Fluorescent arches and stripes of neon light frame the views at this rooftop bar in Beirut, which is designed as a contemporary take on Asian temples.
Local practice Rabih Geha Architects designed BAU, using high walls and a bold red colour palette that contrasts the surrounding skyline. Crimson light dominates the bar’s interiors, but there are also flashes of greens and yellows that prevent it from becoming overwhelming.
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They have also replicated the small passages that often wrap around the central space in temples, meaning the bar’s entered via a narrow, red-walled corridor – that is, after guests have sailed upon the neon-lit glass elevator.
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According to the practice, the Mesopotamian goddess Bau was an important point of reference for the design, which means they’ve also installed a sculpture of the deity behind the bar, surrounding it with leafy plants.
BAU Beirut, Bloc Market, Biel Waterfront, Beirut, Lebanon
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