The Elie Khouri Art Foundation has appointed architect Sumayya Vally to design its first permanent home in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The new cultural institution is expected to open in late 2028 and will be created through the transformation of an existing villa in the Jumeirah 1 district.
Vally, founder of the Johannesburg- and London-based architecture practice Counterspace, will lead the project. The plan is to turn the residential property and its surrounding grounds into a public destination for contemporary art, education and cultural events.
The project is part of the foundation’s wider effort to establish a lasting platform for contemporary art in Dubai. Its architectural design and cultural programme will be developed together, allowing the building’s new purpose to shape its layout and public activities.
Rather than constructing a traditional museum, the design will adapt the existing villa for use as a cultural institution. The plan includes exhibition galleries, learning spaces, pavilions and a garden. Hospitality areas and outdoor spaces will also support seasonal events, public gatherings and other activities.
The project aims to retain the building’s domestic character while changing how its rooms and outdoor areas are used. The existing house will remain an important part of the design, with its architectural details and original layout helping to shape the new institution.
Counterspace’s concept draws on two distinct architectural references: the street architecture of Beirut and the inward-facing design of traditional Gulf courtyard houses. These influences will help guide the relationship between the villa, its garden and the public spaces planned across the site.
Features such as doors, cornices, balustrades and room arrangements will inform the design language. The practice intends to reinterpret these elements rather than simply preserve them as features of an old residential property. The result is expected to connect the memory of the existing house with its future role as a place for art and public exchange.
This approach reflects Vally’s wider interest in social history, collective memory and local building traditions. Counterspace often combines architectural work with artistic and curatorial research. Its projects explore how places carry cultural meaning and how design can bring overlooked stories into public view.
The foundation was established by French-Lebanese art collector, entrepreneur and philanthropist Elie Khouri. Its work builds on more than 20 years of collecting and engagement with the international art world.
Under the direction of Caroline Louca, the foundation is developing an exhibition and education programme based on works from its collection. The programme will also include temporary exhibitions, loans and partnerships with other cultural institutions.
Beyond displaying artworks, the institution plans to create opportunities for learning and discussion. Educational activities, public events and collaborations with artists will form part of its wider programme. These efforts are intended to make contemporary art more accessible and encourage exchange among visitors, artists and cultural organisations.
The permanent home is expected to give the foundation a base from which to expand these activities. Its combination of indoor galleries, educational facilities and outdoor gathering areas will allow the institution to host different types of events throughout the year.
The appointment of Vally also adds to a wider wave of cultural architecture projects announced across the region and internationally. In Sharjah, plans are moving forward for a new design centre that will focus on research and production. Designed by Taller de Arquitectura – Mauricio Rocha with Daniel Rosselló, the facility is scheduled to open in 2029.
In Miami, Gensler has been selected to renovate and expand the Institute of Contemporary Art’s second building. The project will add gallery, educational and public spaces, with an opening planned for late 2027.
Meanwhile, the Eames Institute of Infinite Curiosity has presented a master plan by Herzog & de Meuron and EHDD. The proposal will transform a mid-century modern warehouse in Marin County, California, into a cultural destination with exhibition, learning and gathering spaces.
The Dubai project will take a different approach by giving a former private residence a new public purpose. Through the work of Vally and Counterspace, the Elie Khouri Art Foundation aims to connect the villa’s architectural history with a programme focused on contemporary art, education and cultural exchange.
With its opening planned for late 2028, the institution is expected to become a new addition to Dubai’s cultural landscape.
