The Bahrain Centre of Contemporary Arts

An intimate and luxurious retreat where all your needs - body, mind and spirit are considered and cared for.

You are about to discover an island in time, an exquisite oasis sheltered from the rush and competition of our daily lives.

A meeting between Jean Marc Sinan and Fatima Alireza in 1999 resulted in one of the most spectacular architectural refurbishments to date in Bahrain. The fusion between European and Arabic cultures was designed to capture the grand essence of a European chateau while retaining an Arabic feel. The end result is elegance and chic.

Multi-talented international French artist Jean Marc Sinan arrived in Bahrain in 1996. While doing the "tourist thing", Jean Marc stumbled upon a dilapidated structure in Hoora Avenue in Manama, and on further inspection discovered it to be full of old furniture and a haven for stray cats and dogs. Inspired by what he was looking at, he was able to see beyond the ruin and visualize a building that served a much more inspiring purpose. His goal was to restore it, balance its proportions, and fuse the ruin with six other edifices while respecting the oriental heritage that underscored its culture. 

In 1999 Fatima Alireza was following the traces of her father Yousif Akbar Alireza, the late owner of the once dilapidated ruin in Hoora Avenue. On seeing the architectural refurbishment and restoration it inspired her to set out under the guidance of Jean Marc, to create a culture centre that would advance the cultural heritage of the Island. After three more years of architectural refurbishment and innovative design, a "masterwork in Situ" covering 11,000 sq m was formed. 

Jean Marc accomplished the restoration under the theme of childhood.
Today, the complex has two sections. The first constitutes the restoration of the old historic monument, built in the early 20th century, and the other is what culminated in the renovation of six new buildings within the old compound, demonstrating the merging of two cultures.
Three million, six hundred thousand hours of Labour and BD2 million of private investment were necessary to achieve the harmony between the European and Arabic cultures so they could co exist in both a simple and sumptuous atmosphere. In Jean Marc's architectural view, the preference is for stripped down, exaggerated verticals and the result is invariably tall and slender walls.  The massive handmade fountain, set within the courtyard, weighs 26 tonnes and is visually stunning and aurally soothing.  It would be impossible not to relax in the beautiful natural surroundings and attain a new vitality the atmosphere is one of rustic elegance where the vibrant and colorful natural landscape accentuates comfort and provides the perfect setting to visit the opera or ballet or just read a book.

The Centre of Contemporary Art, which opened on May 28, 2002, will each year present three exhibitions by internationally renowned contemporary artists in painting, sculpture, photographic work, design and architecture.  The first exhibition, to be on display until December 31, features Jean Marc's own works and shows his architecture in situ and his oil paintings under the theme "The life of a Palestinian child across four minutes" as well as interior designs in fabric, furniture, glass, pottery and cutlery.

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