Inside this space of 39 000 m2, the main structure has been kept. It has been renovated in a light way even though they excavated in order to create the exhibition spaces downstairs. Crossing the building, a huge empty space creates a street in the middle from which you can reach each space of the 104. In this walking space, you can sit down on a bench, take your time, read a book, meet people and let children play with games installed especially for them. This is not an impressive structure in the sense of a piece of architecture made as a piece of art, intended to impress the visitor. The feeling throughout the building is sort of quiet, and the additions stay sober and a step behind the main structure. It’s visually nice, but people won’t get stuck simply staring at the interior. This attitude, though, is very much in accord with the aim of the place. What is more important are the activities within, and the desire to display the working processes of the artists. As such, the architecture shouldn’t (and in fact doesn’t) override those activities with too strong an aesthetic expression, but rather in a way goes with it, like a nest, acting as a host. At the same time, 104 is also about using an old building which already has an identity and a history. Bearing this in mind, the use of different materials in order to avoid any clumsy confusion with a quite neutral expression sounds like a wise but also “safe” approach.
MARIE DE FRANCE Walking around, one's not driven by the streets, the fast roads or the main axis. If you want to reach the other side of downtown Beirut, in a car you would follow the movement of the Ring and go around it, without seeing it, unless you notice the new mosque and the dark whale, which was once a cinema.
104 interior showingà blend of materials Jean-Christophe Benoist
Lighting used toâ enhance wayfinding Author's own �Bespoke wayfinding system Author's own Multi-purpose spacesä Author's own
Text by Marie De France, Claire Davodet & Constance Marraud.
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� CITIES The Magazine
�Bespoke benches Author's own