The Light-walk

USEK - Holy spirit University of Kaslik

Project idea

T H E L I G H T- W A L K
Through time, the gap between society and religion has increased exponentially. Society has drifted apart from religion due to several issues that lead to the loss of the religion’s power and role in unifying people.
As already discussed in the given, nowadays, we face many obstacles that are affecting our life and society due to several circumstances that exist in our society. Our lives have become extremely stressful and many are looking for a getaway to achieve our spiritual purification.

The project will become THE BRIDGE, a transition between two different states, pollution to purification, stress to calm and peace, division to unity which will become the link between the two different “PLACES” so religion and society will reunite.
The Light walk is an architectural proposition that conveys several ideas about site, spirituality society, and transition. It is an exploration of ourselves through nature in an atmosphere that overflows with spirituality.
The proposed bridge design reflects the idea of the urban LINK by turning itself into an urban icon of distinct qualities: the building that becomes the plaza, the plaza that becomes the building.

THE DESIGN OBJECTIVES

-Increase the connectivity of surroundings,
-Strengthen the bonds between today’s society and their religion
-Elevating the user’s awareness of the harmonic relationship between the spaces and the nature of the site.

The place that we are going to work is intended to be a desirable one for training, lodging, hand crafting spiritual and healthy environment that can be an example for a better wellbeing in the society. A Spiritual participation in a community that can be a social support which we may provide a sense of belonging, security, and a strong relationship in the community.
The site is located at the Tamish Monastery area, Dik EL mehdi, mount Lebanon, Lebanon. The site is located right next to a residential area of Dik El Mehdi whereit becomes an intermediate site between the residential area and the monastery.

Project description

The short bridge symbolizes society and population. It is a meandering path that alters its pace, proportions and spatial character to create rich, layered experiences by creating a physical & visual relation with all the different states of contradictions to unify them. They walk over it to reach a 360-degree view platform where the entrance is located. It contains the agricultural training area for students and the dorms.
The long bridge, symbolizes spirituality (monastery and church). It contains the eco-club and hiking, after taking the ramp in the long bridge and reaching the platform above which is the peak of the project, it offers a 360 panoramic view of the surroundings while also leading to the monk’s trail where it fades away with nature.
Its platform is a wide pathway that could also act as a buffer against the noise of the environment giving visitors a tranquil place to view the region and monastery from a unique perspective.
The cube is the unification of the bridge that represents society and spirituality.
It is the emergence of the two poles and represents the focal point of the project. It is linked to the poles on different levels and contains a restaurant on the lower plaza, the market on the ground floor, the exhibition hall, and a double-height café connected to the plaza on the upper level.
The plaza located underneath the bridges unifies the project where the 3 poles intersect (cube, long and short bridge). It is a place where people meet to re-establish communication and offer extensive panoramic views of the region. The plaza divides the project into 2, in a way that the public functions are placed above it and the private functions such as the dorms are placed under it. As for the industries, they are located on the lowest level to provide an easy and accessible service road.
The project will increase the connectivity of surroundings, strengthen the bonds between today’s society and their religion, and elevating the user’s awareness of the harmonic relationship between the spaces and the nature of the site.

Technical information

I integrated the concept of sustainability within the project by using recyclable materials, natural ventilation, and greenery.
Recyclable Materials such as recycled steel, smart glass, vegetation steel mesh, and recyclable striated concrete.