Above All, a Shared Resource: Experiments in design and production

𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀: Mike Chaiban, Joe Chamata & Christina Karam; Guillaume Credoz; Exil Collective; Yehia Jammoul; Stephanie Korab; Pauline Ohanian & Amy Todman

Entrance is free of charge
Opening: Fri. 16 September at 6pm

Rooftops are typically out of our view and seemingly disconnected from daily life, yet they contain most of the technical appendages that facilitate that same daily life. Housing water tanks, satellite dishes, antennas, generators, mechanical rooms, and now solar panels, rooftops contain much of our hidden infrastructure. Other rooftops, often spectacularly noticeable, exchange infrastructure for consumption and enjoyment, attracting a handful of affluent socialites, and using economic, cultural and physical barriers to filter out unwanted guests. Between these two extremes, Beirut Art Center (BAC) asks whether a rooftop could serve as a multi-purpose resource that can be shared beyond private property, while Beirut Makers (BM) think of the roof as a sort of tabula rasa to start afresh. 

This 13th exhibition by BM presents prototypes, objects and devices by 6 groups of contributors who responded to the material, programmatic and atmospheric conditions that characterize BAC’s rooftop. In line with both BAC’s and BM’s ongoing efforts to reduce and repurpose waste, most objects are made from discarded 3d printing waste, remodeled into various scales and functionalities. Other objects tap into the expertise at hand in nearby industrial areas, and result from working closely with local craftspeople to produce sustainably with available techniques.

Visuals prepared by Ghiya Haidar in the framework of BAC Graphic-Designer in Residence Program