Jutting Voids

Project idea

The 2020 Beirut Explosion left an everlasting impact on Lebanese society-- at least 204 individuals perished to the blast and multiple counts of Beirutian infrastructure are still yet to be repaired from the wounds inflicted by the catastrophe. Jutting Voids is terminal-memorial complex that would replace the currently defunct Passenger Terminal in Beirut’s Port Authority and is purposed to not only circulate passengers from naval passenger and cruise lines, but to also honor those that have fallen in this untimely explosion.

Project description

Jutting Voids is composed of three typologies: A normative bar (Terminal), surface (Memorial), and a series of jutting volumes (Commercial). The combination of jutting volumes, spatial additions and subtractions ultimately immerses any observer into an experience through a series of jutting voids.

Jutting Voids is located on the far west wing of the port. It is the closest location to the city zone which provides an advantageous route for commuting from and to the city. The size of the entire program is 750000 square feet. The main body of the terminal is oriented in a north-south direction. This orientation not only provides a convenient and comfortable way for boarding and arriving but also uses the space efficiently at the port.

The Memorial is made to be a mirror image of the terminal-- following the same 30-60-90 degree typology the terminal has. The memorial is designed to be a heart-warming, gathering place for people who come here to share memories and pay homage to their loved ones. It is also a safe place for local artists to express respect in the form of their art.

To the northeast of the memorial is a park. This park includes some parking spaces, green vegetation areas, and a bridge. This functions as an additional outdoor space, as many local markets can take place here. The bridge is extended over to the ocean, pointing directly to the explosion site, acknowledging and honoring the event. As time progresses, people can come to the end of the bridge and watch the explosion site getting rebuilt and repurposed to strengthen Beirutian hope and resilience.

Technical information

The construction of this building mostly utilizes a column grid as foundation for structure. A series of trusses are also used as supplementary structure to hold the various cantilevers made by the jutting volumes of the complex. Finally, the building is cladded with HYDRO-Circal recycled aluminum alloy sheathing, and a triple-glazed window system to moderate the amount of sunlight/natural heating that enters the building.

Documentation

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