On the first day on architecture delegation to the UAE last last fall, our group toured the art and culture capital of the country, the Emirate of Sharjah, where the Sharjah Art Triennial was in full swing in several venues, including an abandonned fruit and vegetable market and a former girls school. We also toured the old Bank Street district of Sharjah which contained a massive array of mid-century office and residential towers in various degrees of disrepair. Fascinating to our posse of architecture photographers, architecture curators and journalists! But the cherry was Arsekal Avenue by night, with a tour of Concrete, the Rem Koolhaus / OMA designed installation space. It was a long first day but not to be missed was the chocolatier Mizram, where we had time to stop for a quick tour and cafe prior to our dinner engagement. So much goodness.
