Rejuvenescence - Rethinking an Optimal Port of Beirut as a Reliable Regional Hub

Project idea

The Port of Beirut explosion was a massive tragedy for the people inside and around. The effects of the explosion were quite fatal and affected people's lives, such as environmental crises, post-traumatic effects, and economic degradation. Rejuvenescence is a concept of bringing back life by upgrading the port function and enhancing new activities. In the design process, the economic, social, political, environmental, and technology aspects are the main concerns. The design expected could significantly affect the development of the economy in the port of Beirut (POB), decreasing poverty by creating new jobs in PoB. In the political sector, strengthen safety and control of custom activities and also management in Beirut Port. In the environmental sector, the design will be in line with the 2030 SDGs agenda regarding the implementation of the framework of sustainable development globally. The technology sector is one of the ways of shaping the future of the city. Technology developments open enormous opportunities to be used in urban design to be more efficient and effective, participatory, transparent, and accountable.

To support 'Rejuvenescence' as the main concept, "Eco-Technology and Vibrant Port” is the duplication concept. This concept has advanced technology support of operations in the port and public engagement. This concept proposes an economically vibrant area, technology, and innovation to develop a responsive POB area with modern technology, develop a global region – a highly competitive hub, environmentally friendly and sustainable area, integrated with the urban hinterland, pay attention to potential cultural and prioritize society engagement, and become innovative.

Project description

Eco-Technology port is a strategy that will make POB a highly competitive and innovative hub. Implicating the dynamic façade and smart city, light system generated by IoT to reduce the usage of energy. The exterior design is intervened by modern techniques, which can respond to the entry of sunlight into the building. Besides that, technology is also used in rainwater harvesting gardens, box bay container storage, driverless shuttle, and solar panel.

For Vibrant port is to make PoB a new attractive area for the people to liven up the area with new facilities in the PoB. The broken silos are left to be a memorial landmark of the port and the city, this port is opened to the public for several functions with more public open space for everyone. The Vibrant port is a concept supported by elements such as; a rooftop and green roof garden, hydroponic garden, promenade, skywalk, and open space (kids park, sports facilities, play-ground, performance area, and demarcation area). The purpose of the design in the future is, to improve the economy in Beirut by creating new job opportunities, improving social engagement with the public, and improving a better environment that uses energy-saving technology.

The port is divided into two main areas, which are private and public. The private area of the port consists of operational programs, such as container storage, silos, warehouses, port administration, and so on. The public area of the port is provided to enhance public engagement by widening open public spaces, parks, and vibrant activities such as water play, marina, hotel, factory outlet, and mixed-use development.

Technical information

To support a modern port, these facilities are provided, such as:
1. Boxbay Container: Mechanical vertical container storage that will upgrade the capacity of container storage at the port.
2. Dynamic Facade: a facade system that responds to the sunlight direction so the building will save a lot of energy.
3. Smart light city system: an automatic lighting system for the area to make it efficient and save energy.
4. Electric shuttle: to decrease the usage of private vehicles at the port.
5. Rainwater harvesting tank and Rain Water Column as a runoff water management to be reused in dry season.

Documentation

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