first images of david adjaye's completed aïshti foundation

after three years of construction, the ‘aïshti foundation’ — a mixed-use cultural center designed by renowned british architect david adjaye — has opened its doors to the public. the complex, which is located in the lebanese capital of beirut, is dedicated to presenting contemporary artwork from the private collection of tony salamé, CEO of luxury brand aïshti. alongside art galleries, the development also houses a range of retail outlets and leisure facilities.

the waterfront development is dedicated to presenting artworks from the private collection of tony salamé
image © guillaume ziccarelli / aishti foundation (also main image)

with its aluminum tubular structure applied to the building as an exoskeleton, the distinctive red façade envelops the edifice in a scrim of multiple layers and patterns, reminiscent of the perforated woodwork typical of traditional arabic architecture. from the inside, large windows present views of the sea and the city behind, generating a visual dialogue between beirut’s rapidly evolving skyline and the generously proportioned gallery spaces.

the dramatically proportioned central atrium
image © guillaume ziccarelli / aishti foundation

the inaugural exhibition, curated by massimiliano gioni, is titled ‘new skin’ and presents a number of works from tony salamé’s personal archive, a collection that encompasses more than 2,000 pieces. borrowing its title from a sculpture by british artist alice channer, the display brings together works that expand and transform the language of abstraction, imagining new relationships between surface, texture and form. in close dialogue with adjaye’s interwoven façade, the exhibition focuses on recent experiments in painting and sculpture while establishing a speculative lineage that stretches from the sensuous surfaces of agostino bonalumi, enrico castellani, and piero manzoni to the work of many contemporary artists.

the inaugural exhibition, curated by massimiliano gioni, is titled ‘new skin’
image © guillaume ziccarelli / aishti foundation

the aïshti foundation is part of a 35,000 square-meter complex that includes fashion boutiques, a curated bookshop, restaurants, cafés, a spa and a rooftop bar. the new destination has been designed to inject new energy within the region, which in recent years has attracted the growing attention of the international art community. see here for designboom’s previous coverage of the project.

the display presents a number of works from salamé’s personal archive
image © guillaume ziccarelli / aishti foundation