Anthony El Khoury

FINALIST

‘the ceiling that walked out of the door’

In a place where different arts meet, I went for a conversation with its architecture. Looking up towards that patterned element, it inspired me like the sky inspired our ancestors to abstract the cosmos into representable art and patterns. More than art, a tapestry interacts with the space, it becomes an architectural element, a wall, a ceiling, a curtain, or here, the floor. The tapestry faces the skylight, mirrors it, discusses with it, abstracts it, and takes it out for a cigarette in the courtyard. This duality creates tension inside the space, an intriguing air of something constantly waiting to happen, like objects are about to speak.

So, it becomes one more immersive space of Phoenix Central Park. A barefoot space to feel the wool. A chair-less performance space, or a relaxing space to lay face up to look at the light or face down to swim in the wool.

The design is simple, it takes the pattern of the skylight, an undeniable signature element, mirrors it, makes it move, and takes it out the door. The skylight is not just an architectural element now, but a performer of the Phoenix Central Park.

Anthony El Khoury is a freelance architect living and working in Beirut, Lebanon. Anthony received his master's degree in architecture in 2020 from ENSA Paris-Malaquais, France, after receiving his bachelor's degree from Holy Spirit University of Kaslik, Lebanon. He was an intern for Bernard Khoury/DW5, Beruit in 2017–18. He is currently working on developing his architecture through research multidisciplinary collaborative practice.