Aïshti mega shopping center
now open in Jal el Dib

Includes a 2,000-works
museum of contemporary art

Aïshti, the owner of a chain of high-end clothing stores, has inaugurated its foundation in Jal el Dib.

The $100 million project consists of 18,000 square meters of retail and recreational spaces, including 80 shops, restaurants, a gym, and a swimming pool. It also has a 4,500 m2 gallery of contemporary artwork.

The building’s total gross area is 35,000 m2, including 3,800 m2 at roof level. The building also has two basement floors and five upper levels. An additional 15,000 m2 were dedicated to landscapes where several open-air restaurants will open.

The Aïshti Foundation building will show works from a 2,000-strong collection that includes paintings, sculpture, drawing, video and new media by more than 150 artists. Many works on display feature the first ten years of the 21st century. It includes the works of Lucio Fontana, Alberto Burri, and Nate Lowman. The curators of the exhibition are Massimiliano Gioni, the artistic director of the New Museum in New York and Cecilia Alemani.

British architect house Adjaye Associates designed the project. Hayek Engineering and Consultants were responsible for the structural engineering. Abouchedid Consultants were the electrical engineers and Tehini Consultants, the mechanical engineers.

Aïshti was founded in 1989, by business entrepreneur Tony Salamé. Its fashion labels include Zegna, Gucci, Diesel, Prada, Miu Miu, YSL, Dolce & Gabbana, Dior, Roberto Cavalli, Marc Jacobs, Burberry, and others.