Elie Khouri Art Foundation to open in Dubai in 2028

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The Elie Khouri Art Foundation is set to open its permanent home in Dubai in late 2028, transforming an existing villa in Jumeirah 1 into a contemporary art institution designed…

The Elie Khouri Art Foundation is set to open its permanent home in Dubai in late 2028, transforming an existing villa in Jumeirah 1 into a contemporary art institution designed by acclaimed architect Sumayya Vally.

The foundation, established by French-Lebanese collector and entrepreneur Elie Khouri, will feature exhibition galleries, educational spaces, pavilions and gardens, alongside areas for public gatherings and cultural events.

Vally, founder of the Johannesburg- and London-based architecture practice Counterspace, is known for designing London's 2021 Serpentine Pavilion and serving as artistic director of the inaugural Islamic Arts Biennale in Jeddah in 2023.

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Her vision for the Dubai project draws on the architecture of Beirut's streets and traditional Gulf courtyard houses, exploring the relationship between domestic spaces and public cultural institutions.

Khouri says the decision to convert an existing villa, rather than construct a museum, reflects the foundation's ambition to become part of its surrounding community.

“We wanted the Foundation to feel connected to the city and its neighbourhood, rather than exist as a stand-alone institution removed from its surroundings,” he tells The National.

“Located in Jumeirah, the villa offers an opportunity to create a contemporary art institution that retains a sense of intimacy, while introducing new spaces for exhibitions, learning and public engagement.”

The design will retain elements of the building's domestic character, including architectural features that reflect its previous life as a home. Counterspace will use these details to inform the building's transformation, incorporating new spaces while preserving its connection to the site.

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