If you’ve been to Beirut Souks recently, you would have probably noticed that the North part of Beirut Souks that is currently under construction is starting to take shape. The department is under design by “Zaha Hadid Architects & Samir Khairallah & Partners” and consists of a 5-storey development of 26,370 m² usable area “comprised of a department store at the northern end and a mixed-use facility – retail at ground and lower-ground levels and serviced apartments on upper levels with a rooftop restaurant – at the southern end.” [Source]
To be honest, I was not a big fan of Zaha Hadid’s Issam Fares institute at AUB but Beirut Souk’s department store is a masterpiece and looks absolutely amazing. I could not find a completion date anywhere online but it should be done by 2018 if not earlier at the rate they are going. The project cost is around 40 million dollars.
World-Renowned Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid unfortunately passed away this year aged 65.
Should be done this year.
Actually I find the Fares Institute building quite stunning close-up, looking much better in vivo than in drawings and pictures. Her feeling about siting a building is excellent. Although she is a real bear to work for, so I hear.