Majlis

Project idea

Our proposal is called Majlis, the welcoming point of Beirut. The port design is focused on stewardship, resilience and hope through a sustainable port in which the community, environment and economy can heal and grow from the past tragedy. Our proposal addresses economic growth, environmental sustainability, and the exchange between humans through our suggested developments and circulation pattern. Our development plan is proposed in phases, with phase one addressing port function and public amenities, phase two addressing the cruise terminal, commercial and mixed use, phase three addressing public transportation, phase four addressing residential and phase five addresses future development outside the port boundaries. This development plan provides the foundation for a more efficient port and enhances the city’s economic potential through a connected and thriving community, sustainable environment, and tourism opportunities.

Project description

Key aspects of the port design include a cruise line terminal, urban market, botanical garden, memorial, wave energy, oyster reef, new silos and warehouse, multi-level container terminal and crane functions, community parks, hospitality, and mixed commercial and residential area. The cruise terminal is located at the west end of the port and is made possible by modifying the existing wave break to be large enough to host cruise boats. The cruise line terminal welcomes visitors to Beirut, provides jobs to locals, increases tourism, and funnels guests towards the urban market and into the mixed-use commercial space. This capitalizes on the cities tourism potential and builds the reputation of Beirut.
The center of the site houses the botanical garden, memorial area, and community center. This space allows for a vast amount of green space and contributes to the 74.36 acres and 343.9% increase of green space our design provides. The botanical garden utilizes the old silo that still stands on the site and acts as a symbol of the growth and resilience of the city. The silos hold a botanical garden as well as a memorial and gallery space, displaying the names of those who lost their lives in the explosion as well as art and cultural pieces from Beirut. Across the botanical garden is another reflective space located where the explosion has taken a chunk out of the land. This space is meant to reconnect the people to nature and the sea by providing a space that is peaceful and beautiful. Stones of varying sizes surround the edge and lead users out onto the water where they can reflect and enjoy the peace the sea provides. Directly across this area is the new wave break that hosts a walking path and oyster reef. Oyster reefs are capable of filtering 2.7 billion liters of seawater, producing 375kg of new fish to catch and eat, removing 225 kilograms of nitrogen and phosphate, as well as provide habitat for over 100 marine species. The oyster reef can also be exploited as an economic factor for the community and help to improve the marine ecosystem.
On the east end of the site, there is space for a new silo and warehouses as well as an efficient port system. The proposed port system utilizes a multi-level container terminal that can hold the same capacity as before while using less space. All the port circulation is kept separate from the public circulation allowing for a more efficient movement of goods.
Moving south into the site, there is the mixed commercial space and residential areas. These areas boost the local economy by providing roughly 601,500 square feet of commercial space and foster dynamic communities by providing mixed-use residential and solely residential areas surrounded by public park space. The traffic system has been rerouted to better utilize public transportation and keep traffic low in these areas. Industrial port traffic has been rerouted to stay east and away from the public. Elevated walkways have also been implemented throughout the design to better connect the people to each part of the site. The cruise terminal is connected by the second floor to the three-story urban market and through the commercial and residential areas. The elevated walkway reaches across the elevated highway to allow pedestrian access into the site from the highway, creating a more connected place to live, work and recreate.

Technical information

Our design is focused on sustainable measures and increases the overall site green space from 16.74 acres to 74.36 acres, a 343.9% increase. The proposed green space has the potential to sequester an additional 53,001 lbs. of carbon each year.
We include the use of many sustainable technologies including Helix Wind Turbines with a 500 W max output daily, LED solar panels with 14 W per sq. ft. daily, and Pro Solve Tiles, with 2,000 sq. ft. to neutralize 1,000 cars per day. Our site has estimated the use of 1,100 Helix turbines with 200,000 kW max electricity production per year, 250,000 sq. ft. of solar panels with 120,000 kW max electricity production per year and 35,000 sq. ft. Pro Solve Tiles with the potential to neutralize 17,500 cars per year.
The implementation of the oyster reef also has the potential to filter 2.7 billion liters of seawater, remove 225 kilograms of nitrogen and phosphate from the sea, produce 375 kg of new fish to catch and eat, as well as provide homes for over 100 marine species. There are many sustainable measures taken to allow the city of Beirut to be a leader in the fight against climate change and an example of the city’s resilience and growth. Not only are there many sustainable measures taken but the proposed plan also incorporates roughly 601,500 sq. ft. of commercial space to allow the economy to grow and thrive for years to come.

Documentation

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