Healthy Wealthy & Diverse Port of Beirut

Project idea

The idea of the proposed vision for the reconstruction of the Port of Beirut is based on several pillars. Compositionally, the site of the explosion, along with the silo, became the end of the main axis of the project. This axis is used to delineate additional road to improve traffic around the study area. Development along the axis is intensive and high to ensure economic recovery of the damaged area. At the end of the axis, a memorial site adapting the silo ruin was created to commemorate the explosion. The area has been given back to the people and their needs by creating a Memorial Park and implementing various commercial and recreational functions. The project involves continuing the waterfront boulevards and linking them to the Beirut Central District. A residential neighbourhood of varying heights and building density will be the respond to the city's overcrowding. To enable the future development of the port, the Maritime Academy was planned as research and teaching facilities. It is separated from the onerous technical zone by a student recreation zone, where empty containers are used for utility purposes. Arriving at the port, the first visible buildings are three representative edifices: the port administration, the opera house and the passenger port.

Project description

The designed port includes technical, residential, commercial and cultural functions. The technical space has been transformed to ensure the proper functioning of the port and positioned to reduce unnecessary intermingling with other spaces. The residential part is separated from the highway by tall greenery. The number of storey of multifamily buildings increases with the proximity of a profitable ring of high-rise buildings. Designed high-rise buildings with greenery are intended for retail, administration and other centralized services. The boulevards enable access to the most important facilities. Waterfront areas are used for hotels, retail and other services. The opera house was designed on the square, which is an integral part of the memorial site-the site where the explosion took place. It is a space to commemorate what has been lost and to be a symbol of rebirth and community. The park is to be planted with cedars referring to the flag of Lebanon, as a symbol of national unity during the reconstruction. The Maritime Academy, with its clearly demarcated courtyard, is connected to the memorial by a footbridge. Next to the Academy was designed Student Party Central-an outdoor entertainment space. Empty containers have been given new functions- bars, food-tracks, or movie screening spaces. Thanks to the mobility of the containers which were used, organizers have the possibility to create and divide the space. All zones have been integrated with each other by a walkway in the form of a shared zone with tall greenery, which has been directly connected to the Beirut Central District.

Technical information

The project responds to the problems of a changing climate, at the same time taking into account economic considerations. The greenery in our concept - previously absent from the port area - will not only provide shade and improve the microclimate, but also provide recreation areas. Greenery appears not only in landscaping, but also on the roofs of public buildings. The water stored on them, after treatment, can be used as a greywater for reuse. In the recreation areas, the water reservoirs give the opportunities to cool off on hot days.
Buildings use proximity to the sea as a way to cool their interiors, which help reducing the use of air conditioning. In places where green roofs are not planned for economic reasons, we propose white roofing, which will effectively reduce the heating of buildings.
In response to the public's greater awareness of physical activity, we communicated the port in a way that will encourage citizens and tourists to walk along the designed walkway with tall greenery. The direct vehicular access to all areas is provided through shared zones.
Made under the supervision of Magdalena Sulima, PhD.