El Mina Innovation Center

Lebanese University, Institute des Beaux Arts – Department of Architecture

Project idea

The Innovation Center focuses on clean and sustainable energy solutions and technologies to improve energy efficiency in buildings. All in aim to reduce building’s energy consumption and improve quality of indoor spaces especially while Lebanon is facing a power and economic dual crisis.

The aim of the project is to raise awareness of the important benefits of traditional architecture in achieving energy efficiency as it gives us sustainable solutions and provides energy efficient built environment.

The project is located in El mina, north Lebanon as it incorporates many of the historical and traditional wonders so the concept can focus on taking an innovative approach that would evoke the local culture without literally copying past forms, by reusing the relevant elements inherited from the past and adapting them to meet the needs of the new innovation center.

The elements are modified to meet contemporary requirements and to convey fresh meanings by utilizing new building materials, techniques, structures... in order to create a desirable indoor environment with nominal energy consumption.

The building is inspired by traditional principles, yet the designed outcome is a hybrid between the traditional and the contemporary.

Project description

Blending density, innovation and educational functions, exhibitions and landscape patterns, the Innovation Center act as an open laboratory of life, science, technology and curiosity.

The building is expected to act as a TEACHING MATERIAL in introducing building’s energy efficiency in Lebanon.

The accumulation of different volumes that contain different program and the interconnection of them with a rebellious path system (Spine of the Project) that is rising from the ground are the main elements that consists the project.

The project serves as a micro-city where people have the freedom to explore and make their own decisions on what and how they want to learn. New teaching methods encourage new solutions on how educational and experimental spaces should be organized and designed.

The people come from different backgrounds and gather to learn and work. The different typologies of spaces encourage learning, collaboration, innovation, identity, inclusion and communication.

Overall the environment becomes the "teacher".

Technical information

Environmental sustainability and energy efficiency is built into every facet of the project. Elements of building orientation, wind flow, water receiving landscapes, use of traditional elements like courtyards and Green features such as green roof, appropriate materials and structures are introduced into the building to be eco-friendly and energy efficient.

The center corporates traditional elements and principles along with technological systems to create timeless sustainable energy efficient architecture.