URBAN MATRIX

Project idea

Our idea is to extend the city by offering more public space to the Lebanese, but at the same time giving space back to the sea. The final result will be an intertwining of city and sea from which our slogan: TAKE BACK YOUR SPACE.

Project description

The work was divided into three phases: the first of approaching the space in which we studied the port space by dividing the part dedicated to the functions of the port to the new expansion of the city. The second to the analysis of all the neighborhoods and districts of the city of Beirut with the aim of copying and pasting the new layout of the added part of the city repeatedly on the port space, we talk about urban patching. We chose the Achrafieh district because compared to the others it has a higher quality of life and services.
The third phase consists in transforming the mini-neighborhoods of the chosen district into green areas, ponds and the rest into residential and commercial buildings, this mechanism is based on a very important concept: a 5-Minutes City.
That is a city where within 5 minutes there is a green area or / and a body of water which are intended as areas of shade and refreshment that can be accomplished by either walking or cycling from residents' homes. The 5-Minutes City concept is a way to ensure that urban residents can fulfill six essential function within a 5-Minute walk or bike from their dwellings. These functions include: living, working, commerce, healthcare, education and entertainment.
A 5-Minutes City is a residential urban concept in which most daily necessities can be accomplished by either walking or cycling from residents' homes. The concept has been described as a "return to a local way of life”.
Our concept can, therefore, be summarized in URBAN MATRIX given by the union of blue, green and gray of the buildings, in which the population can live, grow and work.

Technical information

The construction of the buildings is made of local materials like marble, limestone and brown sandstone.
Even the chosen vegetation is local. In fact, plants such as fig tree, olive tree, Mediterranean pine, orange tree, aleppo pine and lebanese cedar have been added.

Documentation

Show PDF 1