Few cities have a party reputation as solid as Beirut, and it’s a fact the Superfuture crew can vouch for. Its rocky past, and present for that matter, may have a lot to do with the zest for life and surprisingly hedonist lifestyle of many of its dwellers, resulting in a hospitality scene that has been constantly evolving on high level. Open since last summer, rooftop bar and lounge BAU has pulled well-heeled party crowds from near and far to its doorstep. The venue, situated at Bloc Market, a cluster of buildings housing various happening shops, bars and restaurants. The venue’s settings are designed by local practice Rabih Geha Architects and is loosely inspired by Bau, the ancient Mesopotamian Goddess of Healing. It has been translated into high walls, symmetry and an infusion of textures and colours, all a firm nod to the lavish palaces of the era. The entrance of BAU, on street level, comprises of a glass elevator adorned with striking red linear LED strips.
Upon entering the rooftop, guests are met by a marble counter lined with thin brass strips. The walls consist of three dark red steel panels, three dark red steel panels, each made of a complex structure composed of sandwich panels with a double layer of plywood and a double layer of high density Rockwool, and are paired with concrete grey flooring. Attached to the walls are painted steel tubes which incorporate all of the decorative lighting which lends the place a distinctly festive edge at night. The back area is clad with a custom wall of 8mm grating laser-cut panels with hollow tubes forming the lintel, skirting and separation. A bar with a green marble top sits in the middle and has a sculpture of its patron goddess below a lit arch as a backdrop. It’s flanked by a dj booth while being surrounded by lounges, featuring elongated sofas and ottomans with brass skirting, all custom made. The eye for detail extends to matching bathrooms in red corrugated-steel sheets in the women’s section and green sheets in the men’s.
BAU
Bloc Market (Beirut Waterfront)
Beirut
Telephone: +961 8 1031513
Publishers Note
Just to be clear – superfuture® is a design blog and not a political commentator. No surprise there. The scope of our content has always been global and borderless, however that can often mean covering projects in countries where we will not agree with the politics or actions of those countries. In a world that’s as screwed up as ever right now, the focus of our support is to those designers, architects and other creatives who aim to make the world a more liveable one – as opposed to people that try their hardest to destroy it. So if a project hits our desk and we like it based on its design credentials, we may choose to publish regardless of its location or creators nationality. superfuture® has always been inclusive and hopes for all current wars, aggression, violence, hate and extremism to end.
