is the latest Hollywood celebrity to visit Egypt.  

The filmmaker and podcast host shared pictures from his trip to the country this week. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Rob Lowe (@roblowe)

“Spent some quality time in this tomb today with the boy king himself! Tutankhamen’s body was only unwrapped last year,” Lowe wrote to his 1.9 million followers, sharing a picture of himself inside the tomb.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Rob Lowe (@roblowe)

He also posed for pictures in front of the Sphinx and the Great Pyramids of Giza.  

“Nothing can prepare you for Egypt. No matter how many photos you’ve seen or books you’ve read, it will blow your mind. And the people were amazing,” the actor wrote on Instagram.  

Lowe is not the only celebrity to visit Egypt in recent years. He is joined by John Legend, Chrissy Teigen, Katy Perry, Orlando Bloom, Kourtney Kardashian, Will Smith, Jason Derulo and more.


Bella Hadid champions up-and-coming Egyptian designer in Las Vegas 

Bella Hadid champions up-and-coming Egyptian designer in Las Vegas 
Updated 21 March 2023

Bella Hadid champions up-and-coming Egyptian designer in Las Vegas 

Bella Hadid champions up-and-coming Egyptian designer in Las Vegas 

DUBAI: US Dutch Palestinian supermodel Bella Hadid this week stepped out in a hot red dress by emerging Egyptian designer Amy Shehab as she attended the grand opening of Stanton Social Prime restaurant at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.  

The “Buckle” dress is form-fitting, with a flowy skirt, and has a belt tied around the waist with a square metal buckle. It is off-the-shoulder and features asymmetric draped sleeves.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Bella (@bellahadid)

The designer, who is also followed by Argentinian model Georgina Rodriguez on social media, took to Instagram to share pictures and videos of Hadid at the event.  

The supermodel wore black stiletto heels and kept her brunette hair curly.  

At the opening, Hadid promoted Kin Euphorics, the non-alcoholic drinks and spirits brand she co-founded with Jen Batchelor.