Mr. Tarek Mitri, Minister of Culture of Lebanon, announced the launch of an international competition for the design of the House of Arts and Culture in Beirut city centre, on 4 July 2008, during the UIA General Assembly. In conformity with the UNESCO-UIA regulations, this project competition, open and anonymous, has been approved by the International Union of Architects. This landmark building is part of the reconstruction process of the Lebanese capital and will be realised with the support by the Sultanate of Oman.

Situated in the Ghalghoul district, that was severely affected by the conflicts that occurred in Beirut, the future House of Arts and Culture will be built on a site of 3785 M2, in this area of the city in full expansion where several prestigious buildings are being constructed by renowned Lebanese and foreign architects. Conceived as a dynamic and interactive centre, the programme will propose, on 15901 M2, a vast range of spaces devoted to creativity, exchange, debate, education and cultural diffusion addressed to all publics of all generations.
Artistic creativity has always been an important component of life in Beirut. A buoyant city sitting on the Eastern shores of the Mediterranean, Beirut is at the same time an Arab city and a European one. In this sense, it is similar to many other Mediterranean harbours that have served as links between countries and cultures. But Beirut has been more and it remains so. It is the gate to the Orient and to the West. For the European, it is the easy Orient and for the Oriental, it is the easy West. It offers a space of transition and, in this space, it offers freedom of thought and an intellectual arena that has shaped the thinking of the Near and Middle-East.

It is in Beirut that the Nahda (awakening) of the Arab literature and thought took place in the mid 19th century, and it is at the same period that the Arab theatre was born. Since then, Beirut has never ceased to be a place of creation and of freedom of thought. The first universities of the Middle East were created in Beirut and the first modern Arabic literature that shaped the Arab novel and poetry began in Beirut.

The competition is open to licensed architects practising architecturein their countryand multi-disciplinary teams headed by an architect. The competition working languages are English and French.

1st Prize  USD 75,000
2nd Prize USD 40,000
3rd Prize  USD 25,000