Beirut Institute of Security (BiOS)

Project idea

On the fateful day of 4 August 2020, a great explosion in the Port of Beirut sent an awakening throughout the city - amplifying issues such as economical and financial security, food and medical sufficiency, religious harmony, aftermath of the tragedy as well as poor human administration.

Project description

The Beirut Institute for Security redefines the mission of providing security to the Port of Beirut through 4 components of Shelter and Survival, Surveillance, Sanctuary and Shield.

It acts as the central administrative and regulatory headquarters from which all the security services are dispensed. Its key objectives are to erase the negative misconception and labeling tied to the great explosion while creating a major rebranding and reconstruction of the security architecture in Beirut.

The 4 components of security are then translated into operative programs that work towards the pursuit of provision of survival and basic needs, protection from crisis and catastrophe, preservation of heritage and tragedy remains, and prevention of financial crimes.

Technical information

The design concept for the institute is derived from the interlacing of programs and spaces, the need for a wall of protection, and the connection to the proposed exterior infrastructure as highlighted in the urban masterplan.

Various methodologies were employed to assemble the building design. The project is explored through an explothesis - the act of exploding and exploring the idea from its puzzle pieces, and then later merging them together in a rational configuration. The physical relationship in the vertical and horizontal sequences will be investigated and rationalized to maintain effective connections between each component. Lastly, the building form is then strategized with a cross between domestication and mechanization in architecture in which habitable spaces will be designed to form a human-habitable machine.

The institute incorporates 12 different units - Internal Silos Base, Automated Safety Testing Arena, Digital Commemoration Wall, Food and Medicine aid distribution, Crypto Private key safety vaults, NFT Creation Studios, Agricultural Investment Offices, Co-living Shelter Management, Central Security Control room, Heritage Repurposing Center, Memorial Morphology Design Center, and a Cryptocurrency Transaction Center.

An instrumental body of the building is the central wall that runs through the length of its site to symbolize fortification and unification. The wall includes functions for aquaponics, crisis detection, memorial and NFT display in line with the main program of the building. It is also the key infrastructure from which products and people are transported and where public interaction and activities can take place.

Therefore, the construction of the institute also stems from this central wall as a spine built from interconnected steel columns and beams that branch outwards into the larger spaces. The building is articulated by a rigid steel frame, concrete slab floors and aluminum panel walls and openings. The roof coverings are constructed alternately from polycarbonate panels and metal corrugated sheeting.

With the proposal of this institute, it is hoped that the citizens of Beirut have hope for the peace, security and stability of their port city with the implementation of ensured food supply, enforced surveillance, enhanced art culture and safeguarded finances.

Documentation

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