CONTEMPORARY CARAVANSERAIS

Project idea

In the project I want to strongly emphasize the return to the roots, to the origin landscapes, where the desert meets the sea.

When creating the islands and embankments, their shape was created guided by two factors: the geometric network of the city and the organic shape, referring to the shape of waves and natural islands.
Beirut is a city with a rigid, geometric street layout. The use of organic shapes in the construction is aimed at introducing nature to the city and combining the urban concrete jungle with the port, which is a oazis, a place where everyone will find something for themselves. This will provide an ideal place of interest and a space for relaxation and a moment of activity for residents.
The main goal of the project is to connect the port with the city. Huge embankments overlooking the sea will blur the borders.

Project description

The caravanserai has long existed in the Middle East tradition as a depot, a place for stop, rest and shelter. A place for everyone.
The port has always been an area for the exchange of goods, trade and cultures, which is why my concept of the newly designed port in Beirut is to be a component of these two things: a port and a caravanserai. I want the place after the explosion to rise from the ashes and become a safe oasis where everyone will find something for themselves.

The main problem was to create a project in a devastated area with the outbreak of two years ago, the rest of the city remains in the convention of raw, concrete city buildings.

The explosion in 2020 was undoubtedly a great tragedy that resulted in many victims. Therefore, in my project, I want to include the memory of the victims and give Beirut the opportunity to live thanks to:
-use of newly created places with potential (e.g., a crater in the vicinity of silos)
- maximum and creative use of the huge area that is temporarily wasted
- numerous viewpoints along the waterfront
- taking advantage of the Mediterranean climate to boost tourism
- the layout of numerous green areas will sharply distinguish them from the urban jungle.
- a developed road network ensures quick and smooth access
- the variety of services in the area will not only attract tourists and residents, but also develop local businesses.

Technical information

The main problem in the newly shaped post-blast area is the issue of using expensive land for the development of economy and trade, while restoring the necessary storage space. For the port to work smoothly, 7 areas are needed:
container terminal dealing with container loading, customs clearance and shipping with direct access to the open sea, thanks to which the main part of the port is isolated from public spaces.
conventional cargo responsible for storing cargo in warehouses and containing parking for cars awaiting payment,
empty container zone, which combines the waiting zone and the customs clearance
port administration, which includes administration with its parking lot
free zone which is a stop for foreign containers
passenger terminal
ruins of previous silos serving as a memorial for the victims of the disaster.
Each zone was maintained in accordance with the competition recommendations for the efficient and beneficial operation of the harbor partonly their scale and location have been changed.

The main design challenge of the revitalized area is the connection of the planned port with the urban buildings and the blurring of the border between them. In accordance with the design requirements, in the given area, there are many places of public space that smoothly pass from the sea landscape to the land. Numerous squares, parks and activities are designed to improve the climate of the area and attract both tourists and residents. A particularly important element is leaving the ruins of silos as an interwoven element of the landscape, which will also serve as an honor of the victims of the explosion.

Part of the area has been allocated to the economic development of the city and the creation of a luxury business zone. The hotel's location in the planned area, which is a dominant feature of the composition, will attract mainly tourists. Estates of atypical houses immersed in embankments will attract investors' attention, and the possibility of providing services will increase the number of recipients. At the same time, the goal of creating a futuristically diversified port center will be met.

There is no reason in the concept design in the port area for free-standing buildings. The designed landscape takes on an architectural function by using the area on the embankments for hotels and a residential area, as well as the place under, where some container halls are hidden.