Elie Khouri Art Foundation Launches Design for Permanent Home in Dubai, UAE
en.Wedoany.com Reported - On November 11, the Elie Khouri Art Foundation (EKAF) in Dubai, UAE, announced that it has commissioned South African architect Sumayya Vally and her architecture studio Counterspace to design the foundation's permanent home. The project is located at an existing villa in Jumeirah 1, Dubai, and will transform the existing building and surrounding grounds into a space integrating art exhibitions, educational activities, and public cultural exchange, with an expected opening in late 2028. This is also Sumayya Vally's first architectural project in the UAE.
The renovation plan preserves the spatial characteristics of the original residential building and converts it into a public cultural facility. The project program includes exhibition galleries, educational spaces, pavilions and gardens, along with reception support spaces and outdoor activity areas. Unlike demolishing the original building and constructing a separate museum, the design reconfigures the interior spaces and public activity areas based on the existing villa and its surroundings.
The architectural design draws on the street spatial forms of Beirut, Lebanon, and the layout of traditional courtyard houses in the Gulf region. The facade features pink tones, with an overall regular building silhouette that is varied through irregular geometric openings, recessed spaces, and curved elements. The doors, cornices, railings, and inter-room organizational relationships of the original residence will also be translated into design elements for the new building's facade and interior spaces.
The foundation was established by art collector and entrepreneur Elie Khouri, who has French and Lebanese backgrounds, and is currently operated by Caroline Louca. Once its permanent home is completed, it will display Khouri's contemporary art collection accumulated over more than 20 years, and will introduce other artworks through temporary exhibitions, inter-institutional loans, and institutional collaborations. In addition to exhibitions, the venue will also host educational programs, public events, and artistic exchanges, open to local residents and international visitors.
