The first of its kind in the capital city of Lebanon, the House holds an important responsibility: that of being the leading place in arts and culture. It should therefore assert itself in the international arena of arts and culture as an innovative structure, both in its concept and contents and in its architecture. It will resolutely be looking towards exploring the future of arts and culture and will encompass the use of modern technologies.
A place of creativity and dissemination of art and culture, the House plays an important role in the education of the youth and of the whole population. This role should not be limited to the physical structure of the House in Beirut; rather, it should be able to reach all the country through cooperation agreements and/or a mobile unit.
To do so, the House will be an active, productive place: far from remaining only a space for performances and exhibitions, it will encourage creativity in a process that will influence the minds and society. The House will therefore be clearly anchored in its Lebanese milieu and culture and cater for the international. It will attempt to project the Lebanese cultural creations in the international sphere.
To answer these needs the House will be accessible and highly visible. Its architecture and the dynamism and vitality of its programme and events would turn it into a magnet for the Lebanese and the Arabs. It will project Beirut in the art community and become a leading place of the Arab World. In this sense, it would reinforce the leading role of Beirut in the field of arts and culture. The House is not conceived as a museum; it will not house permanent collections. It will however host temporary national, regional and international exhibitions. Interactivity between the House, its visitors and the population at large is an essential process. Professionals, scientists, artists, will be invited to organize and lead workshops, conferences, forums, visits of exhibitions and other activities. The House will act as an incubator. It will provide training sessions, spaces and equipment to boost creativity and transdisciplinary exchanges. The vitality of the House should be reflected in its programme: the House is a machine, a plant that continuously produces a diversified offer to cater for the many. Its visit should be an enchantment and a pleasure. Rigidity, routine, conformity, static are to be banned from its functioning and from the presentation of its activities. The international architectural competition that is launched under the auspices of the International Union of Architects (UIA) is based on this concept and ideas for a programme of functioning, of space uses and objectives.
A place of creativity and dissemination of art and culture, the House plays an important role in the education of the youth and of the whole population. This role should not be limited to the physical structure of the House in Beirut; rather, it should be able to reach all the country through cooperation agreements and/or a mobile unit.
To do so, the House will be an active, productive place: far from remaining only a space for performances and exhibitions, it will encourage creativity in a process that will influence the minds and society. The House will therefore be clearly anchored in its Lebanese milieu and culture and cater for the international. It will attempt to project the Lebanese cultural creations in the international sphere.
To answer these needs the House will be accessible and highly visible. Its architecture and the dynamism and vitality of its programme and events would turn it into a magnet for the Lebanese and the Arabs. It will project Beirut in the art community and become a leading place of the Arab World. In this sense, it would reinforce the leading role of Beirut in the field of arts and culture. The House is not conceived as a museum; it will not house permanent collections. It will however host temporary national, regional and international exhibitions. Interactivity between the House, its visitors and the population at large is an essential process. Professionals, scientists, artists, will be invited to organize and lead workshops, conferences, forums, visits of exhibitions and other activities. The House will act as an incubator. It will provide training sessions, spaces and equipment to boost creativity and transdisciplinary exchanges. The vitality of the House should be reflected in its programme: the House is a machine, a plant that continuously produces a diversified offer to cater for the many. Its visit should be an enchantment and a pleasure. Rigidity, routine, conformity, static are to be banned from its functioning and from the presentation of its activities. The international architectural competition that is launched under the auspices of the International Union of Architects (UIA) is based on this concept and ideas for a programme of functioning, of space uses and objectives.